King tides swamp California city in floodwater as ocean surges up busy street

A tidal surge swallowed streets in Newport Beach on Monday morning, sending knee-deep floodwater rushing into a picturesque coastal neighborhood as frantic residents scrambled to protect their homes and businesses. The ocean spilled into the upscale Orange County enclave as king tides battered the Southern California coastline , turning normally bustling streets into waterways and threatening another round of destruction in a city already reeling from severe flooding earlier this month.

Aerial footage from KTLA showed residents desperately stacking sandbags along Edgewater Avenue and Washington Street on the harbor side of the Balboa Peninsula as murky water surged toward local businesses. 5 The ocean spilled into Newport Beach as exceptionally high tides battered the Southern California coastline. AP Photo/Jae C. Hong Elsewhere, streets near 38th Street and River Avenue, close to the entrance of Newport Island, disappeared beneath roughly a foot of water.

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Sharp said a tidal gauge registered a staggering 8.3 feet at 9:18 a.m. Monday. “It’s a new record, and this is absolutely unprecedented,” he said. Fortunately, no injuries had been reported as of Monday morning. 5 The king tides turned normally bustling streets into waterways and threatened another round of destruction in Newport. AP Photo/Jae C. Hong The frightening scenes unfolded as city crews worked to fortify sand berms, deploy pumps and reinforce vulnerable sections of the coastline against the relentless onslaught of seawater.

Newport Beach City Manager Seimone Jurjis told the Los Angeles Times officials had been preparing for the dangerous conditions and monitoring the situation. “Our City teams have been busy reinforcing sand berms, evaluating vulnerable seawalls, placing sandbags, inspecting storm drains and preparing additional pumps, heavy equipment and emergency resources,” Jurjis said. The latest flooding comes just weeks after Newport Beach declared a local emergency on October 9 when powerful swells and elevated tides sent seawater pouring through the Balboa Peninsula, leaving motorists stranded and vehicles partially submerged. 5 Henk Wiessner, president of Fun Zone Boat Co., stands in floodwaters with his dog Butters in Newport Beach.

AP Photo/Jae C. Hong That earlier deluge, fueled by Tropical Storm Rachel and a Kelvin wave, prompted desperate efforts to rebuild protective sand barriers and pump water from flooded neighborhoods. Police warned motorists to steer clear of the peninsula and avoid driving through submerged streets. Now, the coastal paradise is once again facing a watery nightmare. And Newport Beach isn’t alone. The National Weather Service issued coastal flood warnings for Orange and San Diego counties through Thursday afternoon, cautioning that rising seawater could inundate homes, businesses and critical infrastructure. 5 One longtime Newport resident said the flooding was unlike anything the coastal community had ever experienced.

AP Photo/Jae C. Hong Less severe coastal flood advisories were also issued for Los Angeles, Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties. Long Beach has also endured destructive coastal flooding in recent weeks, with dramatic footage capturing waves crashing into waterfront properties, parking lots and boardwalks. The dangerous conditions have even disrupted transportation. Metrolink announced it would suspend service between the Laguna Niguel/Mission Viejo and Oceanside stations from Monday through Friday because of the elevated tides.

Meanwhile, officials have secured millions in emergency funding to repair a massive crack that developed beneath Pacific Coast Highway near Laguna Beach during earlier October high tides. 5 The flooding unfolded as city crews worked to fortify sand berms, deploy pumps and reinforce vulnerable coastline. AP Photo/Jae C. Hong Forecasters say unusually warm ocean waters associated with an emerging El Niño pattern, combined with Kelvin waves , are pushing tides well above their astronomical predictions.

And the danger may not be over. Additional exceptionally high astronomical tides are expected around Thanksgiving and Christmas, potentially delivering another punishing blow to already battered coastal communities. The National Weather Service urged residents to avoid flooded roadways, beaches, jetties and seawalls during the dangerous tidal conditions. For Newport Beach residents, Monday’s record-breaking flood was another alarming reminder of just how quickly their seaside paradise can be swallowed by the ocean.

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