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By James Bickerton
News Reporter
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The City of Santa Cruz closed the city’s beaches and the Santa Cruz Wharf until 5 a.m. PST on Sunday after the National Weather Service (NWS) issued a High Surf Warning with large breaking waves reaching 25 to 35 feet forecast for the coast.
The closure was announced on Friday and came into effect at 10 p.m. PST that evening.
City authorities warned of “significant risks to public safety” including “powerful waves, coastal flooding, and potential impacts to coastal infrastructure.” According to the federal NWS there is a “very high” risk of people drowning over the weekend.
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It comes against the backdrop of a strengthening El Niño, a naturally recurring climate pattern, sparking fears of more extreme weather.
Friday’s Warning
In its warning on Friday the City of Santa Cruz urged both residents and visitors to stay clear of “beaches, coastal access points, rocks, and other areas exposed to high surf” until 5 a.m. PST on Sunday in response to “dangerous high surf and hazardous coastal conditions forecast for the weekend.”
In its most recent update published shortly after midnight on Saturday the NWS’s San Francisco Bay Area office forecast “very hazardous conditions along the Pacific coast today” including “breaking waves” of 25 to 35 feet and urged people to “stay away from the beach!”
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The forecast said: “Very hazardous conditions are developing along the Pacific coast with High Surf Warnings in effect through early Sunday morning due to surf heights of 25 to 35 feet accompanied by a high risk of sneaker waves and rip currents. Locally higher waves of 40 to 50 feet are possible at favored locations including Mavericks Beach.”
A NWS San Francisco Bay Area spokesperson said: “These waves bring tremendous power that will overpower anyone in the water and cause coastal erosion. The risk of drowning is very high this weekend.
“Do not go in the water, avoid climbing on the rocks or leaning over seawalls, and never turn your back on the ocean.”
The NWS also warned that coastal flooding “stemming from wave runup effects” is a danger along the coastline.
Santa Cruz Fire Chief Rob Oatey commented: “Our first priority is keeping our community safe, and we ask everyone to make safety their priority, too.
“Entering the water or approaching hazardous coastal areas puts not only your life at risk, but also the lives of the marine safety personnel who may be called upon to rescue you. Please respect these closures and give the ocean the space it demands.”
The City of Santa Cruz urged people to stay away from “beaches, coastal access points, rocks, and other areas exposed to high surf” warning that “large waves can arrive unexpectedly, sweep people off their feet, and create life-threatening conditions even for those standing well away from the water.”
While urging the public to stay away city authorities said the Santa Cruz Wharf is “structurally safe.”
They added they will monitor conditions over the weekend and urged the public to follow the National Weather Service and “official City of Santa Cruz communications” for updates.
The closure of Santa Cruz Wharf took effect on Friday at 10 p.m. PST, the end of regular business hours.
El Niño
El Niño is a natural phenomenon that typically results in warmer water developing across the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean. This usually results in warmer, drier weather in the Northern United States and colder and wetter conditions in the South. Usually the El Niño starts developing in the late spring or summer before peaking between November and January, after which it starts to weaken.
However, this year’s El Niño is expected to be unusually strong, with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration saying there is a 60 percent chance of a “historic event exceeding previous El Niños dating back to 1950.”
According to the University of California’s Agriculture and Natural Resources Department “as of early November 2026, El Niño is already among the strongest, if not the strongest, on record for this time of year, with further intensification expected.”
Forecasters have warned this could result in unusual weather including drier conditions across the Midwest and Northeast and a heightened risk of flooding in the South and West. This could potentially make 2027 the hottest year on record for the United States.
In September, California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency across the Golden State ahead of this year’s El Niño. He said: “We are preparing for this El Niño early because every Californian deserves to be safe in their home, connected to their community, and protected when severe weather comes.”
Contact Newsweek editor on this story: Edward Pearcey.
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