Newport Beach’s high tide reached 8.3 feet Monday, Oct. 26, with an even higher tide of 8.5 feet expected Tuesday, city officials said as crews operated pumps and reinforced protective sand berms.
City crews are operating pumps, filling sandbags and monitoring conditions along the Balboa Peninsula, Balboa Island and other low-lying areas. The high water arrived ahead of the worst of the tidal surge, which is forecast to continue through Wednesday, Oct. 28.
Newport Beach declared a local emergency Oct. 19 and activated its Emergency Operations Center. The city had already been hit by high surf from Tropical Storm Rachel earlier in October, which forced temporary closures of Newport Pier, Balboa Pier and the Wedge.
Water levels could climb higher. The Los Angeles Times reported that seawater on Newport Beach's coastline could reach 8.3 feet Monday, Oct. 26, at 9:15 a.m. and 8.5 feet Tuesday, Oct. 27, at 9:50 a.m. The National Weather Service issued a coastal flood warning for Orange and San Diego counties through Thursday, Oct. 29.
The weather service warned of "significant coastal flooding expected" and said low-lying homes, businesses and some critical infrastructure could be inundated, the Times reported.
City Manager Seimone Jurjis said in a statement that the Balboa Peninsula and islands within Newport Harbor are of particular concern, the Los Angeles Times reported Oct. 25. Jurjis said city teams have been reinforcing sand berms, evaluating seawalls, placing sandbags and preparing pumps and heavy equipment.
Ocean water levels have been running 18 to 22 inches above predicted astronomical tides, according to the city's flood preparedness page. A rare combination of El Niño, a marine heat wave and a once-in-20-years astronomical alignment has driven the elevated conditions, the Times reported.
Ahead of the tides, the city partnered with Orange County to move about 100,000 cubic yards of sand from the Santa Ana River mouth to the West Newport shoreline. Crews also delivered about 2,000 cubic yards of sand to the Wedge to reinforce berms, Patch reported Oct. 21, using 30 to 40 trucks hauling from Prado Dam in Norco.
The city is urging residents to stay off protective sand berms. Parking enforcement has been suspended from Sunday, Oct. 25, at 6 p.m. through Wednesday, Oct. 28, at 6 p.m. so residents in flood-prone areas can move vehicles to higher ground or city parking lots.
Free prefilled sandbags are available at the City Corporation Yard, 592 Superior Ave., while supplies last. Empty sandbags are available at Newport Beach fire stations and Lifeguard Headquarters.
Residents can sign up for Newport Notified alerts by visiting newportbeach.genasys.com.
