Newport Beach leaders declared a state of emergency Friday afternoon, shortly after noon, in response to street flooding affecting parts of the city, including the Balboa Peninsula. The declaration allows the city to utilize additional resources to mitigate the impacts of ongoing coastal flooding. This measure comes as high tides continue to push seawater into streets, preceding the expected arrival of Tropical Storm Rachel this weekend.
The city's declaration encourages residents and property owners to implement “appropriate precautions to protect their homes and property.” It further states that City personnel are actively assessing coastal conditions and deploying available resources in response to changing circumstances. While these measures aim to reduce potential flooding impacts, the declaration acknowledges they “cannot eliminate all flood risks.” Further actions, such as temporary street closures and parking restrictions, may be implemented if conditions worsen.
As of 11:11 a.m. Friday, Newport Police Department reported that crews were engaged in rebuilding sand berms and pumping water from affected streets. Residents are advised to avoid flooded zones for safety. To aid in personal preparedness, filled sandbags are available for pickup at the Newport Beach City Yard. Empty sandbags can be obtained from any Newport fire station and from lifeguard trucks located on the Peninsula. The city also recommends residents clear gutters and move vehicles away from flood-prone areas.
Laguna Beach also issued a warning yesterday, reporting that seawater had begun to flood a portion of the Pacific Coast Highway and adjacent sidewalks near the coast.
These elevated tides are occurring in advance of Tropical Storm Rachel, which is forecast to make landfall across Southern California late Saturday into early Sunday. The National Weather Service anticipates Sunday will bring the most severe conditions from the storm, including rainfall and gusty winds along the coast. The entire Southern California coastline is currently under a Coastal Flood Advisory, effective until Tuesday at 2 p.m., due to the expected high tides.
The current coastal challenges emerge as the National Weather Service projects an intense El Niño season. Forecasts indicate an 83% likelihood of a historic event between October and December, with a 70% chance from November through January. Coastal cities across the region have been proactively working to reinforce their coastlines in preparation for this potentially significant weather pattern. Efforts have included constructing sand berms and placing boulders to safeguard coastal infrastructure.
Last month, several coastal cities had previously declared states of emergency following Labor Day weekend storms, which also brought high tides and strong surf. In a related preventative measure, the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) approved emergency action to transport sand and stabilizing boulders, known as riprap, to various beaches ahead of the El Niño season. While this approval is in place, a specific timeline for the placement of this sand was not provided. The majority of the sand is designated for San Clemente, a city actively addressing the protection of its rapidly diminishing beaches and the critical train line that runs along its coastline. Newport Councilmember Joe Stapleton remarked on the unpredictable nature of these events, stating, "Mother Nature is unpredictable."
