Southern California braces for unprecedented 8-foot tidal surges and multi-day flooding

A coastal flood warning now covers Orange County’s shoreline from Sunday morning through Thursday afternoon, and flood advisories affect neighboring Los Angeles and Ventura counties. Forecasts call for tides up to one-and-a-half feet above normal, with Newport Beach possibly seeing water levels exceed eight feet, endangering low-lying homes, businesses, parking lots and beach infrastructure. Residents such as Laura Hamilton, who described never having seen such conditions, are piling sandbags and clearing interiors, while Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley said crews are cleaning gutters and flood channels to reduce risk.

In Long Beach, workers are rebuilding sand berms, and Metrolink plans to halt Orange County Line service south of the Laguna Niguel/Mission Viejo station to prevent broader rail delays. National Weather Service meteorologist Dave Munyan attributed the extreme tides to a combination of warmer ocean temperatures and El Niño-related Kelvin wave activity. Authorities urge the public to follow alerts, avoid flooded roads, and stay out of barricaded areas.