Update: Santa Cruz Co. lifts evacuation warnings for Capitola, Seacliff, Pajaro Dunes beach areas
Santa Cruz County officials lifted evacuation warnings for several communities Thursday afternoon after costal areas were pounded by high surf and flooding earlier in the day.
Around 3:15 p.m., county officials said on social media that all orders have been lifted, but urged residents to prepare for additional rain on Friday and possible high surf on Saturday.
An evacuation warning was issued just before 8 a.m. for coastal areas near Seacliff State Beach in Aptos, zone CTL-E048 on the Genasys Protect map.
Later Thursday morning, areas around Pajaro Dunes, zone CRZ-E070, were placed under an evacuation warning. County officials said large breaking waves and high tides were causing safety threats along the coast.
The evacuation warnings extended to Capitola just before noon. Capitola Police said the lower Esplanade area was under an evacuation warning, corresponding to zones CTL-E027A and CTL-E027B
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Residents in the area were urged to be prepared to leave should an evacuation order be issued.
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An earlier alert from the county indicated that flooding was underway along the Rio Del Mar Esplanade in Aptos.
In the city of Santa Cruz Thursday morning, flooding closed East Cliff Drive at Schwan Lake, Corcoran Lagoon and Moran Lake. County officials urged people to avoid the coast.
The warnings came as the National Weather Service has issued a High Surf Warning for Bay Area coastal areas, describing possible life-threatening conditions along the shore.
The High Surf Warning was in effect from 3 a.m. Thursday to 3 a.m. Friday. A Coastal Flood Advisory was also in effect until 3 a.m. Friday, the weather service said.
