An increasingly ferocious and volatile surf is raising questions about the future of the state’s piers, which have defined the coastline for generations.

At least one person is dead and one reported missing amid massive surf that pounded parts of the California coast Monday, including Santa Cruz and the Monterey Bay area. The waves were fueled by the latest in a series of storms to hit the West Coast in recent days.

Powerful waves are expected to batter Northern California, again, following a flurry of earlier storms that destroyed a portion of a historic pier.

Large waves continued to pound the California coast on Thursday, December 26. The National Weather Service issued high surf advisories for large portions Northern California. RESTRICTIONS AND USAGE TERMS: Please credit “@lolly_28 via Spectee”.

Powerful waves pounded rocks along the Mendocino coast in northern California on Thursday, December 26, while a high surf advisory was in effect for the area. Footage from X user @lolly_28 shows the stormy conditions in Fort Bragg.