Newport Beach experienced widespread flooding on Friday, with high tides and an unexpected massive swell significantly exceeding initial estimates. The swell, reportedly double the size initially predicted, breached 20-foot berms erected at the Wedge. Roads from approximately 21st Street to 6th Street were washed out, and streets on the Balboa Peninsula were inundated with at least a foot of water during high tides.
Newport Beach City Councilman Joe Stapleton characterized the event, stating, "This is the worst I’ve seen it in my 20 years on the Peninsula." Police advised residents and motorists to avoid the affected areas of the Balboa Peninsula due to the conditions. The flooding was notable even for a neighborhood historically prone to regular inundations, particularly during El Niño events. City officials are currently working to determine the extent of damage to homes.
Georgia Rios, a spokesperson for the city of Newport Beach, noted the unusual nature of the event. "This swell was very unprecedented coming up that high," Rios stated, adding that while a high swell was anticipated due to Tropical Storm Rachel, the combination with El Niño created a powerful force in Newport Beach. Mark Vukojevic, Newport Beach Utilities Director, informed ABC7 that the morning tide arrived 20 inches higher than predicted, calling it "kind of record-breaking for us" compared to typical 12-inch increases.
In response to the severe conditions, Newport Beach declared a local emergency on Friday. City crews were actively engaged in pumping water from the streets, rebuilding beach berms, and opening tide valves to mitigate water intrusion. Residents were urged to pick up sandbags to protect their properties over the weekend. The intersection of Coast Highway and Broadway was observed to be inundated, and the typically sandy sections of Main Beach, a popular local gathering spot, were transformed by the encroaching water.
The forecast indicates potential for worsening conditions. Rios warned, "This is not even the worst that is expected. It’s forecast to get even worse on Sunday with rain."
Further up the coast, Huntington Beach also experienced impacts from the high surf. Parts of the city, specifically streets in the Sunset Beach area, saw localized flooding. This particular stretch is known for its susceptibility to flooding during periods of high tides and storm surges. However, city officials reported no property damage in Huntington Beach. In preparation for the weekend, city officials activated their Emergency Operations Center and made sand and sandbags available to residents.
