Flood alert for LA, Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo ahead of king tides

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Coastal areas in California are bracing for possible flooding due to “very high” king tides. The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a coastal flood advisory, starting 5 a.m. Sunday to 1 p.m. Thursday for beaches in Los Angeles, Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties. High tides will likely reach up to eight feet each morning, which is 1.0 to 1.5 feet above astronomical projections, according to the forecasters. 4 Southern California is likely to have a “wet Halloween weekend.”

NWS 4 Coastal areas in California are bracing for possible flooding due to “very high” king tides. Getty Images Explore More Historic 80-ton boulder comes crashing down after more than a century at US attraction Horndog NYPD capt. and jealous cop clique torment female officer after she spurns his advances, lawsuit claims Ilhan Omar’s deleted tweet may reveal that she really did marry her brother “Minor to moderate flooding of sea water is likely over vulnerable low-lying coastal areas, especially around the time of high tide, including over beach parking lots, bike paths, and harbor walkways.

Moderate to significant beach erosion is likely,” the advisory read . Coastal flood warning has also been issued for San Diego County and Orange County. “Coastal residents in the warned area should be alert for rising water and take appropriate action to protect life and property. High tides each day will occur in the morning. Tides may be anywhere from 1 to 1.7 feet above astronomical tide predictions,” NWS San Diego said. Southern California is also likely to have a “wet Halloween weekend,” the NWS said. 4 Earlier this week, Newport Beach had declared a local emergency ahead of exceptionally high king tides.

REUTERS 4 Bruce “Trenchcoat Guy” Parker braves historic El Nino tidal swells in Oceanside. Zuma / SplashNews.com “There is high confidence in measurable rainfall for most, if not all, of the area Friday through the weekend. However, confidence in timing of rainfall and totals remain very low… Residents should expect Halloween activities to be impacted by rainfall to some level,” the forecast read . Earlier this week, Newport Beach had declared a local emergency ahead of exceptionally high king tides expected to hit the idyllic Orange County community later this month.

Coastal water levels are expected to crest at elevated heights from Oct. 26 to 28 . The high tides will begin on Oct. 26, with a predicted height of 6.5 feet and potentially reaching 8.3 feet. The tides will peak on Oct. 27, hitting 6.7 feet with potential crests up to 8.5 feet. Elevated conditions are expected to continue on Oct. 28, reaching a predicted 6.6 feet. Newport Beach has also activated its emergency operations center to coordinate flood prevention and response efforts.

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What we found (1)

The New York Post accurately reports the National Weather Service flood advisory and warnings for the Southern California coast and Newport Beach's emergency declaration. It presents the flooding as the work of king tides alone and never says what is pushing tides above their predicted height. It also never tells readers that human-caused warming has already raised sea level on the California coast, making such flooding worse.

Leaves out the climate link
Serious
“which is 1.0 to 1.5 feet above astronomical projections”
Why this matters
The Post gives the figure that tides will run 1.0 to 1.5 feet above astronomical projections and then moves on. It never says what is adding that extra height.
The impression it gives
A reader is left to assume the extra water is a quirk of the forecast or of the tides themselves, with nothing to do with a warming climate.
The context
The Los Angeles Times reported that the tides are running above prediction because of record-hot ocean temperatures. It also reported that human-caused global warming plays a role, having raised sea level on the California coast by about a foot over 125 years. Warming has made such flooding extremes worse (R2).
How we know
- Los Angeles Times reported“Human-caused global warming is also playing a role, with sea levels having risen by about 1 foot over the past 125 years on the California coastline.”Exceptionally high tides will swamp California. Here's when (opens in a new tab)
- Los Angeles Times reported“The National Weather Service says actual tides in Southern California are running 1.25 to 1.75 feet above what would be expected from just the position of the Earth, sun and moon, given the hotter ocean temperatures.”Exceptionally high tides will swamp California. Here's when (opens in a new tab)
- On the recordThat warming has made hot extremes, heavy rainfall, agricultural and ecological drought, fire weather and intense tropical cyclones more frequent or more severe.ipcc.ch (opens in a new tab)
Show it in the article
“bracing for possible flooding due to “very high” king tides”
Why this matters
The opening line puts the flooding down to king tides and nothing else.
The impression it gives
A reader takes the flood threat to be a natural, periodic astronomical event and nothing more.
The context
Other coverage of the same event names the record-breaking warm waters and human-caused sea level rise as added causes of the flooding, not the tidal alignment alone.
How we know
- Los Angeles Times reported“Another problem has been the record-breaking warm waters off the California coast”Exceptionally high tides will swamp California. Here's when (opens in a new tab)
- On the recordIt is unequivocal that human influence, chiefly the burning of fossil fuels, has warmed the atmosphere, ocean and land.ipcc.ch (opens in a new tab)
Show it in the article

How other outlets reported it

Los Angeles TimesExceptionally high tides will swamp California. Here's when (opens in a new tab)

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Flood alert for LA, Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo ahead of king tides

Leaves out the climate link

How other outlets reported it

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