Tides up to 8 feet set to flood Southern California coast

Residents in San Diego and Orange counties face days of coastal flooding this week. The National Weather Service (NWS) predicts that water levels will close roads and enter homes and businesses through Thursday. To the north, tides as high as 8 feet are expected to cause minor to moderate flooding between San Luis Obispo and Los Angeles counties.

Newport Beach declared a local emergency more than a week before the peak tides arrive. City staff are currently inspecting infrastructure, reinforcing beach berms, and installing sandbags. The city is distributing free sandbags to residents and urging them to check for weak points around their properties.

Sea levels in the region are already 15 to 22 inches higher than expected due to El Niño and a Kelvin wave. Newport Beach city manager Seimone Jurjis stated that this extra height changes how water behaves against coastal defenses.

"A foot and a half may not sound like much, but in a coastal community like ours, it can mean the difference between water staying below a seawall and water spilling into streets, garages and homes, especially during some of the highest tides of the year," Jurjis said.

The NWS office in San Diego issued specific guidance for the public. The agency advised people to stay off beaches during high tides and to keep farther from the ocean than usual because waves will run higher up the shore. The NWS also told residents to avoid rock walls and jetties.

This week's forecast follows a month of extreme weather in California. Remnants of Tropical Storm Rachel damaged homes and destroyed a boardwalk earlier this month, forcing some residents to evacuate. Flooding has already overtaken city streets, and large waves have struck beachside properties.

The current weather pattern is part of a historic El Niño in the Pacific. California is expected to face severe storms this winter as the system continues to influence local weather conditions.