Pacifica slammed with heavy rain and high winds

Officials closed the Pacifica Pier Thursday morning due to unrelenting wind and rain as the Pineapple Express storm moved through the Bay Area. Wind gusts were reported up to 40 miles per hour.

PHOTOS: Severe storm hits the Bay Area

When waves were at their peak, they were between 12 to 15 feet high and crashed along the shore all day. Sometimes the waves made it over the sea wall and spilled over the sidewalk and into the streets of Pacifica along the ocean.

The rain didn't stop some people from coming out. ABC7 News spoke to one person who had to see Mother Nature's fury for herself. "Pacifica can get storms off the coast and we'll see them big, but this is pretty impressive today, watch out," Meg Campbell said.

A lot of people walking through Pacifica Thursday evening told ABC7 News the waves are pretty impressive.

When you get a very strong low pressure system like this one, it actually exerts less force on the ocean, allowing the sea level to rise. If you combine that with the gusty winds ranging between 30 to 50 miles per hour, it creates conditions where waves can reach up to 20 feet over the next 24 hours.

A High Surf Advisory has been extended for the coast until 4 p.m. Friday.

ABC7 News reporter Nick Smith was at the pier early Thursday morning covering the storm, when wind gusts reached up to 40 miles per hour. To watch the video, click here.

Highway 1 at Manor Drive is blocked in both directions due to flooding.

The National Weather Service has issued a flash flood warning for San Mateo County, as well as other parts of the Bay Area.