Orange County’s coastline is preparing for several days of potential flooding, as unusually high tides threaten to inundate low-lying roads, businesses, and homes, erode beaches, and disrupt train service. The National Weather Service has issued a coastal flood warning for Orange County’s coast, effective from Sunday morning through Thursday afternoon. Coastal areas in Los Angeles and Ventura counties are also under flood advisories.
The most significant flooding is anticipated during morning high tides from Monday through Thursday. Forecasters indicate that tides could reach one-and-a-half-feet above predicted levels, with water potentially pushing inland across vulnerable stretches of the coastline.
In Newport Beach, officials expect tides to reach at least 6 feet beginning Monday, with levels possibly climbing above 8 feet. This could lead to the inundation of low-lying homes and businesses situated along the Orange County coast, according to forecasters. The impending threat follows a previous incident earlier this month when floodwater covered parts of the Balboa Peninsula, prompting residents to take protective measures for their properties.
Newport Beach resident Laura Hamilton, who experienced the earlier flooding, noted, “I’ve lived here 30 years, and I’ve never seen anything like this.” Hamilton is now actively preparing for the forecast deluge, stacking sandbags and clearing vulnerable areas within her home to protect against water intrusion.
The potential impacts extend beyond private property, with flooding also threatening beach parking lots, bike paths, and walkways in Los Angeles and Ventura counties. Additionally, powerful high tides are expected to further erode already vulnerable beaches.
Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley stated that county crews have been actively working to mitigate flood risks. Supervisor Foley confirmed that county public works teams and flood district teams have been clearing debris from gutters and flood channels, and ensuring that no individuals are living in these channels, prioritizing public safety. In Long Beach, crews are engaged in rebuilding and reinforcing sand berms along the coastline to shield it from rising water.
According to Dave Munyan, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, the phenomenon is attributed to a combination of factors, including warmer ocean temperatures and shifting Pacific Ocean conditions linked to El Niño. Munyan explained that warmer sea surface temperatures contribute to a thermal expansion of the water, making a warmer body of water slightly thicker. He also cited Kelvin wave influences, driven by the ongoing El Niño across the Pacific Ocean, as producing a “slosh effect” that bolsters background tides.
Officials are urging residents to remain vigilant by monitoring local alerts and watching for road closures. They caution against driving around barricades or through floodwater, emphasizing safety.
The anticipated high tides are also expected to disrupt coastal travel. Metrolink has announced plans to suspend its Orange County Line service south of the Laguna Niguel/Mission Viejo station from Monday through Friday. This suspension will impact travel along the critical coastal corridor toward San Clemente and Oceanside. Brett Hawkins, a Metrolink public relations manager, explained that this advance notice aims to allow passengers time to find alternative transportation and to prevent weather-related disruptions from spreading across the broader rail network. Hawkins added that it also provides greater flexibility for Amtrak and freight trains to navigate any weather-related restrictions or delays anticipated next week.
