Monster Surf Slams California: Piers Close, Capitola's Wharf Takes a Hit, and Forecasters Flag Another Swell

Giant waves pounded the California coast on Saturday, forcing beach and pier closures and threatening coastal homes and infrastructure from San Diego to Malibu and beyond, the Los Angeles Times reported. Northern California took the hardest blow. At major break points such as Mavericks in San Mateo County, localized waves reached 50 to 60 feet, according to the Times.

The New York Times reported waves of more than 50 feet in spots and said conditions were too dangerous even for seasoned surfers at some beaches. Officials urged onlookers to stay off the beaches altogether, the paper reported, and the Los Angeles Times summed up the message in a warning it quoted: the beach "is not your friend this weekend".

In Santa Cruz County, the sheriff's office announced an evacuation warning for a stretch of coast near Capitola, which the Los Angeles Times said was taking the brunt of the Pacific's fury. Video recorded around 12:30 p.m. Saturday, close to high tide, showed waves crashing into the Capitola Wharf and damaging its railing, KSBW reported, at a time when breaking waves of 25 to 35 feet were expected along the Central Coast.

Farther down the coast, the city of Pismo Beach closed its landmark pier through early Sunday morning because of forecast high tides and large surf, CalCoastNews reported. The National Weather Service had warned of dangerously large breaking waves of 18 to 25 feet there, along with rip currents, and city staff said they would keep watching the tides and close more areas if needed, according to the report.

In Los Angeles County, Manhattan Beach shut its pier, a rare step for one of Southern California's best-known attractions, the Los Angeles Times reported.

The Weather Service's high surf warnings for the Bay Area and the Central Coast called for breaking waves of 25 to 35 feet, with occasional sets of 40 to 50 feet at favored break points, and were set to expire in the early hours of Sunday. CBS News Bay Area reported that the weekend warning came with a chance of rain as well.

The break may not last long. Weather Service bulletins said a series of west-northwesterly swells would keep large surf rolling into next week, with warning-level waves possible again late Sunday night through Monday. Officials quoted by the Los Angeles Times said more rounds of damaging waves could follow this week.

That means coastal residents who spent Saturday sandbagging and watching the water should not assume the danger is over when the sun comes up Sunday. A lull between swells can lure people back onto rocks, jetties and closed piers just before the next set arrives.

The advice from lifeguards and forecasters along the coast is old and simple, and it saves lives every winter:

Stay well back from the water's edge, and never turn your back on the ocean. Keep children and pets close, and off seawalls and rocks. Obey every closure sign and barricade; a closed pier is closed for a reason. Do not try to rescue a person or a dog swept into the surf yourself; call 911 and keep your eyes on them. If you live in a low-lying neighborhood under a warning, have a bag packed and a plan to leave quickly.

There is something humbling about watching a 50-foot wall of water rise off a familiar shoreline. Families who have walked the same boardwalks for years saw piers they take for granted shudder under the weight of the Pacific. As Psalm 93 reminds us, the Lord on high is mightier than the waves of the sea, and a little humility before His creation is the wisest posture on a weekend like this one.

Liberty Bell Report will keep watching the Weather Service warnings and the next swell as it approaches Sunday night. Before heading to the coast, check your local city and county closure notices, and when in doubt, enjoy the show from a safe distance.