Newport Beach Deploys Sandbags Ahead of 22-Inch Tide Rise

Newport Beach declared a local emergency more than a week before forecasters predicted record tides would reach the shore. City staff began inspecting infrastructure and reinforcing beach berms immediately. They are installing sandbags and other protective equipment along the coastline. The city is distributing free sandbags to residents and urging them to check vulnerable areas around their properties.

The National Weather Service warns that coastal flooding will impact San Diego and Orange counties through Thursday. Officials say the water could close roads and enter homes, businesses, and critical infrastructure. Further north, areas from San Luis Obispo County to Los Angeles County may experience minor to moderate flooding. Tides in those northern zones are forecast to reach as high as 8 feet.

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 the combination of El Niño and the Kelvin wave. Jurjis noted that a foot and a half of extra water can determine whether water stays below a seawall or spills into streets and garages.

"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 National Weather Service office in San Diego advised the public to avoid beaches during high tides. They recommended staying farther back from the ocean than usual because waves are expected to run much farther up the beach. Officials also warned people to stay off rock walls and jetties.

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 damaged homes, destroyed a boardwalk, and forced residents to evacuate. With a historic El Niño unfolding in the Pacific, California is expected to face severe storms this winter.