High surf swept three people off the beach and into the ocean in Big Sur on Saturday, the second such incident at Garrapata State Park in a week.
Two women and a man were swept off the rocks at Sobrenas Point around 3 p.m., according to a news release from the California State Parks.
Both women made it back to shore on their own and were taken to a hospital with unknown injuries, but a man who was with them, believed to be about 30 years old, was still missing.
“At around 4:24 p.m., a US Coast Guard helicopter spotted what appeared to be a body in the ocean but due to the high surf, lost visual,” parks officials said.
The search was called off around 7 p.m. due to darkness and was scheduled to resume Sunday morning.
The missing man was wearing a white turban, black shorts, black shirt and a black vest.
The National Weather Service warned that waves between 13 and 18 feet were expected at Big Sur and Monterey beaches through Monday night, and cautioned beachgoers to stay off rocks and away from the water’s edge.
“Sneaker waves can unexpectedly run significantly farther up the beach than normal, including over rocks and jetties,” the weather service advised. “Rip currents are typically more frequent and stronger in the vicinity of jetties, inlets, and piers.”
A dramatic scene unfolded at the Santa Cruz Wharf over the weekend when a vehicle went off the edge of the pier and into the water, sparking a frantic rescue effort that ended with authorities recovering a body and a dog.
Witnesses reported seeing the vehicle break through the wooden railing at 9:44 a.m. Sunday. When firefighters arrived, they found the damaged section about two-thirds away from the start of the wharf.
Visibility was limited and the surf was high — waves were about 12 feet — making it difficult to immediately find the vehicle, officials said.
After about 10 minutes, the vehicle was spotted resting on its roof in about 30 feet of water, said Santa Cruz Fire Department Battalion Chief Josh Coleman at a news conference Sunday.
“The victim was brought out of a vehicle, upside down, at the bottom of the ocean floor, with significant swelling, in 33 minutes,” Coleman said.
The victim was pronounced dead at a local hospital. A dog was also pulled from the water and survived, officials said.
The emergency response included 13 lifeguards, two jet skis and two boats.
Emergency divers remained in the water for an hour to search the water in case there were any additional passengers in the vehicle, but none were found, authorities said.
Authorities did not provide any detail about a potential cause for the incident or estimate on how fast the vehicle was traveling before it went off the edge of the wharf. The incident remains under investigation by the Santa Cruz Police Department.
Strong surf, winds wash out Ponce Inlet jetty walkway months after repairs
THE PONCE INLET JETTY HAS NOW BEEN WASHED AWAY. TAKE A LOOK AT THIS PHOTO THAT SHOWS THE AFTERMATH OF THE ROUGH SURF AND HIGH TIDE ALONG THE VOLUSIA COUNTY COAST. YOU SEE THE ROCKS AND THEN THE WOOD JUST TOSSED ALL AROUND HERE AS WESH TWO SPENCER TRACY EXPLAINS, THIS WASHOUT COMES AFTER MONTHS OF REPAIR. LINDSAY. THE HIGH SURF IS CLEARLY VISIBLE. CHECK OUT THE WAVES, JUST HOW BIG THEY ARE, AND I THINK THE BIGGER PICTURE IS SHOWING THOSE WAVES CRASHING AGAINST THAT JETTY WALKWAY. AND THAT’S WHERE YOU CAN SEE THE DAMAGE TO IT. AND WE’VE HEARD FROM SOME FISHERMEN THAT TELL US IT’S AFFECTING THEIR LIVELIHOOD, THAT THEY’RE NOT ABLE TO GO OUT THERE RIGHT NOW. AT THIS MOMENT, WE KNOW THE COUNTY STAFF BUILT THIS TEMPORARY WOODEN WALKWAY, MUCH TO THE DELIGHT OF THE FISHERMEN WHO FREQUENT THE AREA. A COUNTY SPOKESPERSON SAYS THE WALKWAY WAS DAMAGED RECENTLY AND CLOSED, BUT THESE CONDITIONS HAVE TAKEN THE WHOLE THING. THE COUNTY PLANS TO EXTEND THE CONCRETE JETTY, BUT IT’S A LENGTHY PROCESS REQUIRING FEDERAL APPROVAL FROM THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS. IT’S JUST ONE EXAMPLE OF HOW THIS NASTY WEATHER IS IMPACTING THE COAST. WE LIVE IN IN DAYTONA BEACH SHORES ON THE RIVER, AND MY HUSBAND’S BEEN IN THAT HOUSE SINCE THE 70S AND NEVER HAS THE WATER BEEN THAT HIGH. WHEN THERE’S NOT A STORM, A HURRICANE. SO SWIMMING IN THE WATER ALONG VOLUSIA SHORELINE WAS PROHIBITED YESTERDAY AS THE COUNTY WAS UNDER A DOUBLE RED FLAG WARNING. THAT’S ALL BECAUSE OF THE STRONG RIP CURRENTS AND AS WELL AS A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF DEBRIS. THEY’RE ASKING PEOPLE NOT TO TOUCH SEAWEED THAT WASHES UP, SAYING IT PLAYS AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN RENOURISHMENT. THE COUNTY SAYS ONCE THE WEATHER GETS BETTER, THAT’S WHEN THEY PLAN TO HAVE CREWS GO OUT THERE AND REPAIR THAT JETTY. BUT AS YOU CAN SEE RIGHT NOW, THAT’S DEFINITELY NOT HAPPENING TODAY. AS YOU CAN SEE, THE RIP CURRENTS ARE STILL REALLY STRONG. AND AS WE WERE HEADING INTO THE INLET, OFFICIALS TOLD US THAT RIGHT NOW THEY’RE UNDER A RED FLAG WARNING. SO THEY’RE STILL URGING PEOPLE NOT TO GO IN THE WATER AS IT CAN BE DANGEROUS. I’M COVERING VOLUSIA COUNTY IN PONCE INLET.
Strong surf, winds wash out Ponce Inlet jetty walkway months after repairs
The Ponce Inlet jetty walkway, which reopened in May, was washed out to sea Saturday morning due to high surf and windy weather along the coast.The whole section of the jetty had been getting clobbered by high surf for a few days.It had been closed following Hurricane Milton and reopened in May.The county had finished work on the wooden portion of the walkway in time for Memorial Day, bringing smiles to the faces of fishermen who frequent the area.However, the high surf conditions and wind washed it out to sea Saturday morning.The county said it had been closed since Hurricane Imelda damaged it a little more than a week ago.Many people have been asking why not drive pilings into the ground and make the whole thing concrete?The short answer is that this walkway has always been temporary.The county plans to extend the concrete deck, but has to get plans approved by the Army Corps of Engineers before work can begin.A county spokesperson said staff will be out clearing debris once conditions improve.
PONCE INLET, Fla. —
The Ponce Inlet jetty walkway, which reopened in May, was washed out to sea Saturday morning due to high surf and windy weather along the coast.
The whole section of the jetty had been getting clobbered by high surf for a few days.
It had been closed following Hurricane Milton and reopened in May.
The county had finished work on the wooden portion of the walkway in time for Memorial Day, bringing smiles to the faces of fishermen who frequent the area.
However, the high surf conditions and wind washed it out to sea Saturday morning.
The county said it had been closed since Hurricane Imelda damaged it a little more than a week ago.
Many people have been asking why not drive pilings into the ground and make the whole thing concrete?
The short answer is that this walkway has always been temporary.
The county plans to extend the concrete deck, but has to get plans approved by the Army Corps of Engineers before work can begin.
A county spokesperson said staff will be out clearing debris once conditions improve.
ACCURATE FORECAST IN MINUTES. WELL TROPICAL STORM IMELDA IS CAUSING, AS WE MENTIONED, SOME DANGEROUS CONDITIONS AT OUR BEACHES TODAY. AND WESH 2’S BOB HAZEN IS IN COCOA BEACH WHERE BIG WAVES ARE EXPECTED. THE CONDITIONS HERE IN COCOA BEACH HAVE BEEN KEEPING SOME FOLKS OUT OF THE WATER, BUT FOR OTHERS IT’S LURING THEM IN. NIA, TIA AND HER FAMILY CAME TO COCOA BEACH FROM TAMPA, HOPING TO CATCH WAVES A LOT BIGGER THAN THEY’RE USED TO. IT’S FUN, BUT IT’S DEFINITELY PRETTY CHOPPY. THE STORMS FAR OFFSHORE ARE EXPECTED TO BRING WAVES AS HIGH AS TEN FEET TO SOME PARTS OF OUR COASTLINE. THAT ENTICED A LOT OF SURFERS TO COME OUT FIRST THING IN THE MORNING TO RIDE THE SWELLS, BUT WITH THOSE WAVES ARE POWERFUL RIP CURRENTS. IT’S PRETTY ROUGH TODAY, HONESTLY, WITH THE NORTH WINDS COMING IN, THEY’RE MESSING UP THE FORM OF THE WAVES, SO IT’S NOT THE BEST STORMY, BUMPY CONDITIONS. IT’S A LOT OF FUN THOUGH. SOME FUN DROPS. JONATHAN BROUGHT OUT HIS BOOGIE BOARD FOR THE SAME REASON. HE SAYS AS LONG AS HE’S ON THE BOARD, HE DOESN’T MIND THE RIP. THAT’S GOOD FOR ME. IT GETS ME OUT IN THE WATER QUICKER. BUT OBVIOUSLY IF YOU HAD A KID OR YOU’RE NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE WATER, DON’T BE OUT HERE TODAY. WE SHOULD SEE SOME OF THE WORST CONDITIONS. STRONG, GUSTY WINDS. OFFICIALS SAY THE RIP CURRENTS CAN BE LIFE THREATENING, SO PEOPLE SHOULD NOT GET INTO THE WATER. BRIAN STAPLETON WAS PLANNING TO GO SURF FISHING, BUT TOLD ME THE CHURNING OCEAN WILL KEEP HIM ON THE SAND. USUALLY WE’LL WALK OUT, CHEST HIGH IN THE WATER, THROW THE BAIT OUT, BUT A DAY LIKE TODAY, PROBABLY NOT A GOOD IDEA. COVERING BREVARD COUNT
Humberto, Imelda expected to bring big waves, rough surf to Cocoa Beach
Tropical Storm Imelda and Hurricane Humberto continue to churn in the Atlantic.Swells and high surf from both Humberto and Imelda are expected to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions along the east coast of Florida and the Georgia coast through Monday, NHC says.Surfers in Florida are taking to the waves to enjoy the first storm swells of the year, despite warnings from emergency officials to stay off the beach due to high surf and rip current risks.”To me, it’s very good. I have two years without surf, so to me it’s amazing,” one surfer said.County officials are advising people to stay off the beach and out of the water until the rip current risk and high surf conditions subside. The consensus among surfers is that only those with experience should attempt to surf in these conditions.”It was a little too strong for me to go outside,” a young girl said, referring to the main waves breaking outside.She enjoyed the beach safely, accompanied by her experienced surfer dad.”He’s having fun, he did a really cool air, and it’s two to three foot, and it’s really fun to catch the white water,” she said.Another surfer described the conditions as “some chest-high waves and dumping really hard, so fun for me.”The surf is expected to increase on Monday and Tuesday as the storm passes, leaving choppy waters behind.”By Tuesday, of course, it’s going to be good surfers only,” a surfer said.
CENTRAL FLORIDA, USA —
Tropical Storm Imelda and Hurricane Humberto continue to churn in the Atlantic.
Swells and high surf from both Humberto and Imelda are expected to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions along the east coast of Florida and the Georgia coast through Monday, NHC says.
Surfers in Florida are taking to the waves to enjoy the first storm swells of the year, despite warnings from emergency officials to stay off the beach due to high surf and rip current risks.
“To me, it’s very good. I have two years without surf, so to me it’s amazing,” one surfer said.
County officials are advising people to stay off the beach and out of the water until the rip current risk and high surf conditions subside. The consensus among surfers is that only those with experience should attempt to surf in these conditions.
“It was a little too strong for me to go outside,” a young girl said, referring to the main waves breaking outside.
She enjoyed the beach safely, accompanied by her experienced surfer dad.
“He’s having fun, he did a really cool air, and it’s two to three foot, and it’s really fun to catch the white water,” she said.
Another surfer described the conditions as “some chest-high waves and dumping really hard, so fun for me.”
The surf is expected to increase on Monday and Tuesday as the storm passes, leaving choppy waters behind.
“By Tuesday, of course, it’s going to be good surfers only,” a surfer said.
Los Angeles County can expect to see rain across the region beginning Sunday night and continuing through Wednesday, with the latest winter storm system forecast to bring the heaviest rain and threat of flooding along the Central Coast.
Compared with the historic storm that pummeled the region earlier this month, forecasters expect “much less rain” for the county this time but warned that the most intense precipitation will hit during the day Monday and Tuesday night. Over the next three days, downtown could see up to 2.4 inches of rain; Santa Clarita, 2.19 inches; Long Beach, 1.8 inches; and Torrance, 1.97 inches.
The rain may not be as intense as some areas farther north, but there are still concerns about the prospect for flooding, landslides and mudflows — particularly in the Santa Monica Mountains and Hollywood Hills — because of the soaking Southern California received from the previous storm, David Gomberg, a weather service meteorologist in Oxnard, said during an online media briefing Sunday afternoon.
A flood watch was in effect across broad swaths of California.
“Debris flows, mudslides, and landslides could happen just about anywhere within the flood watch area, as even L.A. County — which is expecting somewhat lower rainfall totals — took the brunt of the last storm, leaving them more susceptible to this kind of activity,” the weather service office in Oxnard said Sunday night.
Residents are urged to move parked cars out of low-lying flood-prone areas, to be alert for mudslides and rock slides on or below canyon roads and to prepare for possible flooding and power outages, the weather service said.
The slow-moving storm system began moving into the Central Coast region Saturday night, bringing light rain to Santa Barbara and western San Luis Obispo counties, officials said. The second, more powerful wave of the storm had arrived in Santa Barbara by Sunday evening. Officials warned of gusty winds, an increased chance of thunderstorms, and the possibility of high surf and coastal flooding.
By 8:20 p.m. Sunday, forecasters reported rainfall rates of between 0.3 to 0.5 inches per hour across the Santa Barbara area.
The Central Coast is expected to feel the brunt of this storm, according to the weather service. Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo county foothills and mountain ranges could see 8 to 10 inches of rainfall. The city of Ventura can expect to see up to 3.01 inches, and the city of Santa Barbara 5.66 inches.
High surf advisories are in effect through Tuesday across all beaches in the region, with waves of up to 20 feet expected in some areas. Strong rip currents are expected with large breaking waves at Morro Bay, Port San Luis and Ventura harbors.
There is also a brief risk of “weak tornado activity” during this period in San Luis Obispo County, Gomberg said Sunday.
The greatest threat for coastal flooding — particularly in Malibu and Santa Barbara — will be Tuesday morning, Gomberg said.
Once the system has passed, the state will have a few days to wring itself out before the arrival of another possible system next weekend, Gomberg said, this time coming out of the north and potentially colder.
Times staff writer Thomas Curwen contributed to this report.
California’s first huge swells of the winter are wreaking havoc on the state’s coastline as an incoming atmospheric river storm is forcing evacuations amid flooding of beach and coastal roads.
Marin County residents in the Calles Pinos, Pradero, Sierra, Onda Resaca, Ribera and Embarcadero areas as well as Calle de Arroyo were ordered to temporarily evacuate Thursday morning due to high risk of wave damage and coastal flooding. Evacuated residents were told to head to the Stinson Beach Community Center.
Santa Cruz County issued an evacuation warning Thursday on X, formerly known as Twitter, for coastal areas near Seacliff State Beach because of flooding.
Within the evacuation area, the tourist hot spot known as the Rio del Mar Esplanade is currently flooded with several inches of storm water. On X, the California Highway Patrol cautions that residents avoid the area and not attempt to drive across or through.
According to the National Weather Service’s coastal flood warning for the Bay Area, large breaking waves are causing significant flooding of beach and coastal roads. The waves are depositing large amounts of debris and causing road closures.
A surfer rides a wave at Surfer’s Point on Thursday in Ventura.
(Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times)
The San Francisco Bay Area coast could see waves up to 40 feet in some locations. The National Weather Service issued a warning for residents to stay away from rocks, jetties, piers and other waterside infrastructure.
In Southern California, the waves aren’t expected to be as big, but high surf is expected through Saturday, meteorologists said. In Ventura County, waves of up to 12 feet have already been reported, and the Central Coast has seen 18- to 20-foot swells, said Mike Wofford with the National Weather Service’s Oxnard office.
In a beachside community in Ventura, residents watched as waves washed trash bins away, sending foaming streams of seawater into neighborhood streets.
A high surf advisory went into effect at 4 a.m. Thursday for Point Conception in Santa Barbara County and Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach and Palos Verdes Peninsula beaches in Los Angeles County, all of which can expect sets of 15- to 20-foot waves and dangerous rip currents.
“We’re expecting the highest waves today to be arriving either late morning or early afternoon and then, maybe some drops in height tomorrow, but still well above normal,” Wofford said.
The waves will pick back up Saturday when another surge of higher swells arrives.
There have been really strong storms over the Pacific Ocean that “we don’t necessarily see because they move up to the north or go in some other direction,” Wofford said.
While the storms are moving through, strong winds can form big waves, which “propagate out along, and the waves just come barreling right in,” he said.
A Harbor Patrol lifeguard jumps a wave near Ventura Pier on Thursday.
(Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times)
Along with the high surf advisory, the National Weather Service issued a coastal flood advisory through 10 p.m. Saturday.
Although no structural or road damage is expected, there is an increased risk for drowning, the agency warned. Rip currents can pull swimmers and surfers out to sea, and large breaking waves can cause injuries, wash people off beaches or rocks and capsize small boats.
Rain won’t be compounding the waves in the Los Angeles County area, as the forecast doesn’t call for rain until early Saturday and will continue for most of the day until it tapers off, Wofford said.
There’s a 30% to 40% chance of rain Sunday into Monday, but it will be in the form of light showers.
