Newport Beach officials declared a local emergency on Friday following overnight flooding on the Balboa Peninsula, initiating immediate closures and warnings as Tropical Storm Rachel approached Southern California. On Saturday morning, Newport Beach police issued an alert online, announcing the closure of all city beaches and piers until further notice due to flooding, urging the public to avoid these areas. By early Saturday afternoon, city beaches were reopened, though Newport Pier, Balboa Pier, and The Wedge, specifically from the rock jetty to M Street, remained closed to the public. An official uploaded a video to the city’s Instagram account, requesting individuals to stay off the sand berms and noting that flooding was expected to continue over the next several days.
The National Weather Service’s San Diego office indicated that Sunday morning would present the highest flooding risks along the Orange and San Diego coasts, resulting from a combination of significant swells, onshore winds, and high tides. For Newport Beach, the weather service projected a high tide of 7.6 feet at 9:48 a.m. on Sunday. The agency warned that low-lying properties, including residential homes, businesses, and critical infrastructure, could experience flooding. Adam Roser, a lead meteorologist at the National Weather Service in San Diego, specified that surf could reach 6 to 9 feet, with the highest waves expected at south-facing beaches, particularly in Orange County. The National Weather Service’s Oxnard office also expressed growing confidence on Saturday that the anticipated coastal flooding impacts on Sunday morning for vulnerable south-facing beaches in the region could be the most significant experienced this season.
Residents and businesses in Newport Beach implemented protective measures. Dozens of homes and businesses near Balboa Boulevard were observed with sandbags lining their perimeters on Saturday morning. Joe Angelo, a 60-year resident of the Newport Beach area who purchased his beachfront home 27 years prior, described the flooding as a cause for “shock and disbelief,” noting that he had not witnessed water on the sand in that time. Despite warnings to stay away from affected areas, beachgoers were seen strolling with coffee, running, and walking dogs, with many observed climbing sand berms to watch the waves. Chris Perkins, an Orange County resident, brought his son to experience the large surf.
Elsewhere in Orange County, Huntington Beach activated its emergency operations center on Friday in response to the storm’s approach. Spectators gathered to observe powerful waves at high tide on Saturday morning. Along Bolsa Chica State Beach, the white concrete trail was occupied by cyclists, walkers, and runners. A section of this area that had flooded on Friday appeared to be clearer on Saturday, despite visible signs indicating prior flooding. The broader forecast for Tropical Storm Rachel, whose center was expected to make landfall in northern Baja California on Saturday night, indicated continued wind impacts despite a shift in its projected path farther south, according to Adam Roser. Heaviest rain for most coastal areas was anticipated late Saturday night into Sunday morning, with approximately an inch or less expected, Roser said. Temperatures in many areas west of the mountains were forecast to remain in the 60s on Monday, with a warming trend expected by the end of the week.
