Hurricane Marie, well out in the Pacific, created flooding and dangerous conditions at some southern California beaches over Labor Day weekend, with strong currents and huge waves presenting a threat to swimmers and surfers.

Rose Schoenfeld, a National Weather Service meteorologist, said Sunday that Marie stirred up "life-threatening" conditions as it churned in the ocean hundreds of miles off California's Pacific coast.

Some south-facing beaches have seen surf up to 10 feet (3 meters) high, she said.