Newport Beach experienced record-breaking tidal flooding on Tuesday, with high tides reaching 8.4 feet, significantly exceeding the predicted 6.7 feet. This surge of seawater from Newport Harbor overflowed seawalls, inundating homes and businesses across the Balboa Peninsula. The Balboa Island Ferry, which has operated for over a century, temporarily suspended operations due to the high water levels.
Newport Beach resident Bill Sharp, with six decades of observing flooding on the Balboa Peninsula, noted the unusual severity of the event. While past El Niño seasons have seen residents using canoes and paddleboards for transport, the recent tides took many by surprise. Sharp commented that, "Basically nothing in the city was built to deal with an 8½-foot tide."
Several factors contributed to the unprecedented high tides. A full moon on Monday coincided with warmer-than-normal ocean waters. Scientists attribute these warmer waters to human-caused climate change, an El Niño-fueled Kelvin wave transporting warm water from the equatorial Pacific, and a separate months-old marine heat wave. This marine heat wave alone has reportedly caused seawater levels to rise between 1.25 to 1.8 feet higher than due to celestial movements alone.
Other coastal communities, including Redondo Beach, Huntington Beach, and Long Beach, also experienced flooding. On Tuesday, San Pedro also recorded an all-time high tide of 8.19 feet at 9:48 a.m., as reported by the National Weather Service, affecting areas like the International Boardwalk in Redondo Beach and Marine Stadium in Long Beach. However, Newport Beach was particularly affected, prompting both residents and city officials to re-evaluate their relationship with the ocean. The Balboa Peninsula’s topography, described by Sharp as being "pinched in between" the beach and the bay, renders it especially vulnerable.
In response to the flooding, the city deployed various defensive measures, including sandbags, water pumps, sand berms, and drainage canals. Newport Beach Councilmember Joe Stapleton stated that, "Everything the city has prepared is working," noting that breaches and failures were observed primarily on commercial or private residential properties, indicating a need for property owners to also take preventative action. Ahead of the high tides, the city had communicated to residents the importance of shoring up their seawalls to protect their properties and those nearby.
Mark Vukojevic, the city’s director of utilities, was dispatched to specific locations like the "Pirate House" near Marcus and 35th streets following reports of flooding. City volunteers had also knocked on doors, urging residents to construct defensive walls using available materials, including sandbags provided by the city. Vukojevic remarked that, "I think people underestimate the power of high tides." While much of the peninsula handled the high tide effectively, some properties that failed to erect barriers saw water ingress.
The city has been undertaking upgrades to segments of its historic seawalls and bulkheads, many constructed in the early to mid-1900s, as their original height is insufficient for current rising tides. Despite these efforts, a significant portion of the harbor-front property remains at risk.
The flooding also impacted livelihoods. Henk Wiessner, owner of Fun Zone Boat, reported that the city’s seawall blocked access to his dock, forcing him to seek alternative arrangements. Wiessner recounted seeing a rush of water rapidly inundate his office area, noting that "Five minutes later, it was everywhere."
Officials anticipate a challenging winter season. Even higher tides are expected around the Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Martin Luther King Jr. Day holidays. The arrival of a strong storm during these periods could lead to even more severe flooding. Despite the ongoing challenges and future uncertainties, residents like Tim Hogan, a 37-year peninsula resident, observed that "Sandbags are doing great" and the surf was calm. Bill Sharp affirmed that, despite the recurrent flooding, "no one is moving because of this, but we’re keeping our sandbags ready."
