Weather worries include slick roads and dangerous waves

While drivers will encounter slippery roads Monday, coastal cities are bracing for dangerously high surf.

Forecasters say powerful west to northwest swells will produce breakers of 25-40 feet, with some occasionally exceeding 50 feet.

The National Weather Service has issued a High Surf Warning until 9 p.m. Monday, saying conditions will be dangerous and potentially damaging and life-threatening. A High Surf Advisory has been extended until 5 p.m. Tuesday.

They advise people to stay away from the shoreline, and avoid rocks, jetties and beaches.

The Capitola Wharf was closed off Monday morning because of the high surf.

High waves will also pose a threat of beach erosion and localized coastal flooding.

However, surfers at Capitola Beach had no concern over mother nature’s monster swell.

David Delagarza, from Santa Cruz, says he “lucked into the swell of the season, so far.”

While the waves in Capitola did not reach 40-plus feet like up north in Pacifica, some surfers here said that size is too intense for them.

“You won’t find me there. That’s for people that like extreme things,” surfer Peter Andreini said.

“Maybe you can say it’s a little dangersous in other spots, but if you know what you’re doing and you want to go out, than have fun. But over here it’s pretty mellow,” said Santa Cruz resident Amanda Plesa.

While there was no hesitation from surfers, the city got ahead of a potential problem by shutting down the Capitola Wharf. Water was easily reaching the platform, Monday.

The Santa Cruz Wharf stayed open, and that is no surprise. KION learns it has only closed roughly a dozen times in the last 30 years.

After building overnight, high waves are expected to peak Monday morning. The waves will begin to gradually subside late Monday night into Tuesday.