Both U.S. coasts are experiencing inclement weather ahead of Christmas as snow travels across the East Coast while parts of the West Coast are battered by storms—which led to a partial pier collapse Monday in Santa Cruz, California—potentially affecting the busy holiday travel period, though conditions are expected to improve by Christmas Day.
Key Facts
West Coast Storms: Areas of northern California and western Oregon are facing storms through Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service, with warnings of dangerously high waves, coastal flooding and thunderstorms now in effect throughout the Pacific Coast, and the Sierra Nevada Mountains in eastern California will experience between two to four inches of rain plus snow in some areas.
The storm system is a continuation of the severe storms Monday that led to the Santa Cruz Wharf—approximately 80 miles south of San Francisco—partially collapsing Monday afternoon, causing three people to fall into the ocean (they only suffered minor injuries, NBC News reports).
East Coast Snow: A large portion of the region from the central Appalachians to New England will see “light to occasionally moderate” snow on Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service, with snow reported Tuesday morning in areas including New Jersey, New York City, Philadelphia and Boston.
The snow is supposed to end by Tuesday afternoon, and temperatures in the mid-Atlantic region will rise above freezing following a days-long cold snap.
Southern Storms: Parts of eastern Texas, Arkansas and southern Missouri will get thunderstorms and rainfall that could exceed one inch in some parts through Wednesday morning, according to the National Weather Service.
Mild Weather: Other parts of the country that aren’t experiencing storms should have pretty pleasant weather leading up to Christmas, with the National Weather Service noting temperatures for much of the country will be above average for December.
Two people were rescued and a third swam to safety after a California pier under construction partially collapsed and fell into the ocean Monday as the state’s central coast was pounded by heavy surf from a major storm expected to bring hurricane-force winds to the seas off the Pacific Northwest, authorities said.
Residents were warned to stay away from low-lying areas near the beaches around the Santa Cruz Wharf, about 70 miles (112 kilometers) south of San Francisco, as the storm rapidly gained strength.
“You are risking your life, and those of the people that would need to try and save you by getting in or too close to the water,” the National Weather Service’s Bay Area office said on the social platform X.
Lifeguards rescued two people from the water, officials with Santa Cruz Fire Department said. No one had serious injuries, Mayor Fred Keeley said.
The mayor said the section of the wharf that collapsed had been damaged over time. The structure was in the middle of a $4 million renovation following destructive storms last winter.
“It’s a catastrophe for those down at the end of the wharf,” said David Johnston, owner of Venture Quest Kayaking, who was allowed onto the pier to check on his business.
Tony Elliot, the head of the Santa Cruz Parks & Recreation Department, estimated that about 150 feet (45 meters) of the end of the wharf fell into the water around 12:45 p.m. It was immediately evacuated and will remain closed indefinitely.
Some of the wharf’s pilings are still in the ocean and remain “serious, serious hazards” to boats, the mayor said. Each piling weighs hundreds of pounds and is being pushed by powerful waves.
Gov. Gavin Newsom has been briefed and the state’s Office of Emergency Services is coordinating with local officials, his office said.
Forecasters warned that storm swells will continue to increase throughout the day.
“We are anticipating that what is coming toward us is more serious than what was there this morning,” the mayor said.
Ocean swells along California’s central coast could reach 60 feet (18 meters) as the Pacific storm gains strength through Monday, the weather service said.
“A rapidly developing storm will bring hurricane-force winds to the areas well offshore of the Pacific Northwest tonight,” the weather service’s Ocean Prediction Center said on X.
The end of the pier that broke off had been shut down during renovations. The portion, which included public restrooms and the closed Dolphin restaurant, floated about half a mile (0.8 kilometers) down the coast and wedged itself at the bottom of the San Lorenzo River.
Those who fell into the water were two engineers and a project manager who were inspecting the end of the wharf, officials said. No members of the public were in the area.
Building inspectors were now looking at the rest of the Santa Cruz Wharf’s structural integrity.
A man is dead after a large wave trapped him under debris on a Watsonville beach Monday morning, the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office said.
First responders were called to Sunset State Beach at about 11:30 a.m. for the trapped man. Bystanders and rescuers freed the man and initiated CPR, but he died at a hospital.
The man was determined to be a Santa Cruz County resident. His identity has not yet been released.Santa Cruz pier partially collapses amid heavy waves, 2 people rescued
The death is believed to be due to the large storm slamming the area on Monday.
In nearby Santa Cruz, the city’s wharf collapsed from the severe storm. Three people landed in the water, and they were all rescued, treated and released.
About 150 feet of the pier collapsed, including a restroom building. Capitola Village has been told to evacuate due to the 26-foot waves and flooding.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
