SANTA CRUZ, CA — Evacuation warnings have been posted for four coastal zones in Santa Cruz County as a winter storm is expected to send large surf into the Central Coast. The alerts were issued Friday afternoon by the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office and the Capitola Police Department.
Officials said the warnings cover neighborhoods and shoreline areas that could be exposed to dangerous waves, sneaker waves, and strong rip currents. The concern is not only flooding at the waterline, but also the risk to anyone who goes too close to the beach during the highest surf.
Four shoreline zones are under warning
The warning areas include CTL-E048, which covers Las Olas Drive and Beach Drive. Another zone, CTL-E031, includes the Pot Belly Beach Road area.
Two additional zones are in Capitola. CTL-E027-A includes the Capitola wharf, south of Cliff Drive and west of Soquel Creek, while CTL-E029-B covers Capitola Village between Capitola Avenue and Monterey Avenue, plus areas west of Riverview Avenue and south of the railroad track.
Residents were urged to know their zone and check the live evacuation map so they can understand whether their home or business is included.
A major swell is expected to hit the Central Coast
Meteorologist Erica Hoyte said one of the biggest concerns Friday and into the weekend is the coastline. An Alert Day has been issued for Saturday for the Monterey Peninsula and Santa Cruz because of dangerous surf conditions.
A High Surf Warning began Friday evening and is expected to last through early Sunday morning. The forecast calls for breaking waves of 25 to 35 feet, with even larger surf possible at some exposed beaches.
Officials warn of life-threatening sneaker waves and rip currents
The biggest hazard is not just the height of the surf. Dangerous sneaker waves can surge farther inland than people expect, and powerful rip currents can quickly pull swimmers and beachgoers into trouble.
Authorities described the conditions as life-threatening for anyone near the water. Even people standing on rocks, piers, or sandy beaches can be caught off guard when a larger set arrives without warning.
That risk is especially serious during a storm with large coastal wave energy, when the ocean can appear deceptively calm before a strong burst of water reaches shore.
Capitola and nearby neighborhoods face the sharpest exposure
Capitola is among the areas most directly named in the warning, including the wharf and parts of Capitola Village. Those locations sit close to the shoreline and are more vulnerable when surf builds quickly and tides combine with storm-driven waves.
The warning also reaches beach-adjacent residential streets, including the Las Olas Drive and Beach Drive area and the Pot Belly Beach Road area. Those neighborhoods are being told to pay close attention to changing conditions and official instructions.
For residents, the practical step right now is to confirm whether their address falls inside one of the named evacuation zones.
Conditions remain a concern through the weekend
The storm threat is expected to last beyond Friday, with dangerous surf continuing into early Sunday morning. That means beach hazards may remain in place through a busy weekend period when people often go to the shoreline to watch the waves.
Officials have not announced any broader evacuation order, but the warnings signal that conditions could become dangerous quickly in the affected zones. The combination of high surf, rip currents, and sneaker waves makes the coast unsafe for casual viewing.
KSBW described the situation as developing, with more updates expected as the storm moves through the region and surf conditions evolve.