Just when it seemed Southern California’s coastline couldn’t take another beating, the ocean has a new trick up its bottomless, soggy sleeve: king tides.
After weeks of hurricane-generated surf, an El Niño-associated Kelvin wave, and widespread erosion, exceptionally high tides are forecast to arrive October 26–28. And some of the biggest tides are still ahead.
Laguna Beach surfer Blair Conklin has been documenting the damage in a new video, from flooded Newport Beach streets to the fractured cliff beneath Pacific Coast Highway at El Morro in Crystal Cove State Park and waves hammering Laguna’s iconic Surf & Sand resort. Check out some of the latest carnage below.
Conklin previously called the El Morro bluff “one of the most vulnerable pieces of California coast right now.”
Now, the National Weather Service has issued a coastal flood warning for Orange and San Diego counties, cautioning that “significant coastal flooding” could inundate low-lying neighborhoods.
The problem isn’t only the tide. Unusually warm ocean water and an El Niño-related Kelvin wave have pushed actual water levels well above astronomical predictions. Newport Beach says they’re running 18 to 22 inches higher than expected.
In a recent Instagram update, Newport Beach highlighted its preparations. Officials declared a local emergency, activated an emergency operations center, and deployed sandbags, protective berms, and pumps. They’re also planning to relocate approximately 100,000 cubic yards of sand to eroded beaches.
The city’s adjusted forecasts call for peaks of 8.3 feet Monday morning, 8.5 feet Tuesday, and 8.4 feet Wednesday.
“Residents in low-lying, waterfront and other potentially flood-prone areas are strongly urged to take precautions now,” Newport Beach officials warned.
Fortunately, unlike the recent destruction from Hurricanes Marie and Rachel, forecasters don’t expect another hurricane-generated swell to coincide with this event. But water levels will start higher.
“It’s likely to get worse before it gets better,” climate scientist Daniel Swain told the Los Angeles Times.
And these aren’t the last dates to circle: The California Coastal Commission lists additional king tides November 24–26, December 23–25, and January 21–22.
For an already battered coastline, the winter is just getting started.
Related: More Gigantic Kelvin Waves Are Coming to California During Super El Niño
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