Storms in the North Pacific Ocean deliver sneaker waves, rip currents and longshore currents to Santa Cruz County’s shores in winter, making it a dangerous time for beachgoers.
Ask Lookout
Posted inLatest News
Ask Lookout: What prompts a tornado warning, and do we have a ‘tornado season’?
Two tornado warnings over the past two weeks likely surprised many Santa Cruz County residents. No tornadoes touched down in the county this year, but one did in Scotts Valley at the end of 2024. So what prompts a tornado warning from the National Weather Service? And when, if ever, is tornado season locally?
Posted inLatest News
Ask Lookout: Why has Santa Cruz’s water demand dropped?
Santa Cruz’s water usage remains at its lowest since the 1960s, despite population growth in the past few decades. Officials say cultural shifts, shrinking lawns and efficient appliances have helped keep demand low.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Ask Lookout: What is Watsonville’s project labor agreement that has trade unions up in arms?
Why did nearly 150 union workers pack Watsonville City Council chambers earlier this month to urge the city not to rescind a longstanding labor agreement that sets the employment terms for major city infrastructure projects?
Posted inLatest News
Ask Lookout: What is the Santa Cruz County mosquito control ballot that came in the mail?
Santa Cruz County property owners are being asked to weigh in on a proposed fee increase that would fund expanded mosquito and rodent control services. Officials say the move is aimed at bolstering public health efforts amid rising concerns over invasive species and disease prevention.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Ask Lookout: Is Santa Cruz County considering additional locations for battery storage facilities?
Santa Cruz County residents are concerned that the battery storage facility proposed outside Watsonville is not the only possible location within the county for battery storage. County officials and developers say the South County project is the only pending application and viable location.
Posted inLatest News
Ask Lookout: Why was Santa Cruz’s town clock five minutes early? And who just fixed it?
Santa Cruz’s downtown town clock finally reads the correct time after years of becoming progressively earlier. The city contracted an electrician to fix it last week.
Posted inLatest News
Ask Lookout: The San Lorenzo River water level was high in July. Is that normal?
You might have noticed the waters in the San Lorenzo River getting fairly high this summer. It’s actually not unusual and happens virtually every year. The City of Santa Cruz installed a new system last year to keep water levels below 5 feet, though engineers are still adjusting how it works.
Posted inEastside / Live Oak / Pleasure Point
Ask Lookout: Is there any way to lessen the time or impact of Murray Street Bridge construction?
As the impacts of the full closure of the Murray Street Bridge ripple across the city, Santa Cruz residents have raised concerns about congestion, business losses and whether the city could have planned construction more efficiently.
Posted inLatest News
Ask Lookout: Why are there cows in Arana Gulch?
A curious reader asked Lookout why cows graze at Arana Gulch, a city-owned park north of the Santa Cruz Harbor. The search for an answer led to a group tasked with saving an endangered species.