Southern California coastal communities, including Newport Beach, faced widespread flooding Monday morning as unusually high tides rolled in. These conditions are expected to persist through Thursday, raising concerns among homeowners and businesses about potential record-breaking water levels, beach erosion, and property damage.
In Newport Beach, morning tides around 9 a.m. moved onto streets and flooded several businesses, particularly impacting the Balboa Fun Zone. Despite sandbags placed in anticipation of the high water, the area saw significant inundation from the bay side of the peninsula. Officials noted that sand berms previously erected on the ocean side of the peninsula were effective in preventing additional water from entering the area.
Monday morning’s high tide reached approximately 8.3 feet, surpassing predictions by more than a foot. Forecasters are now expecting an even higher tide of 8.5 feet to move in on Tuesday, challenging historical records.
A similar situation unfolded in Long Beach, where properties have already been red-tagged in recent weeks due to damage from high surf and tides. At Bayshore Beach, the tide overtopped sand berms, pushing water across 54th Place towards waterfront homes and establishments such as the restaurant Grill 'Em All. A garage located below sea level was also flooded, damaging a fully restored 1968 Volkswagen Beetle parked inside. As Annie Koury, the owner, described, "that water just came in," quickly overwhelming the vehicle. Fortunately, the boardwalk on the opposite side of the peninsula, which has sustained damage in previous events, appeared to be spared further impact.
The National Weather Service (NWS) anticipates morning tides along the Los Angeles County coastline to range from 7.5 to 8 feet. According to the NWS, the period from Monday through Wednesday could produce the highest tides on record, potentially exceeding the 7.93 feet recorded in San Pedro on January 10, 2005, a location where records date back to 1924.
A coastal flood warning remains in effect for the entire Orange County coastline until 1 p.m. Thursday. A similar coastal flood advisory covers the Los Angeles County coastline for the same period. Forecasters indicate that tides are currently running between 1 to 1.7 feet above astronomical predictions in Orange County, and approximately 1 to 1.5 feet above predictions along the Los Angeles County coastline.
Minor coastal flooding is likely to impact vulnerable low-lying areas, including harbor walkways, beach parking lots, bike paths, and normally sandy beaches. However, more significant flooding and damage are possible in areas where little to no sandy beach remains or where previous high tides have already caused problems. Long Beach, Malibu, and Newport Beach have already experienced substantial home damage from high surf in recent weeks, adding to the current concerns for residents and property owners.
