High Surf Pummels Coastal California, Damaging Historic Wharf
In Santa Cruz, three construction workers managed to survive after falling into the ocean. Further south, a harbor was shut down due to rough waters.
Starting from December 23, beaches in Southern and Central California experienced perilously high surf, which partially destroyed a section of the historic Santa Cruz Wharf. According to the National Weather Service (NWS), conditions began to improve on Christmas Eve.
“We reached the peak of the event last night and into this morning,” Gomberg told The Epoch Times.
Approximately 170 miles north of Morro Bay, in Santa Cruz, three construction workers were rescued on Monday after high surf caused a section of the historic Santa Cruz Wharf to break away, sending them into the water.
Two of the workers were saved by a Santa Cruz Fire Department lifeguard unit, while one managed to rescue himself, as reported by the department on Facebook.
This incident led authorities to close the wharf and the main beach areas of Santa Cruz on Tuesday.
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“All individuals are safe and accounted for,” they shared on Monday. “The section of the wharf that collapsed has been closed to the public for repairs, and all victims were authorized workers.”
The wharf and surrounding beaches will remain closed for an indefinite period as dangerous debris continues to wash up on the shore, according to local authorities.
The Hermosa Beach shoreline near Los Angeles on Sept. 4, 2020. Waves reached 8 feet at Hermosa Beach this week, per the National Weather Service. Lucy Nicholson/Reuters
“We will be working on an engineering report to ensure the safe reopening of the wharf to the public,” officials announced in the post.
In Hermosa Beach, located about 20 miles southwest of Los Angeles, wave heights reached between 6 to 8 feet, Gomberg noted.
Additionally, approximately 70 miles northwest at Ventura Beach, surf heights of 12 feet at Channel Islands Harbor resulted in the closure of the harbor entrance.
“Conditions become too rough and choppy,” Gomberg stated. “It’s significant when a harbor is closed.”
This high surf is a well-known seasonal phenomenon, as Gomberg explained. Storms originating in the eastern Pacific Ocean bring high surf and swells to the California coastline.
As the storm gathered strength in the Pacific Northwest, waves were predicted to reach heights of 60 feet.
Some coastal towns were advised to evacuate early Monday afternoon due to the escalating storm swells.
Numerous car accidents also caused backups on Highway 17, the main route connecting the coast to San Jose and nearby cities, according to Santa Cruz police.
Furthermore, the high surf is believed to have swept another man into the ocean around noon on Monday at Marina State Beach, roughly 13 miles south of Watsonville, according to local authorities.
The strong currents and towering waves halted rescue efforts, leaving the man unaccounted for as of Monday night.
His identity has not been released as of Tuesday morning.
