Rising seas, frequent storms take toll on California’s iconic piers, threatening beach landmarks. (Feb. 1) (AP video by Haven Daley)
SAN DIEGO (AP) — More storms, rising seas and huge waves are taking their toll on California’s iconic piers that have dotted the Pacific coast since the Gold Rush, posing the biggest threat yet to the beach landmarks that have become a quintessential part of the landscape.
At least a half dozen public piers are closed after being damaged repeatedly by storms with multiple atmospheric rivers hitting the state over the past year. Repair costs have climbed into the millions of dollars.
Among those shuttered is the pier in Capitola built in 1857 that predates the northern California town and is a popular spot to watch passing whales and dolphins. Another damaged by storms in San Diego, the Ocean Beach pier, offers a bird’s eye view of surfers carving waves below.
More damage is possible this year with El Nino, which is expected to bring additional storms to California caused by the temporary warming of parts of the Pacific that changes weather worldwide. Back-to-back atmospheric rivers began drenching California this week, causing flooded roads, toppled trees and traffic accidents. The second “Pineapple Express” — called that because the plume of moisture stretches back across the Pacific to near Hawaii — was forecast to arrive as early as Saturday night and unleash a more powerful storm.