Jan. 5, 2023Updated: Jan. 5, 2023 2:58 p.m.
The coastal town of Capitola has suffered extensive damage as a result of flooding from Wednesday's bomb cyclone storm, as impacts from heavy rains continue to batter Santa Cruz County.
Photos posted to Santa Cruz County's Twitter account show Capitola Wharf essentially split in half, with the beach completely overtaken by floodwaters. The streets of Capitola Village, the town's main tourist attraction, were completely ravaged by ocean swells and water that was pushed over the banks of Soquel Creek in photos and videos posted by locals.
People walk along Cliff Drive to view the Capitola Wharf damaged by heavy storm waves in Capitola, Calif., Thursday, Jan. 5, 2023.
Nic Coury/AP
A support piece from the Capitola Wharf is seen inside the storm damaged Zelda's restaurant in Capitola, Calif., Thursday, Jan. 5, 2023. Giant ocean swells pushed debris through the front wall and a window, filling the interior with several inches of seawater. Damaging hurricane-force winds, surging surf and heavy rains from a powerful "atmospheric river" pounded California on Thursday, knocking out power to tens of thousands, causing flooding, and contributing to the deaths of at least two people.
Shmuel Thaler/APLow-lying coastal areas in Santa Cruz County are now under threat of a tidal surge, the Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office announced in a press release Thursday morning. "Due to large waves and high tides along the coastline, there is a threat to the safety of those residents," the sheriff's office wrote in the press release. "If you can evacuate safely, please do so immediately."
Capitola Beach and Pier are under siege with tide and surf still rising. pic.twitter.com/89b1CAGfg6
— Semi-Pro Storm Chaser (@soulfocussports) January 5, 2023A man is taking photos amid surging ocean-driven water in Soquel Creek in Capitola Village near Santa Cruz pic.twitter.com/Jt1A0iAly3
— EthanBaron (@ethanbaron) January 5, 2023This is so sad… pic.twitter.com/wqLeZQB1BG
— Native Santa Cruz (@NativeSantaCruz) January 5, 2023Residents who are unable to evacuate are advised to shelter in place and move away from open-facing windows. A coastal flood warning is in effect until 4 p.m. Thursday and a high surf advisory is in effect until 3 a.m. Friday. Waves of up to 22 feet are in the forecast, as well as the potential for more flooding.
"Low lying property including homes, businesses, and some critical infrastructure will be inundated," the National Weather Service says. "Some shoreline erosion will occur."
This comes two days after the county declared a local disaster due to damages from the storm, including "significant debris in the waterways, mudslides and debris flows, road washouts and road collapses, and power outages throughout the county." At the time of the declaration, damages from the storm were estimated to be at least $10 million.
Heavy storm waves crash along East Cliff Drive in Capitola, Calif., Thursday, Jan. 5, 2023. Damaging winds and heavy rains from a powerful "atmospheric river" pounded California on Thursday.
Nic Coury/APFull Bay Area Storm Coverage
English (United States) ·