Newport Beach activates emergency plan as tides surge 22 inches above normal
City officials are deploying staff to reinforce coastal defenses ahead of a National Weather Service forecast for potentially record high water levels.
By Austin Reed ·
Newport Beach declared a local emergency on Monday to prepare for extreme high tides expected to reach the coast this week. The Orange County city is mobilizing staff to inspect infrastructure, reinforce beach berms, and install sandbags and other protective equipment.
City Manager Seimone Jurjis stated that ocean water levels in the region are currently running 15 to 22 inches higher than expected. She attributed the rise to El Niño conditions and a Kelvin wave. Jurjis noted that this extra water volume can determine whether seawalls hold back the ocean or allow water to spill into streets, garages, and homes.
The National Weather Service issued a warning for significant coastal flooding in San Diego and Orange counties through Thursday. The agency predicts that high tides could close roads and inundate homes, businesses, and critical infrastructure. North of Orange County, areas from San Luis Obispo to Los Angeles face minor to moderate flooding, with tides potentially reaching 8 feet.
In a statement, the San Diego NWS office advised the public to avoid beaches during high tide periods. Officials told residents to stay farther back from the ocean than usual because waves will travel up the beach more than expected. The agency also urged people to stay off rock walls and jetties and to protect flood-prone property.
Newport Beach is providing free sandbags to residents and advising 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 previously damaged homes, destroyed a boardwalk, and forced evacuations.
The city began these preparations more than a week before the exceptionally high tides are forecast to arrive. The current weather event is part of a historic El Niño unfolding in the Pacific, which sets the stage for severe storms in California this winter.
Source: The Guardian
