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Thousands of tiny red crabs stranded on California beach

Click to play video: 'Thousands of red crabs invade California beach'
Thousands of red crabs invade California beach
WATCH ABOVE: Thousands of tiny red crabs have washed ashore at Imperial Beach near San Diego, CA. Experts say the crabs are usually found off the coast of Baja, California – May 14, 2016

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. – Thousands of tiny red crabs are carpeting beaches in Orange County and creating an amazing spectacle for swimmers and surfers.

Lifeguards estimate that hundreds of thousands of the tiny crustaceans washed up Friday on beaches in Newport Beach.

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Others were spotted in Laguna Beach.

READ MORE: Scientists say Mexico’s Vaquita porpoise dangerously close to extinction

The Orange County Register reports that pelagic red crabs are usually found off Baja California, but currents that are part of the El Nino weather pattern are sweeping them north.

The 1- to 3-inch-long crabs have washed up for several years along the Orange County coastline.

Before that, they hadn’t been seen in the area for decades.

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