Officials and residents across Southern California are preparing for significant impact from very high tides this week, following early-season storms that have already damaged coastal areas.
The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued flood warnings for Orange and San Diego counties, in effect from Sunday morning through midday Thursday. Morning high tides in these counties are anticipated to be 1 to 1.7 feet above projections, the weather service stated. The NWS also cautioned that "Numerous roads may be closed," and that low-lying property, including homes, businesses, and some critical infrastructure, is expected to be inundated.
In a significant disruption for commuters, Metrolink announced a temporary suspension of service in southern Orange County. The suspension, from Monday through Friday, affects stations at Laguna Niguel/Mission Viejo and Oceanside, explicitly due to the impending high tides. The affected rail line, which connects Orange County to San Diego and is used by both Metrolink and Amtrak, has faced long-standing challenges from coastal erosion and was previously closed for several days over the summer.
Further demonstrating ongoing coastal vulnerabilities, the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) has already secured millions of dollars in emergency funds. These funds are designated for repairs to a substantial crack that formed during early-October high tides on a slope beneath Pacific Coast Highway near Laguna Beach, specifically near the Moro Beach section of Crystal Cove.
While Orange County faces flood warnings, coastal parts of Los Angeles, Ventura, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo counties are under lower-level flood advisories from the weather service. The highest tides are forecast for Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday mornings, when they are expected to reach 7.5 to 8 feet, or 1 to 1.5 feet above astronomical projections. Recent weeks have seen coastal communities throughout Southern California experiencing flooding, attributed to a potentially historic El Niño.
Long Beach and Newport Beach have been particularly affected by recent devastation, with the source noting "viral videos showing waves crashing onto oceanside homes, parking lots, boardwalks and jetties." In Newport Beach, the Balboa Peninsula and islands within Newport Harbor are of specific concern, according to City Manager Seimone Jurjis. Jurjis stated that city teams have been actively "reinforcing sand berms, evaluating vulnerable seawalls, placing sandbags, inspecting storm drains and preparing additional pumps, heavy equipment and emergency resources." He also noted coordination of additional staffing across city departments to monitor conditions and respond. The city is providing sandbags at three locations and has encouraged residents with private seawalls to reinforce them as needed.
The NWS stressed the need for caution from beach visitors and coastal residents. The weather service advised against driving "around barricades or through water of unknown depth" if travel is required. Beachgoers are also urged to stay off jetties and sea walls, and to avoid beaches entirely during high tides.
Separately, the California Coastal Commission's website indicates that so-called king tides are not anticipated until late November.
