Caution over big waves prompts Santa Cruz wharf closure

UPDATE: Santa Cruz officials said the Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf is safe and will reopen to the public on Saturday at 3:30 p.m.

Change any plans that involved going to the Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf this Saturday.

With a storm looming and some very big waves expected, city officials have decided to close the wharf to the public.

KION Chief Meteorologist Dann Cianca is forecasting waves up to 30 feet.

Staff from the wharf and fire department will monitor the impacts of the storm and determine when it’s safe to reopen.

City officials expect the worst of the storm to hit the wharf between 6am and noon.

“Should weather forecasts prove true, it is much safer to keep the public off the wharf in the first place than to conduct an emergency operation,” according to Jason Hajduk, Fire Division Chief of Operations, quoted in a press release.

Weather and surf conditions permitting, the wharf could reopen Saturday afternoon.