Persistent high surf and flooding threats along California's coast have residents on high alert a day after a major storm was blamed for one man's death and the partial collapse of a pier.

Three people were rescued from the wharf. The powerful surf also fatally trapped a man under debris on a beach in Santa Cruz, the authorities said.

Large waves of 25 to 35 feet were expected along the Northern California coast on Tuesday and a high surf warning is in effect until 6 p.m.

One person is dead and at least one other is missing after large waves hammered the California coastline Monday amid a high surf warning. First responders were called to Sunset State Beach, a state park in Watsonville,