Coastal flooding could occur with high tides and elevated surf this weekend and into next week.
The National Weather Service has issued a Coastal Flood Advisory through noon on Tuesday, Nov. 10, warning of minor to locally moderate coastal flooding with elevated surf on Monday, and high tides that occur in the morning hours throughout Southern California.
The highest tides will occur each morning, peaking at 7.4 to 7.6 feet at about 7:45 a.m. on Sunday and about 8:15 a.m. Monday. Because of current ocean conditions, those levels are about 1.3 to 1.6 feet above astronomical tide predictions.
Water levels have been running higher than usual due to warmer water from El Niño conditions that recently pushed tides to unprecedented, record-breaking heights.
Several coastal towns have been inundated with water in recent weeks, both from water overspilling low seawalls and from waves overtopping sand at beaches and flowing into streets.
While the upcoming tides will be several inches lower than when they reached 8.4 feet in some spots on Oct. 27, it’s still enough for beach cities to prepare by offering sandbags to homeowners and sending out warnings to communities.
If travel is required, allow extra time as some roads may be closed, NWS warns. “Do not drive around barricades or through water of unknown depth. Take the necessary actions to protect flood-prone property.”
At several south-facing beaches, waves are expected to reach 4-to-6 feet, also prompting a Beach Hazard Statement out of the Los Angeles-based National Weather Service for areas such as Malibu and Los Angeles County beaches.
The NWS warns of an increased risk of ocean drowning, rip currents that can pull swimmers and surfers out to sea, and waves that can wash people off of beaches and rocks.