1997–1998 El Niño
Another major El Niño event that produced relentless winter storms.
Coastal erosion affected more than 30% of California’s beaches.
Piers and Infrastructure:
The Capitola Wharf was partially destroyed by high waves.
The Seal Beach Pier sustained heavy damage, necessitating repairs.
Torrential rains flooded low-lying areas and coastal towns, causing massive mudslides along cliffs.
Total damage was estimated at over $500 million.
1983 Storm Surge and intense storms during the spring of 1983.
Huntington Beach Pier: Entire pier sections were destroyed by waves exceeding 25 feet in height.
Redondo Beach Pier: Significant structural damage occurred, leading to reconstruction.
Santa Monica Pier: The pier faced extensive damage, requiring significant repairs.
2017 Atmospheric River Storms
A series of atmospheric river events in the winter of 2017.
Coastal areas experienced powerful waves and extensive flooding, especially in Santa Cruz County.
Severe cliff collapses occurred along the Big Sur coastline, leading to the closure of Highway 1 for months.
Damages: Storms caused over $1.5 billion in damages across the state, with coastal areas among the hardest hit.
