Orange County residents face ongoing concerns for coastal flooding, high surf, and beach erosion this week, as swells from Hurricane Polo and Tropical Storm Odalys continue to impact the Southern California coast. A coastal flood advisory for Orange County will remain in effect until 5 p.m. Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service.
Southerly swells from both Polo and Odalys are expected to affect the region through Tuesday, with forecasters from the National Weather Service indicating that Hurricane Polo is likely to produce the more significant swell, originating from the south-southeast. These swells are anticipated to coincide with "very high tides" during the late morning hours, a combination that heightens the risk for vulnerable south-facing shores, especially those still impacted by lingering erosion from Hurricane Marie earlier this month.
Potential impacts include shallow seawater flooding of low-lying walkways, parking lots, and roads on south-facing beaches, alongside significant beach erosion. Forecasters also note the possibility of very localized damage to structures in the most vulnerable areas. High tides are projected to reach approximately 7 feet in the late morning on Tuesday, nearly a foot above astronomical tides, a situation the National Weather Service attributes to the ongoing effects of El Nino. While the National Weather Service states this current swell is slightly smaller than that from Hurricane Marie, there is still significant concern for coastal flooding over vulnerable south-facing beaches. The NWS highlighted Avalon, Long Beach, and Malibu as areas of greatest concern, noting Avalon could be particularly vulnerable due to Polo’s swells arriving from a more southeasterly direction than those from Marie, leaving the area more exposed.
In addition to property risks, the Los Angeles’ Emergency Management Department issued an alert warning residents to prepare for impacts including an increased risk of drowning from widespread and very strong rip currents. Residents in areas prone to coastal flooding were advised to obtain ready-to-fill sandbags from Los Angeles Fire Department stations, and to review information on proper sandbag placement.
As coastal communities manage these water-related concerns, forecasters are also warning of a potentially dangerous heat wave that could begin developing Friday and persist through next week. The National Weather Service anticipates temperatures will start climbing on Friday, increasing by about 3 degrees daily through October 5, as high pressure builds over the region and offshore pressure gradients intensify.
Warmer valley areas could eventually see temperatures rise to 105 to 110 degrees. Downtown Los Angeles and other inland coastal areas might reach 100 to 104 degrees, while coastal areas are projected to experience temperatures between 85 and 98 degrees. Before this heat wave fully develops, a low-end Santa Ana wind event is expected on Tuesday, with northeast winds largely confined to the mountains and generally remaining below 35 mph. Temperatures are also expected to rise at least 5 degrees along the coast and 10 degrees or more elsewhere before a slight cooldown on Wednesday and Thursday.
