- A powerful storm surge hit the coast of Northern California on Thursday
- Evacuations were ordered throughout the Bay Area, Santa Cruz, Ventura and other parts of the state's coast
- The National Weather Service has issued a high surf warning until 3 a.m. Friday
A massive storm surge has hit the California coast, prompting evacuations in the Bay Area and breaching a levee in Ventura.
Evacuations have been ordered across Northern California, particularly in the Bay Area, as dangerously high surf and storm surges inundate the coasts, with waves expected to reach 33 feet.
Residents were urged to “leave immediately” as massive waves also hit the Stinson Beach area of Marin County on Thursday.
Evacuation warnings have been issued for Calles Pinos, Pradero, Sierra, Onda Resaca, Ribera, sections of Calle Del Arroyo, Embarcadero and the municipality of Seadrift.
Santa Cruz County was also advised to evacuate and avoid the coast. Pajaro Dunes has been issued a warning and told to prepare to evacuate the area as floodwaters and large breaking waves have begun to engulf the area.
On Thursday, the Santa Cruz coast was hit by flooding, with a massive storm surge shaking the coast
Construction vehicles are seen clearing debris as a black Audi tries to make its way through flooded streets in Pacifica
The National Weather Service has issued a high surf warning that is in effect until 3 a.m. Friday. On west-facing beaches, waves are expected to reach 28 to 33 feet.
They also warned residents that these conditions were life-threatening and that they should “stay away from the water,” as well as docks and rocks.
The surge is expected to be caused by two separate storm systems. One is aimed at Northern California, while the other will hit the entire Golden State with massive rainfall.
A high surf and coastal flooding warning is also in effect for all Los Angeles beaches. The NWS reported that waves could reach seven to 12 feet in Southern California, along with dangerous rip currents.
Catalina Island, Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach and Palos Verdes Beach are also under a strict lockdown.
Coastal flooding and high surf warnings in Orange County are expected to remain in effect until 2 a.m. Monday.
Huge waves almost reached homes in Malibu as strong surf rolled onto the shore
Excess, almost soapy water has accumulated in the countryside as roads have been closed and residents try to cope with the harsh conditions.
“I thought the water was coming for me,” 14-year-old Brooklyn De Los Reyes told the San Francisco Chronicle.
Southern California is expected to receive light rain over the weekend, the National Weather Service reported.
Just last week, parts of Southern California were hit by unusually heavy rain, thunderstorms and the threat of a small tornado.
The rainfall was the heaviest the state has seen since Hurricane Hillary in August. According to the National Hurricane Center, the system barreled through the north-northwest at 25 miles per hour.
A woman mopped her floor with a broom after her business was flooded by torrential rains in Southern California last week
On December 21, a man tried to push his SUV out of a flooded street in Santa Barbara
Onlookers watched storm clouds quickly sweep over the Golden Gate Bridge on December 19 as they walked their dogs
Two people from Mexico died in the storm when one of the victim's vehicles was washed away near Santa Rosalía after catastrophic flooding devastated parts of Mexico's Baja California peninsula.
The tropical storm was initially a Category 4 Pacific hurricane before making landfall in Central America on August 12th.
It then weakened to a tropical storm as it hit the coast of Manzanillo, Colima, a city in Mexico, on August 16.
It strengthened and became a hurricane again before weakening again as it struck California.