Northern Monterey Bay storm history

Shortly after 9AM on November 5, 2025, rescue crews were deployed to The Hook near Capitola as two surfers were reported in distress. One surfer was able to make it past the line of breaking waves, while the other was caught in them. When the surfer was pulled from the water, the…

A father and son from San Jose perished at Cowell Ranch State Beach after the son was swept into the ocean by a sneaker wave. State park lifeguards and rangers responded to the water rescue and pulled the two into a Harbor Patrol vessel. The two were taken to Stanford Medical Cen…

California State Parks was called out on 11:30 AM on December 23 because of a 64-year old man stuck under debris on Sunset State Beach. Emergency responders pulled the man out, who later died of his injuries. It is believed that high surf caused a large wave that trapped the man …

A sneaker wave killed a couple from San Jose who were standing along West Cliff Drive in Santa Cruz. The couple stood on a rock to take pictures when the wave hit the rock. A rescue swimmer pulled the victims onto a boat, but was unable to revive the couple.

A 120-foot tall cypress tree fell on a 72-year old resident of Santa Cruz within Lighthouse Field State Beach around 1:30 PM during a major rain event. Victim was pronounced dead at the scene despite attempts at medical care. At time of event, multiple reports of flooding, mudsli…

A teenager drowned after being swept off the rocks at Laguna Creek Beach southeast of Davenport. A friend was also swept into the surf but was able to get out. This was the 3rd drowning near that same stretch of beach in the past 9 days https://www.kron4.com/news/bay-area/surf-re…

A 30 year old man drowned just north of Santa Cruz after being knocked into the ocean while standing on rocks at Panther Beach https://www.audacy.com/kcbsradio/news/local/search-on-for-swimmer-swept-off-the-rocks-near-santa-cruz.

A 26 year old man drowned after walking into the surf near Davenport off the Santa Cruz County coastline. Exact timing unknown https://www.mercurynews.com/2021/09/17/san-jose-man-missing-from-north-coast-santa-cruz-beach-idd/amp/.

A man died after being swept out into the ocean on the 16th along with two children. They were in front of the River Mouth at Santa Cruz Beach when they were swept out to sea. The children were rescued, but the man did not survive https://www.ksbw.com/article/2-children-rescued-1…

A woman died when a tree fell on her in the Pogonip Open Space Preserve in Santa Cruz County on Sunday morning off the Rincon Trail. A man also suffered injuries to his hip and chest https://www.santacruzsentinel.com/2019/10/27/fallen-tree-kills-woman-injures-man-in-pogonip/.

Five people were swept into the ocean by a 15-foot wave around 5 pm PST on Monday, January 18, 2016 at Bonny Doon Beach in Santa Cruz County. Three were able to climb out of the water and were later rescued by the U.S. Coast Guard while two remained missing and were presumed dead…

A teenager at Panther Beach slipped from ocean rocks and was caught in the high surf. Rescuers were able to pull him from the water but were unable to revive him.

A man was boogie boarding in Monterey Bay near the Santa Cruz Lighthouse in very rough surf. Lifeguards approached him and attempted to remove him from the area but he did not want assistance. Shortly after, a set of waves slammed him into the rocks. Rescue swimmers went in and w…

Four people were swept into the ocean by a sneaker wave at Bonny Doon Beach in Santa Cruz County. Two of the men reached nearby rocks and were rescued by a Coast Guard helicopter. The two women died as a result of drowning.

During a cold snap, a man brought a charcoal barbecue grill into his house to keep warm. The man died due to carbon monoxide poisoning and his roommate was taken to the hospital for treatment.

A man who was fishing Friday morning at Rio Del Mar Beach was carried out to sea by a Rip Current. The man was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Wave energy from the tsunami reached the West Coast and caused approximately $6.5 million in damage to Santa Cruz Harbor, according to the local Port Director. Damage was inflicted on utility infrastructure, pilings and bathroom facilities, as more than 3 feet of water poured in.…

The tsunami caused at a minimum $3 million in damage to the Moss Landing Harbor District. Damage was inflicted on pilings, docks, the harbor channel and infrastructure. There is also potential damage to the shoreline and a possible need for dredging. https://kion546.com/news/2022…

A tsunami impacted Santa Cruz...in particular Santa Cruz Harbor. Impacts included: eighteen vessels sunk, four vessels capsized, 100+ vessels with either superficial damage or waiting to be assessed, oil sheen on the water and serious damage to harbor facilities.

Around 150 feet of the Santa Cruz wharf collapsed and fell into Monterey Bay. Three workers from the city of Santa Cruz were dropped into the water. Lifeguards rescued two of the workers, while the third was able to swim to shore.

Part of Capitola Village, including the Capitola Venetian Hotel, was evacuated due to high surf causing coastal flooding.

Capitola Village flooded as a result of high surf with waves 20-25 feet high.

Two children were tossed back into shrubs by a high surf wave in Santa Cruz.

Several neighborhoods in coastal Santa Cruz County were evacuated as a result of coastal flooding.

The Santa Cruz Wharf was damaged by high surf. The wharf was closed due to the forecast for high surf on Thursday, and partially reopened on Friday. The end of the Wharf, including Dolphin Restaurant, restrooms, and sea lion viewing holes, remained off access for repairs with no …

State Parks in Santa Cruz County reported 5 water rescues on Thursday, October 19.

State Parks in Santa Cruz County reported 7 water rescues on Wednesday, October 18.

The Younger Lagoon Reserve weather station operated by the Desert Research Institute recorded a wind gust of 60 mph.

A CWOP station near Boulder Creek reported a wind gust of 61 mph.

The Watsonville Airport ASOS reported a wind gust of 59 mph.

The Corralitos RAWS reported a gust of 24 mph. A fallen tree damaged the De Un Amor Assisted Living Facility. None of the 19 senior citizen residents were injured and all were later evacuated.

The Capitola Wharf at the Capitola State Beach broke in half, with a section of the wharf collapsing into the ocean.

Tree down blocking road at 3042 Soquel San Jose Rd.

Long period southerly swell unmoored a boat offshore Capitola, per the Harbormaster, and the boat washed ashore at Capitola Beach. No injuries were reported. A nearby Scripps buoy, Station 46269 - Point Santa Cruz, reported wave heights 4-5 ft at 17s-18s on the morning of July 20…

Santa Cruz AWOS station reported visibility down to a quarter of a mile.

High tide combining with a south swell made for difficult surfing conditions in the Monterey Bay. Officials rescued roughly 25 to 30 surfers near Pleasure Point on the 18th and 19th. The surfers had difficulty getting out of the water https://www.ksbw.com/article/santa-cruz-surfi…

Mesonet (PG&E) station at Ida Clayton Road reported overnight minimum temperature of 87 degrees F.

Large eucalyptus tree down blocking most of road at Hardin Way and Soquel Dr.

Branches hit vehicle on Buena Vista Dr at Lower Trabing Rd.

Several large tree limbs in roadway at 788 Larken Valley Rd.

Tree down on Empire Grade Rd at Heller Dr.

Wires down starting a fire on Day Valley Rd.

Tree fallen over wires and cables blocking roadway at Call of the Wild Rd and Old Santa Cruz Hwy.

Mesonet station O'Neill Sea Odyssey.

Mesonet station (PG&E) at Moss Landing Road.

Mesonet station (PG&E) at Dimeo Lane.

Mesonet station (PG&E) at Dimeo Lane.

Photo showing water intruding into the Santa Cruz Small Craft Harbor.

Large swell capsized several small boats near the Santa Cruz Harbor in the Monterey Bay Sunday afternoon. Twelve children part of a sail school needed to be rescued after sailboats were capsized. Patrols were already posted in the water and everyone was quickly rescued https://sa…

Santa Cruz Harbor Patrol rescued several people Sunday morning. Exact timing unknown https://www.ksbw.com/article/1500-santa-cruz-county-teachers-to-be-vaccinated-this-week/35485139.