Early-season storms have wreaked havoc along the coast, and officials and residents along the Southern California coast braced for the impact of high tides Sunday.
The National Weather Service issued a flood warning for Orange and San Diego counties from Sunday morning through noon Thursday.
Morning tides in these counties are expected to be 1 to 1.7 feet above forecast, the weather service said in a statement.
“Many roads are likely to be closed,” the statement read. “Low-lying properties including homes, businesses and some critical infrastructure will be flooded.”
Metrolink announced it will temporarily suspend service at the Laguna Niguel/Mission Viejo and Oceanside stations in southern Orange County Monday through Friday due to tidal conditions.
The affected rail line, used by Metrolink and Amtrak trains and connecting Orange County to San Diego along the Pacific Coast, has long been threatened by coastal erosion and was closed for several days during the summer.
The California Department of Transportation also received millions of dollars in emergency funding to repair huge cracks that appeared in the slope below Pacific Coast Highway near Laguna Beach during high tides in early October. The worrisome crack is located near Moro Beach in Crystal Cove.
The weather service issued a flood warning, a lower-level warning, in coastal areas of Los Angeles, Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties.
The highest tides will occur on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday mornings, with tides reaching 7.5 to 8 feet, or 1 to 1.5 feet above astronomical forecasts.
In recent weeks, Southern California coastal communities have felt the effects of flooding from a potentially historic El Niño.
On October 11, Robert Martin shoveled a sand path on the Long Beach Peninsula to allow water to flow.
(Kayla Bartkoski/Los Angeles Times)
Long Beach and Newport Beach have been at the center of the disaster, with videos going viral showing waves crashing against beachfront homes, parking lots, boardwalks and piers.
Newport Beach City Manager Seimone Jurjis said in a statement that Balboa Peninsula and the islands within Newport Harbor are of particular concern.
“Our city teams have been busy reinforcing sand banks, assessing vulnerable seawalls, placing sandbags, inspecting storm drains and preparing additional pumps, heavy equipment and emergency resources,” Jurgis said. “We are also coordinating additional staffing across city departments to monitor the situation and respond as needed.”
The city said it will provide sandbags at three locations and encourages residents with private seawalls to reinforce the bags if necessary.
According to the California Coastal Commission’s website, so-called king tides don’t begin until late November.
High tides require beachgoers and coastal residents to remain vigilant, according to the weather service.
“If you need to travel, do not go around roadblocks or through water of unknown depth,” the National Weather Service advises.
Beachgoers should stay away from piers and seawalls and avoid the beach entirely at high tide, the weather service said.