SANTA CRUZ, Calif. — On Monday, a significant storm swept through California’s central coast, leading to flooding and dangerously high surf. The severe weather was linked to a tragic incident in which a man became fatally trapped under debris on a beach, along with the partial collapse of a pier that resulted in three individuals falling into the Pacific Ocean.
Forecasters anticipated the storm could produce hurricane-force winds and waves reaching up to 60 feet (18 meters) as it progressed from California towards the Pacific Northwest. In response to the impending danger, several coastal cities instructed beachfront residents and hotel guests to evacuate by early afternoon, cautioning that storm swells would intensify as the day continued.
“This situation is expected to escalate and be more severe than what we’ve already experienced this morning,” remarked Fred Keeley, the mayor of Santa Cruz, the location where the pier collapsed.
Around 11:30 a.m., first responders were dispatched to Sunset State Beach in Watsonville following reports of a man trapped beneath debris. The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office suspects that a powerful wave caused the man to become pinned. Unfortunately, he was pronounced dead after being transported to a hospital; however, details regarding his identity were not immediately available.
Simultaneously, the storm’s high surf may have swept another man into the ocean at Marina State Beach, located nearly 13 miles (21 kilometers) south of Watsonville. Authorities indicated that strong currents and towering waves prompted search teams to halt their efforts about two hours later due to deteriorating conditions. As of Monday evening, the man remained missing.
In Santa Cruz, the construction of a municipal wharf suffered a partial collapse, sending debris into the ocean around 12:45 p.m. This incident led to three individuals falling in with the debris; fortunately, lifeguards rescued two and a third managed to swim to safety without serious injury.
Mayor Keeley mentioned that the section of the wharf that collapsed had sustained damage over the years and was undergoing a $4 million renovation after previous destructive storms last winter, near San Francisco, about 70 miles (112 kilometers) away.
David Johnston, owner of Venture Quest Kayaking, described the situation as “a catastrophe” for those who frequent the end of the wharf. Tony Elliot, head of the Santa Cruz Parks & Recreation Department, estimated that roughly 150 feet (45 meters) of the wharf fell into the water, which has led to an indefinite evacuation of the area.
Some pilings from the structure remain submerged in the ocean, creating what Mayor Keeley called “serious, serious hazards” for passing boats. He noted that each piling weighs several hundred pounds and is being affected by powerful wave action.
The National Weather Service’s Bay Area branch warned that individuals risking entry or proximity to the water were endangering not only their lives but also the lives of potential rescuers.
The collapsed section of the Santa Cruz Wharf, which included public restrooms and the now-closed Dolphin restaurant, drifted approximately half a mile (0.8 kilometers) down the coast before becoming lodged at the mouth of the San Lorenzo River. The personnel who fell into the water were identified as two engineers and a project manager inspecting the wharf, with no members of the public present during the incident.
Building inspectors are currently assessing the structural stability of the remaining sections of the pier.
Further north along the West Coast, hazardous surf conditions were predicted, with waves of up to 30 feet (9.1 meters) anticipated from the central Oregon coast up to southwestern Washington. Winds could reach heights of 80 mph (130 kph), prompting high surf warnings that remained active until 10 p.m. on Monday.
In an announcement on social media, the National Weather Service office in Portland, Oregon, stated that the surf conditions this winter could be among the highest recorded.
