California Coast Battered by Powerful Storm: One Dead, Pier Collapses, Man Missing

A powerful storm lashed California’s central coast on Monday, triggering widespread flooding, high surf, and dangerous conditions that resulted in tragedy and significant damage, The Associated Press reports.

The storm, which is expected to intensify as it moves towards the Pacific Northwest, brought hurricane-force winds and waves reaching up to 60 feet (18 meters).

The most devastating incident occurred at Sunset State Beach in Watsonville, along the Monterey Bay, where a man was fatally trapped beneath debris around 11:30 a.m. Authorities believe a large wave pinned the man, and he was later pronounced dead at a hospital. The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office has not yet released his identity.

Tragedy struck again just south of Watsonville, at Marina State Beach, where another man was likely swept into the ocean by high surf around noon on Monday. Search and rescue efforts were hampered by worsening conditions and had to be abandoned roughly two hours later. As of Monday evening, the man remained missing.

In Santa Cruz, the city’s municipal wharf, undergoing a $4 million renovation, suffered a partial collapse around 12:45 p.m. The collapse sent three people into the Pacific Ocean. Two were rescued by lifeguards, and the third managed to swim to safety. No one sustained serious injuries. The portion of the wharf that broke off, which included public restrooms and a closed restaurant, floated roughly half a mile down the coast, eventually wedging at the bottom of the San Lorenzo River.

Mayor Fred Keeley of Santa Cruz explained that the damaged section of the pier had been closed for renovations following destructive storms last winter. Officials identified the people who fell into the water as two engineers and a project manager who were inspecting the closed end of the pier. No members of the public were in the area at the time. Building inspectors were assessing the structural integrity of the remaining sections of the pier.

The escalating storm prompted some California cities to issue evacuation orders for beachfront homes and hotels early Monday afternoon, as forecasters predicted increasing storm swells.

As the storm continues to track north, dangerous surf conditions are expected to affect coastal areas up through southwestern Washington. Waves as high as 30 feet are forecast from central Oregon to Washington, with winds potentially reaching 80 mph. A high surf warning remains in effect until 10 p.m. Monday night.

The National Weather Service office in Portland, Oregon, posted on X, stating that the current storm “will likely go down as some of the highest surf this winter.” Authorities urge residents to remain vigilant, heed all warnings, and stay away from coastal areas due to the dangerous conditions.