Record High Tides Cause Coastal Flooding in SoCal
Record High Tides Cause Coastal Flooding in SoCal
US · Published Oct 28, 2026
• Exceptionally high tides are causing coastal flooding along the Los Angeles and Orange County coastlines. On Monday, San Pedro recorded an all-time high tide of 8.02 feet, surpassing the previous record of 7.93 feet set in
• Newport Beach experienced even higher tides, reaching 8.3 feet, with forecasts predicting 8.5 feet on Tuesday. Vulnerable areas, including harbor walkways, beach parking lots, and bike paths, are at risk of flooding. A coastal flood warning is in effect for Orange County until 1 p.m. Thursday, while Los Angeles County remains under a coastal flood advisory for the same period. Officials are taking measures such as deploying sand berms and water pumps to mitigate damage. The tides are expected to normalize after Wednesday morning, but additional high tides are anticipated around Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Impact & Risks

Coastal flooding has already affected low-lying areas, particularly in Newport Beach, where streets were inundated. The Balboa Peninsula and Balboa Island are among the hardest-hit areas. Residents have been using sandbags to protect their properties, with over 25,000 distributed since the weekend. Rail service along the Orange County coastline has been disrupted, with Metrolink suspending service between Laguna Niguel/Mission Viejo and Oceanside through Friday. Minor flooding is possible in areas with little or no sandy beach, and significant damage could occur in locations already impacted by previous high tides.

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