Southern California braces for record-breaking tides and coastal flooding this week
The National Weather Service warns of potentially record tides in San Diego and Orange counties through Thursday, with preliminary measurements already exceeding 100-year gauge records.
What happened
Southern California coastal communities are preparing for significant coastal flooding expected through Thursday, with the National Weather Service warning of record-breaking tides. The San Pedro tide gauge recorded 8.02 feet by Monday morning, the highest measurement since records began in November 1923. Tides as high as 8 feet are forecast for the region from San Luis Obispo to Los Angeles counties. Newport Beach declared a local emergency more than a week in advance and deployed staff to reinforce infrastructure, install sandbags, and inspect critical systems. The NWS issued guidance to avoid beaches during high tides and stay farther back from the ocean than usual, as waves are expected to run much farther up beaches than normal.
Context
Ocean water levels in the region are already 15 to 22 inches higher than expected due to El Niño and a Kelvin wave, according to Newport Beach's city manager. In coastal communities, this baseline elevation difference can mean the distinction between water remaining below seawalls and water flooding into streets, garages, and homes during peak tidal events. The region has already experienced extreme weather this month, including flooding from city streets and damage from Tropical Storm Rachel, which destroyed homes and a boardwalk. A historic El Niño unfolding in the Pacific is expected to bring severe storms to California this winter.