Southern California is not expected to experience a direct hit from Hurricane Polo or Hurricane Odalys, but forecasters are warning of potential coastal flooding and significant beach erosion early next week due to swells generated by Hurricane Polo. The National Weather Service (NWS) stated Wednesday that current forecasts show Hurricane Polo turning north and east toward Baja California Sur, with no models indicating either system will reach Southern California directly.
"At this time there are exactly zero solutions that bring either of these systems to Southern California," according to the NWS. However, forecasters emphasized that the primary concern for the region from these tropical systems remains along the coast. Increasing south swells are anticipated to begin late Sunday and are expected to peak on Monday and Tuesday.
The weather agency highlighted the expectation of elevated swells from Hurricane Polo, with elevated surf and potential impacts peaking Monday and Tuesday. Forecasters have high confidence in tide predictions reaching approximately 7 feet during the late morning hours from Monday through Wednesday. There is, however, low to moderate confidence regarding surf conditions, as these are dependent on Polo’s precise track, which has not yet been definitively determined.
Areas of particular concern include the Peninsula and Belmont Shore in Long Beach, as well as Avalon and Malibu. For residents and property owners in these coastal communities, the NWS indicates a high probability that coastal flood advisories could be issued for Monday and Tuesday. Such advisories would warn of potential shallow seawater flooding affecting low-lying walkways, parking lots, and roads, alongside the possibility of significant beach erosion.
While less likely, forecasters noted a lower chance of more severe flooding that could prompt coastal flood warnings. In such a scenario, seawater could potentially impact structures, as well as walkways, parking lots, and roads, with significant beach erosion also expected.
Uncertainty persists regarding Hurricane Polo’s exact path and intensity. Forecasters reiterated that the greatest risk to Southern California is to its beaches, with periods of increasing south swells late Sunday and peaking Monday and Tuesday.
In related weather news, a stray shower cannot be entirely ruled out, though most forecast models suggest a trough moving through the region would push the majority of tropical moisture to the south and east of Los Angeles County.
Meanwhile, Southern California residents can expect warm and generally quiet weather through Saturday. High temperatures are predicted to be 5 to 10 degrees above normal for this period. Forecasters estimate a 20% to 40% chance that temperatures could reach 100 degrees in the warmer valleys. Downtown Los Angeles, specifically, has a 60% to 70% chance of reaching 90 degrees on each of the next three days. A cooling trend is projected to begin on Sunday as a trough makes its way onshore over Northern California.
