Bay Area residents were warned of concerns about flooding and dangerous beach conditions as stormy weather was expected to hit the region during Christmas week.
The National Weather Service said a high surf warning was in effect until Tuesday afternoon for San Francisco, the North Bay coast, including Point Reyes National Seashore, the Peninsula coast, Monterey Bay and the Big Sur coast. Breaking waves of 30 to 35 feet are expected along the coast, with some favorite spots like Mavericks just north of Half Moon Bay possibly seeing breaking waves up to 40 feet high.
Monday afternoon part of the Santa Cruz wharf collapsed amid the high surfwith authorities confirming that two people had to be rescued from the water.
Santa Cruz officials said the collapse occurred around 12:45 p.m. Santa Cruz Mayor Fred Keeley said the part of the pier that collapsed was “a portion of the municipal wharf that has already been identified as requiring demolition and repair over time.” “, including the Dolphin restaurant and one of the public bathrooms on the wharf.
Keeley also confirmed that the people who fell into the water were city employees working on the dock at the time, but noted that there were no injuries and that all people were accounted for.
KPIX First warning again: Current conditions, warnings, maps for your region
In addition, a coastal flood warning was also in effect until Tuesday afternoon due to the potential impact of high surf on coastal locations such as piers, wharves and other structures along the shoreline, the Weather Service said. Residents can anticipate flooding of low lying roads, car parks and coastal paths.
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The weather service warned that conditions could create dangerous and life-threatening conditions at the bay, ocean and beach through Tuesday. Ocean swells will begin to subside after Tuesday, but dangerous surf conditions are expected to persist into next week.
Meanwhile, drizzle and North Bay showers were forecast on Monday, with more widespread significant rainfall spreading across the region Monday through Tuesday morning. According to the Weather Service, the rain was expected to be intense, with the main threats being rapid rises in creeks, streams and small rivers and at least a 5% chance of precipitation totals exceeding flash flood guidelines.
Precipitation totals are expected to be 0.5 to 1 inch in the North Bay valleys and coastal areas south of the Golden Gate, up to 2 inches in the North Bay mountains, 0.3-0.6 inches in the Bay Area valleys and the Monterey Bay region, and higher. to 0.25 inches over the central inland coast.
The forecast for Christmas Day is expected to be dry and partly sunny, although hazardous sea and beach conditions will remain, the weather service said. Another storm system returns to the Bay Area on Thursday and the Weather Service said there are marginal risks for excessive rainfall in Sonoma County for Thursday and Friday.
