Coastal flood alerts went into effect Sunday morning at Southland beaches, with forecasters warning of possible record high tides.
High tides between 7.5 and 8 feet are expected during the morning hours through Thursday over all coastal areas, according to the National Weather Service. Forecasters said Monday through Wednesday’s tides could challenge the current record of 7.93 feet set in San Pedro on Jan. 10, 2005. Records go back to 1924.
The coastal flood advisory runs from 5 a.m. Sunday to 1 p.m. Thursday, and applies to Los Angeles and Ventura County beaches.
“Significant coastal flooding” is expected at some Orange County beaches, where a coastal flood warning is in effect through 1 p.m. Thursday.
“Numerous roads may be closed. Low lying property including homes, businesses, and some critical infrastructure will be inundated,” the NWS said Sunday. “Some shoreline erosion will occur in the morning hours.”
In Los Angeles County, “minor coastal flooding is likely purely based on the high tides,” the NWS said. “While these tides might be the highest of all-time, similar extreme tides in the past tell us that coastal communities should expect shallow flooding of harbor walkways, beach parking lots and bike paths.”
Areas of Long Beach, Malibu and Newport Beach have already seen substantial damage to homes from high surf in recent weeks, and were on edge again preparing for the next wave of possible damage.
“Uncharted territories that we’re in,” Long Beach resident Eric Hill said. “We don’t really kind of know what Mother Nature is going to throw at us next here.”
The city of Long Beach recently started a dredging project to bring in additional sand to widen the beach and create a buffer between the ocean and homes. Contractors have also been using heavy machinery to help replenish the beach. In the last several weeks, they’ve moved more than 100,000 cubic yards of sand.
In Malibu, crews have been placing additional rock barriers to help stabilize the shoreline.
Flood preparations were also underway in Newport Beach, where crews were reinforcing sand berms and placing sandbags in low-lying areas. Sunday morning’s high tides peaked at 8 feet — almost 2 feet above predicted levels, according to the city.
Metrolink will suspend service on its Orange County Line service between Laguna Niguel/Mission Viejo and Oceanside for five days beginning Monday due to anticipated high tides along the southern Orange County coastline. In September, high tides and powerful waves overtopped tracks near San Clemente, causing erosion and slope damage that forced a temporary suspension of Metrolink, Amtrak and freight service while crews made emergency repairs.
The weather service said there was also a moderate rip current risk during the advisory period.
At the same time, warmer weather is expected to prevail in the Southland early this week, with daytime highs mostly in the mid- to upper 70s. By mid-week, however cooler conditions will follow with growing potential for a significant storm system toward the end of next week.
“The pattern will start to change around Thursday, with onshore flow returning, temperatures dropping, and low pressure forming over the West Coast. This will open the storm window over California, with a growing chance of a significant storm impacting the local area as early as Friday but more so for the weekend,” the NWS said.
Forecasters said there is a 90% chance for rain sometime in the Oct. 30-Nov. 2 time frame, with Halloween activities likely to be impacted.
