Socal Braces for Days of Flooding as Extreme Tides Worsen
WHO:
The San Francisco Standard - San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie declared a local state of emergency in preparation for El Niño; Mary Ellen Carroll is executive director of the San Francisco Department of Emergency Management, and Carmen Chu is the city administrator.
The San Francisco Standard - District 6 Supervisor Matt Dorsey said the city may not receive substantial federal storm-recovery assistance and encouraged residents to keep storm drains clear through the Adopt a Drain program; his office adopted a drain nicknamed “Sewervisor Dorsey.”
Los Angeles Times - The National Weather Service issued coastal flood warnings and advisories; Daniel Swain is a climate scientist with UC Agriculture and Natural Resources.
Los Angeles Times - Reinhard Flick is a researcher at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego; Philip Gonsalves is a meteorologist with the National Weather Service office in San Diego.
Los Angeles Times - Todd Hall is warning coordination meteorologist for the National Weather Service office in Oxnard; Doug George is an oceanographer with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Los Angeles Times - Newport Beach declared a local emergency and activated its emergency operations center; Long Beach began beach and infrastructure response work.
Los Angeles Times - Metrolink announced suspension of commuter train service in southern Orange County and San Diego County for the coming workweek.
WHAT:
The San Francisco Standard - The emergency declaration allows San Francisco to expedite contracts and purchase supplies ahead of storms.
The San Francisco Standard - Officials advised residents to avoid travel during storms, elevate belongings stored in basements, prepare for power outages, clear storm drains, and sign up for AlertSF by texting a ZIP code to 888-777.
The San Francisco Standard - Daniel Lurie said, “We will continue preparing across city departments, and we need every San Franciscans to be ready for severe weather.” Mary Ellen Carroll urged residents to “restock your emergency kit” and check on neighbors.
NY Post - Southern California’s coastline is bracing for days of flooding that could swamp roads, inundate homes and businesses, erode beaches and disrupt train service.
Los Angeles Times - The National Weather Service expects significant coastal flooding in San Diego and Orange counties, with low-lying homes, businesses and critical infrastructure at risk; shoreline erosion is expected in the mornings.
Los Angeles Times - Significant-to-moderate beach erosion is likely in Los Angeles, Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties; isolated structural damage from seawater inundation is possible.
Los Angeles Times - San Francisco Bay and Monterey Bay could experience up to 1.9 feet of inundation above ground near shorelines and tidal waterways.
Los Angeles Times - Tides in San Diego and Orange counties could break modern-day records; adjusted levels could reach 7.5 to 8 feet or higher above baseline, defined as average low-water level from 1983 to 2001.
Los Angeles Times - Actual Southern California tides are running 1.25 to 1.75 feet above predictions based on the positions of Earth, sun and moon.
Los Angeles Times - La Jolla’s Scripps Pier surface water reached about 77 degrees, versus an average maximum of about 70 degrees; its temperature on Thursday was about 73 degrees, versus an average of 66 degrees.
Los Angeles Times - Flick said water levels had been at least “half a foot above the prediction for months” and that the situation was “unprecedented, especially for this length of time.”
Los Angeles Times - Swain said, “It’s likely to get worse before it gets better.” Gonsalves said, “You’re going to have different contributing factors producing a similar outcome.”
Los Angeles Times - Newport Beach expects tides of 8.3 feet Monday at 9:15 a.m., 8.5 feet Tuesday at 9:50 a.m. and 8.4 feet Wednesday at 10:28 a.m.; the adjusted figures are 1.8 feet above predictions that exclude warmer ocean water.
Los Angeles Times - Newport Beach is reinforcing sand berms, preparing pumps and tide valves, positioning resources and installing thousands of sandbags on Balboa Island. About 30 to 40 trucks moved sand toward The Wedge, with a goal of 2,000 cubic yards by Saturday.
Los Angeles Times - Long Beach began dredging Alamitos Bay and moving sand to the Peninsula with a large hose; spokesperson Jen De Prez said the work had added visible beachfront near the 72nd Place parking lot. Repairs began on the damaged boardwalk.
Los Angeles Times - Caltrans is placing 4-foot-tall, sand-filled barriers beneath Coast Highway near Crystal Cove. The two lanes closest to the cliff remain closed, with traffic using the other two lanes, one in each direction.
Los Angeles Times - Crews are installing boulders near Point Mugu after water got beneath Highway 1 and weakened it. Highway 37 crews are undertaking 55 hours of emergency work; plans call for raising flood-prone sections by 3 feet.
Los Angeles Times - The Long Beach Peninsula’s historic boardwalk was damaged; homes were hit on the Long Beach and Balboa peninsulas. Dana Point beachfront homes and decks were damaged, and walls were breached. Carlsbad State Beach lost sand, closing the Tamarack day-use parking lot to vehicles. Erosion at The Wedge exposed old metal rods and concrete.
Los Angeles Times - A sinkhole threatens Nicolas Cage’s home in Malibu; ocean conditions have threatened road access to Point Dume Beach, also known as Westward Beach.
WHERE:
Los Angeles Times - The warnings cover San Diego and Orange counties; advisories cover Los Angeles, Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties, as well as San Francisco Bay and Monterey Bay.
Los Angeles Times - Other named affected locations include La Jolla, Long Beach, Newport Beach, Balboa Island, Dana Point, Malibu, Carlsbad State Beach, The Wedge, Point Mugu, Crystal Cove, Alamitos Bay and Highway 37.
WHEN:
The San Francisco Standard - San Francisco declared its local state of emergency following a statewide declaration more than a month earlier; the city said storms could arrive as soon as next month.
Los Angeles Times - The San Francisco Bay and Monterey Bay coastal flood advisory begins Saturday morning and lasts through Thursday afternoon.
Los Angeles Times - The coastal flood warning for San Diego and Orange counties, and advisory for four other Southern California counties, runs from Sunday morning through Thursday afternoon.
Los Angeles Times - Tides are expected to rise further around Thanksgiving, Christmas and Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
WHY:
The San Francisco Standard - City officials cited risks from rain, strong winds and high water, including power outages, fallen trees and flooded streets; the declaration was intended to prepare for El Niño-related storms.
Los Angeles Times - High tides are linked to the 18.6-year lunar node and 4.4-year lunar perigee cycles, unusually warm coastal water, El Niño, and long-term human-caused global warming.
Los Angeles Times - California coastal sea levels have risen about 1 foot over 125 years; warmer water expands, raising sea level.
Los Angeles Times - Earlier flooding involved swells from remnants of hurricanes Marie and Rachel; those swells are not expected in this round, but tides will be higher.
HOW:
The San Francisco Standard - City officials urged residents to collect sandbags, locate flashlights and extra batteries, clear leaves from storm drains, and prepare for possible power outages.
(UPDATED October 24, 2026 18:00 UTC)
California’s coast is bracing for days of unusually high tides and flooding, with the greatest danger in San Diego and Orange counties. Warnings and advisories run from Sunday through Thursday in Southern California, while advisories for San Francisco and Monterey bays begin Saturday. Low-lying homes, businesses, roads and critical infrastructure are at risk, and beach erosion is expected from San Luis Obispo County to San Diego. Newport Beach has declared an emergency, reinforced sand barriers and placed thousands of sandbags; Long Beach is dredging and repairing its damaged boardwalk. Homes and coastal infrastructure have already been damaged, and Metrolink will suspend service in southern Orange and San Diego counties for the coming workweek. In San Francisco, Mayor Daniel Lurie declared a local emergency to speed storm preparations. Residents are urged to clear drains, prepare for outages and avoid storm travel.
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(UPDATED October 24, 2026 17:06 UTC)
Southern California is bracing for several days of coastal flooding that could inundate homes and businesses, damage roads and erode beaches. The National Weather Service has issued warnings for San Diego and Orange counties, with advisories covering other Southern California counties and parts of the Bay Area. Tides could reach record levels, while unusually warm ocean water is pushing actual levels well above predictions. Scientists say the conditions reflect natural lunar cycles, El Niño and long-term warming; higher tides are expected around several upcoming holidays. Newport Beach has declared a local emergency and is placing sandbags, reinforcing berms and preparing pumps. Long Beach is moving sand to protect its peninsula and repairing a damaged boardwalk. Homes and coastal infrastructure have already been hit, and Metrolink will suspend commuter service in southern Orange and San Diego counties during the coming workweek.