• A boy plays in the lagoon where the San Lorenzo River meets the beach by the Boardwalk.
    Seven-year-old Noah Moralez came from San Jose to cool off in the lagoon at Main Beach in Santa Cruz.(Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz) Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz
  • Main Beach was a popular spot Thursday as temperatures soared toward triple digits.
    Main Beach was a popular spot Thursday as temperatures soared toward triple digits.(Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz) Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz
  • The Chardonnay II sails past Main Beach as visitors seeking to beat the heat cooled off.
    The Chardonnay II sails past Main Beach as visitors seeking to beat the heat cooled off.(Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz) Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz
  • Cameron Bell, 5, zeroes in on dad Rian as they cooled off at Main Beach in Santa Cruz.
    Cameron Bell, 5, zeroes in on dad Rian as they cooled off at Main Beach in Santa Cruz.(Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz) Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz
  • Meanwhille, it was a sweltering Thursday for agricultural workers in the fields of Watsonville.
    Meanwhille, it was a sweltering Thursday for agricultural workers in the fields of Watsonville.(Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz) Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz
  • Shade was at a premium Thursday in downtown Santa Cruz as temperatures shot into the 90s.
    Shade was at a premium Thursday in downtown Santa Cruz as temperatures shot into the 90s.(Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz) Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz
  • Lyly Ho brought son Noel Moralez, 1, from San Jose to Main Beach in Santa Cruz.
    Lyly Ho brought son Noel Moralez, 1, from San Jose to enjoy a little dip in the San Lorenzo River at Main Beach in Santa Cruz.
    (Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz) Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz
  • Crowds flocked to Main Beach in Santa Cruz during a June 2021 heat wave
    (Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz)
  • Keeping cool was all about making a splash at Main Beach in Santa Cruz on Thursday.
    Keeping cool was all about making a splash at Main Beach in Santa Cruz on Thursday.(Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz) Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz
  • Miguel Ruiz, 11, from San Jose found himself a chill spot at Main Beach in Santa Cruz on Thursday.
    Miguel Ruiz, 11, from San Jose found himself a chill spot at Main Beach in Santa Cruz on Thursday.(Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz) Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz
  • Capitola Beach was the place to be Thursday for surfers of all ages.
    Capitola Beach was the place to be Thursday for surfers of all ages.(Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz) Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz
  • READ THE STORY: Capitola Beach bummer: After popular spot gets unhealthy F, is it safe to swim there?
    READ THE STORY: Capitola Beach bummer: After popular spot gets unhealthy F, is it safe to swim there?(Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz) Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz
  • Lifeguard Ian Richardson at Capitola Beach
    Capitola Beach lifeguard Ian Richardson, a recent transplant from Santa Monica, had plenty to keep an eye on Thursday as crowds flocked to the shore in search of relief from the heat.(Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz) Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz
  • Daxton Marin, 6, of San Jose eats ice cream in Capitola Village.
    The heat wave sweeping California made Thursday a particularly good day for ice cream in Capitola Village for 6-year-old Daxton Marin of San Jose.(Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz) Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz
  • Parrot Elvis was happy to have left his building Thursday, taking in the sights and sounds at cool Capitola Beach.
    Parrot Elvis was happy to have left his building Thursday, taking in the sights and sounds at cool Capitola Beach.(Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz) Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz
  • Jasper Zion rests in the shade in the San Lorenzo Park benchlands encampment.
    With temperatures soaring Thursday in Santa Cruz, Jasper Zion rests in the shade in the San Lorenzo Park benchlands encampment.

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