Santa Cruz closes city beaches, wharf as county warns of 35-foot waves

Santa Cruz city beaches and the municipal wharf will close Friday night as high surf brings waves of 25 to 35 feet or larger to parts of the coast. County officials have issued an urgent warning for people to stay away from the shoreline.

The closures start at 10 p.m. Friday and are slated to last until 5 a.m. Sunday, though when they end depends on weather and ocean conditions. The wharf will keep its regular hours on Friday. Cowell Beach has been closed since a whale stranded there Thursday and will stay closed until further notice.

The National Weather Service has issued a high surf warning. Conditions are expected to get worse Friday night and last through early Sunday. County officials say the surf and high tides could push fast-moving water into places that are normally safe, flood coastal access points and low-lying areas, and force more beach and parking-lot closures. Evacuation warnings along the coast are possible.

“These conditions can cost you your life — and put the lives of first responders at risk when they are called to rescue you,” the county said in a public safety warning.

Officials want residents and visitors to stay out of the water and away from beaches, rocks, jetties, coastal cliffs and other exposed areas. Waves can arrive without warning, even when the ocean looks fairly calm. Keep children and pets away from the shoreline.

Strong winds are also expected to pick up Friday. Gusts could snap tree branches, bring down power lines and cause outages. The county advises people to watch for falling limbs and debris, stay clear of downed lines and be ready for possible power interruptions.

The wharf’s recent history

The closure comes less than two years after winter storms damaged the wharf. On Dec. 23, 2024, waves tore about 150 feet off the end of the structure. The partial collapse dropped a city worker into Monterey Bay.

The wharf reopened Jan. 4, 2025, but repairs took more than a year. The city marked the end of the restoration work in April 2026.

The city says the wharf is structurally sound and is closing it to keep people away from hazardous ocean conditions.

Santa Cruz Fire Chief Rob Oatey said the public’s cooperation matters.

“Entering the water or approaching hazardous coastal areas puts not only your life at risk, but also the lives of the marine safety personnel who may be called upon to rescue you,” Oatey said in the city’s announcement.

Officials also ask that people not go to the shoreline to watch or photograph the waves.

You can check conditions through the National Weather Service’s Bay Area office and sign up for local emergency alerts at CruzAware.org. The city and county say they will keep monitoring conditions and will announce any changes to the closures or restrictions.