8-foot tides prompt Newport Beach to declare local emergency

Newport Beach declared a local emergency this week.

The move comes ahead of a forecast for tides reaching eight feet in Southern California. The National Weather Service (NWS) warned that significant coastal flooding is expected in San Diego and Orange counties through Thursday. The agency said the water could close roads and flood homes, businesses, and critical infrastructure. To the north, areas from San Luis Obispo County to Los Angeles County face minor to moderate flooding with similar tide heights.

Newport Beach city manager Seimone Jurjis stated that ocean water levels in the region are already 15 to 22 inches higher than expected. She attributed this rise to El Niño and a Kelvin wave. Jurjis noted that a foot and a half of additional water can mean the difference between water staying below a seawall and spilling into streets, garages, and homes.

City staff are currently inspecting infrastructure and reinforcing beach berms. They are also installing sandbags and other equipment to protect the area. The city is providing free sandbags to residents and urging them to inspect vulnerable areas around their properties. The NWS office in San Diego advised the public to avoid beaches during high tides and to stay farther back from the ocean than usual. They warned that waves will run much farther up the beach than expected and told residents to stay off rock walls and jetties.

The emergency declaration occurred more than a week before the exceptionally high tides are forecast to arrive. This month has already brought extreme weather to the region. Flooding overtook city streets, and large waves struck beachside homes. The remnants of Tropical Storm Rachel left a trail of destruction, damaging homes, destroying a boardwalk, and forcing residents to evacuate.

California is expected to face severe storms this winter as a historic El Niño unfolds in the Pacific.