Persistent high surf and flooding threats along California’s coast had residents on high alert a day after a major storm was blamed for one man’s death and the partial collapse of a pier, which propelled three people into the Pacific Ocean.

Southern California will have a bright Christmas – mostly sunny skies and high surf beginning on Saturday, Dec. 21, forecasters say.

One man died and three people were thrown into the ocean after California's coast faced powerful waves and flooding Tuesday. This followed a major storm that caused widespread damage and left several people missing.