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Powerful waves hammer Pacific Coast again as search continues in California for man swept out to sea

Rough surf earlier this week in California killed a man and collapsed a section of the Santa Cruz Pier.

By Aaron Barker Source FOX Weather

Drone video shows extent of damage to Santa Cruz Pier

Aerial video shot by a drone shows the damage sustained by the Santa Cruze Pier and the surrounding area by the rough surf that hammered the region earlier this week.

MARINA, Calif. – Rescuers continue to search for a man who was swept out to sea when rough surf hammered the Northern California coast earlier this week even as more powerful waves are hitting the same area again.

The turbulent Pacific Ocean, which is being churned up by a series of atmospheric rivers that have brought rounds of precipitation and high winds to the West Coast, took out a chunk of the Santa Cruz Pier on Monday. 

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Part of Santa Cruz wharf washes into Pacific amid rough seas

Dangerous surf washed away a 150-foot chunk of the Santa Cruz wharf. The extreme waves and coastal flooding are forecast to continue for all of the Pacific Coast through Tuesday.

A man died at Sunset State Beach after he became trapped under debris, according to FOX 2 San Francisco. Bystanders freed the man, but he later died at a hospital.

Police in Marina said that another man went missing Monday after he was swept out to sea by the high surf at Marina State Beach. Authorities have been limited to a land-based search for the man because the water has been too rough. 

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A view of big waves in Pacific Ocean at Municipal Pier of Pacifica, California, United States on December 22, 2024. (Tayfun Coskun / Anadolu )

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People look at the collapsed pier at the Santa Cruz Wharf in Santa Cruz, California, on December 23, 2024. (Daniel Dreifuss / AFP)

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A view of big waves in Pacific Ocean at Municipal Pier of Pacifica, California, United States on December 22, 2024 as coastal flood and high surf warning issued in San Francisco, Coastal North Bay Including Point Reyes National Seashore, San Francisco Peninsula Coast, Northern Monterey Bay and Southern Monterey Bay and Big Sur Coast Counties. (Photo by Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images) (Tayfun Coskun / Anadolu )

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Part of the Santa Cruz Wharf floating in the Pacific Ocean on Monday, Dec. 23, 2024.  (Santa Cruz Police Department)

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Officials conduct rescues after a portion of the Santa Cruz wharf was destroyed by powerful waves on Monday. (Santa Cruz Fire Department)

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Officials conduct rescues after a portion of the Santa Cruz wharf was destroyed by powerful waves on Monday. (Santa Cruz Fire Department)

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Officials conduct rescues after a portion of the Santa Cruz wharf was destroyed by powerful waves on Monday. (Santa Cruz Fire Department)

More rough surf to pound Northern California coast

Christmas Day provided some improvement along the Northern California coast, but forecasters said the respite was short-lived.

High Surf Warnings and Advisories have again been issued along the Pacific Coast of the U.S., with some alerts in Northern California in effect until at least Sunday.

According to the National Weather Service, large breaking waves of up to 30 feet are likely. In some places, wave heights could reach as high as 50 feet.