A major storm impacted California’s central coast, resulting in flooding and high surf, a man trapped under debris leading to his death, and the partial collapse of a Santa Cruz pier that sent three individuals into the ocean. The storm prompted evacuation orders and warnings of dangerous conditions, affecting a wide area from California to the Pacific Northwest.
A significant storm impacted the central coast of California on Monday, resulting in severe flooding and high surf conditions. The storm tragically led to the death of a man who was trapped under debris on a beach and also caused part of a municipal wharf in Santa Cruz to partially collapse, sending three individuals into the ocean. As the storm intensified, California cities began issuing evacuation orders for beachfront properties.
As the situation escalated, the National Weather Service declared a coastal flood warning valid until noon on Tuesday, coupled with a high surf warning that will last until 6 p.m. the same day. Mayor Fred Keeley of Santa Cruz described the approaching conditions as “more serious than what was there this morning.” Once responders arrived at Sunset State Beach around 11:30 a.m., they discovered a man pinned under debris, believed to have been caused by a powerful wave. He was transported to a hospital where he was pronounced dead, though further details surrounding his identity were not disclosed immediately.
In addition, a man was reportedly pulled into the Pacific Ocean around noon at Marina State Beach, prompting a search operation by the U.S. Coast Guard and California Highway Patrol, which ultimately had to be suspended due to the increasingly dangerous conditions, leaving efforts to locate the missing man inconclusive.
In Santa Cruz, a renovation project at the municipal wharf partially collapsed, leading to the fall of a significant length of the structure into the sea. Miraculously, two engineers and a project manager, who were inspecting the area at that time, were rescued by lifeguards. However, the mayor confirmed the fallen section had long been compromised by prior storms and expressed concerns about the remaining pilings submerged in the ocean, which pose significant hazards to water navigation. The wharf will remain closed indefinitely as its structural integrity is evaluated.
Elsewhere along the West Coast, severe surf conditions were anticipated, with waves reaching up to 30 feet from central Oregon to southwestern Washington. Winds in some regions could approach 80 mph, leading to high surf warnings extending until 10 p.m. on Monday night. The National Weather Service in Portland, Oregon, remarked on social media that the conditions could be some of the highest surf recorded this winter.
The article discusses the severe impacts of a storm on California’s central coast, highlighting both human consequences and infrastructure damage. This event was significant enough to lead to fatalities and emergency responses from multiple agencies. Additionally, the article provides context regarding ongoing renovations of structures threatened by natural forces, emphasizing the intersection of environmental conditions and public safety.
In summary, California’s central coast faced a devastating storm that resulted in a fatality and significant infrastructural damage, particularly in Santa Cruz where a wharf partially collapsed. Emergency services undertook extensive efforts to respond to the situation, including search and rescue operations in treacherous conditions. As the storm continued to create hazardous conditions, authorities cautioned the public against the dangers of high surf and strong currents, underscoring the need for vigilance during such extreme weather events.
Original Source: www.cnn.com
