Extreme wave hazard warning issued for Pacific Rim National Park Reserve

Parks Canada has issued an extreme wave hazard advisory, warning the public to use extra caution on beaches, shorelines and coastal waters in and around the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve from Thursday through Saturday.

Large ocean swells reaching up to 9 metres are predicted during the two day period and high tides of up to 3.6 metresare expected to compound the wave hazard.

Tofino Mayor Josie Osborne tweeted that beaches were closing Thursday morning and said public accesses to beach areas were getting "rearranged" by waves and logs.

Seismologist John Cassidy with Natural Resources Canada tweeted that the pounding waves caused enough ground-shaking to be detected by coastal seismic stations.

Parks Canada said the massive swells could result in extremely hazardous surf conditions andflooded beaches and that some beach parking lots and beach areas may be temporarily closed for safety reasons

Wave watcher lookouts

Park visitors interested in catching a glimpse of the wave action can use the Kwisitis Visitor Centre's Observation Deck at Wickaninnish Beach and the Florencia Bay Lookout to get a catch a glimpse.