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Coastal California braces for flooding amid forecast of ‘record-breaking tides’
The Guardian • • nation
Key Points:
- Coastal communities in California are bracing for days of flooding due to potentially record-breaking tides, with significant coastal flooding expected in San Diego and Orange counties through Thursday.
- Tides as high as 8 feet could cause minor to moderate flooding from San Luis Obispo to Los Angeles counties, while the Bay Area may see up to 2.1 feet of inundation in low-lying areas.
- The National Weather Service reported record-high tides in Los Angeles, with the San Pedro tide gauge reaching 8.02 feet, the highest since 1923, prompting warnings to avoid beaches and protect flood-prone properties.
- Newport Beach declared a local emergency over a week in advance, deploying staff to reinforce infrastructure and providing free sandbags to residents as ocean levels have risen 15 to 22 inches above normal due to El Niño and the Kelvin wave.
- The region has already experienced extreme weather this month, including flooding and storm damage from Tropical Storm Rachel, with expectations of severe storms continuing this winter due to a historic El Niño event.
