City beaches and the municipal wharf in Santa Cruz will be closed from 10 p.m. Friday until 5 a.m. Sunday, though officials noted that closures may extend through Tuesday depending on ocean conditions. In Monterey County, all coastal turnouts in Pacific Grove are closed during the same period. Big Basin State Park in Santa Cruz County also closed on Friday due to forecasted high winds, with staff scheduled to evaluate conditions for a potential reopening on Saturday morning.
County officials issued urgent public safety warnings urging residents and visitors to stay away from the shoreline, rocks, jetties, and coastal cliffs. The combination of high surf and high tides is expected to push fast-moving water into areas normally considered safe, potentially flooding coastal access points and low-lying zones. Officials warned that evacuation orders along the coast are possible if conditions worsen. “These conditions can cost you your life — and put the lives of first responders at risk when they are called to rescue you,” the county stated in its warning.
In addition to the surf, the approaching cold front will bring sustained winds of 15 to 30 miles per hour, with gusts reaching 30 to 40 miles per hour. These winds pose risks of falling trees and power lines. Caltrans is currently monitoring Highway 1 near Monastery Beach in Monterey County and will close the roadway if waves, flooding, or debris reach the pavement. Cowell Beach in Santa Cruz has remained closed since a whale stranded there on Thursday and will stay closed until further notice.
The National Weather Service forecast indicates conditions will deteriorate Friday night before peaking into early Sunday. While a Beach Hazards Statement was in effect Friday morning, it was upgraded to a High Surf Warning Friday evening. Authorities emphasized that waves can arrive without warning even when the ocean appears calm, advising the public to keep children and pets away from the shore. No specific casualty figures or confirmed damage reports were available at the time of the initial closure announcements.
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