Newport Beach declares emergency for tides

Newport Beach declared a local emergency on Monday to prepare for coastal flooding expected this week. The city is acting more than a day before the highest tides are forecast to arrive. Officials aim to prevent water from entering homes and businesses along the Orange County shoreline.

The National Weather Service predicts significant flooding in San Diego and Orange counties through Thursday. Roads may close and critical infrastructure could be inundated. Tides may reach eight feet in a stretch from San Luis Obispo county to Los Angeles county. The NWS San Diego office described the event as potentially record-breaking.

Newport Beach city manager Seimone Jurjis said ocean water levels are already 15 to 22 inches higher than expected. She attributed the rise to El Niño and a Kelvin wave. Jurjis noted that this difference in height can determine whether water stays below a seawall or spills into streets and garages.

City staff are deploying across the area to inspect infrastructure. They are reinforcing beach berms and installing sandbags. The city is providing free sandbags to residents. Jurjis advised people to inspect vulnerable areas around their properties.

The NWS San Diego office told the public to avoid beaches during high tides. They urged residents to stay farther back from the ocean than usual because waves will run up the beach. The office also recommended staying off rock walls and jetties.

This month has already brought extreme weather to the region. Flooding overtook city streets and large waves struck beachside homes. The remnants of Tropical Storm Rachel damaged homes and destroyed a boardwalk. Residents were forced to evacuate in some areas.

California faces a historic El Niño event in the Pacific. The state is expected to see severe storms this winter. The current tide forecast is part of that larger pattern of extreme weather.