SoCal coastline battered by Marie as El Niño is just getting started

Key Points:

• Intense waves fueled by Hurricane Marie caused significant damage along Southern California's coast, including destruction of the historic Long Beach peninsula boardwalk and damage to multiple oceanfront homes, leading to evacuation orders.
• High surf and flooding affected areas from Malibu to San Diego, with several homes in Dana Point red- or yellow-tagged for safety concerns and coastal infrastructure, such as San Clemente’s railway, suffering erosion and closures.
• Officials across Southern California are actively preparing for potentially stronger storms this fall and winter due to a strengthening El Niño, reinforcing seawalls, sand berms, and drainage systems, while stockpiling sandbags and assessing vulnerable coastal locations.
• Scientists warn that elevated ocean temperatures linked to El Niño increase the likelihood of higher tides and stronger waves, indicating that recent storm impacts may be a preview of more severe coastal flooding and damage ahead.
• Local residents express concern over ongoing coastal erosion and flooding, urging city officials to implement long-delayed mitigation projects like beach dredging to better protect vulnerable communities along the Southern California coastline.