Coastal Flood Warning Takes Effect in Southern California as High Tides Threaten Homes and Rail Lines
The National Weather Service warning covers Orange and San Diego counties from Sunday morning through Thursday afternoon, with tides forecast to run 1 to 1.7 feet above predictions and rail service on the Orange County coast set to shut down south of Laguna Niguel.
A coastal flood warning took effect in Southern California on Sunday morning, with high tides forecast to flood low-lying homes, businesses and roads in Orange and San Diego counties through Thursday afternoon.
The National Weather Service warning runs from 5 a.m. Sunday to 1 p.m. Thursday, with tides expected to run 1 to 1.7 feet above predicted levels, according to the warning. The agency said any low-lying property could be inundated and warned of shoreline erosion during morning high tides, with tides reaching 7.5 feet or more, USA Today reported. Los Angeles and Ventura counties are under coastal flood advisories, with possible flooding on beach parking lots, bike paths and harbor walkways.
Rail service suspended on the Orange County coast
Metrolink will suspend Orange County Line service between Laguna Niguel/Mission Viejo and Oceanside from Monday through Friday, USA Today reported. Trains will continue to run between Los Angeles Union Station and Laguna Niguel/Mission Viejo, and no alternate bus transportation will be provided for the suspended segment. Metrolink said the change is meant to limit wider delays and cancellations if coastal conditions disrupt rail operations.
Amtrak’s Pacific Surfliner trains between the San Clemente Pier and Oceanside may face delays of about 30 minutes through Tuesday, October 27, because of signal issues and weather conditions, according to Amtrak.
El Nino and Kelvin waves lift sea levels
Coastal cities are preparing for the peak tides. In Long Beach, workers are rebuilding and reinforcing sand berms, and residents in some areas have stacked sandbags, according to the International Business Times. Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley said county public works and flood district teams have been “clearing all the debris from all the gutters, clearing the flood channels,” ABC7 Los Angeles reported.
The warning comes as El Nino and Kelvin waves have lifted baseline sea levels along the West Coast, the International Business Times reported. A previous Kelvin wave raised sea levels along the West Coast by about 6 to 8 inches in early October, contributing to flooding in Orange County communities. Josh Willis, a climate scientist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, described the risk as a “triple whammy” of El Nino, high tides and storm surge arriving together. Officials are urging residents not to drive around barricades or through standing water, to monitor road closures and to follow local emergency guidance.
Reporting based on coverage by USA Today and the International Business Times.
