Newport Beach Declares Early Emergency as Tides Surge 22 Inches

Newport Beach officials declared a local emergency more than a week before the arrival of forecasted high tides. The city is deploying staff to inspect infrastructure, reinforce beach berms, and install sandbags and other protective equipment across the area.

The National Weather Service warned that San Diego and Orange counties face significant coastal flooding through Thursday. Officials expect the surge to close roads and inundate homes, businesses, and critical infrastructure. To the north, a wide swath of the coast stretching from San Luis Obispo County to Los Angeles County could see minor to moderate flooding with tides reaching 8 feet.

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

The NWS office in San Diego advised residents to avoid beaches during high tides. The agency recommended that people keep farther back from the ocean than usual because waves will run much farther up the beach. It also urged residents to stay off rock walls and jetties while ensuring flood-prone property is protected.

Newport Beach is providing free sandbags to residents and has asked them to inspect vulnerable areas around their properties. This month has already brought extreme weather to the region, including flooding that overtook city streets and large waves that struck beachside homes. The remnants of Tropical Storm Rachel left a trail of destruction in California, damaging homes, destroying a boardwalk, and forcing residents to evacuate.

With a historic El Niño unfolding in the Pacific, California is expected to face severe storms this winter.