AI Image
SoCal coast braces for flooding as El Niño's high tides break records
Los Angeles Times • • nation
Key Points:
- Southern California coastal communities are facing extended flooding through Friday due to El Niño conditions causing unusually high tides, with flood advisories extended across all coastal counties.
- Record-breaking high tides have been observed this week in areas such as San Pedro, Santa Barbara, La Jolla, and San Diego, with some tide levels exceeding historic measurements dating back to the early 20th century.
- The flooding has severely impacted low-lying areas including Newport Beach’s Balboa area, Sunset Beach, and Long Beach, with road closures like the Pacific Coast Highway planned due to inundation.
- Experts warn that this could be the start of a prolonged winter season of coastal flooding, with even higher tides expected around major holidays, potentially exacerbated by strong storms similar to the historic 1983 El Niño event.
- The elevated water levels are attributed to a combination of human-driven climate change, a Kelvin wave from El Niño warming the Pacific Ocean, and an ongoing marine heat wave, collectively raising sea levels by over a foot beyond normal astronomical tides.
