The Coastal Bulletin

What is happening on Southern California beaches right now. Official notices come from the National Weather Service, county health departments, ocean observing programs, and our own data. Community posts come from divers and swimmers who were standing there.

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Heads-up · Red tide · San Luis Obispo

Red tide organism running high off Cal Poly Pier

Published for Oct 18 · Until Oct 27, 5:00 PM

The CalHABMAP sample at Cal Poly Pier on October 18th counted 6,397 cells per litre of Lingulodinium polyedra, the dinoflagellate behind Southern California red tides. That is above 5,864, a level this station passes in only 5 percent of its samples since 2015. Dense patches tint the water red-brown by day and can glow blue in the surf at night. Visibility drops while a bloom holds, and Scripps notes the species can irritate skin and eyes and bother asthmatic divers. Counts describe the water at Cal Poly Pier, so conditions elsewhere in San Luis Obispo will differ.

General photo of San Luis Obispo. It does not depict this event.

From Nautical Nick dataSource: SCCOOS CalHABMAP

Current advisories · San Luis Obispo

3 notices in effect

Hazard · Notice · San Diego · Orange County · Los Angeles County · Ventura County · Santa Barbara · San Luis Obispo · Catalina Island · Channel Islands

State of emergency: California is bracing for a record El Niño winter

Until Mar 31, 1:00 AM

Governor Newsom proclaimed a statewide state of emergency on September 21 to prepare California for an El Niño that NOAA gives better than a 90 percent chance of becoming very strong and a 75 percent chance of being the strongest on record since 1950. State officials are preparing for repeated rounds of heavy rain, flooding, coastal flooding, large surf, debris flows, and power outages through the winter. A pulse of warm water is due to lift sea level on the Southern California coast by 6 to 12 inches by October, and the eastern Pacific hurricane season is forecast well above average, which means more south swell arriving on top of already high water. Officials are asking Californians to prepare their homes and families now: keep emergency supplies and water on hand, sign up for local emergency alerts, know the evacuation route from home, and follow the direction of emergency officials once storms arrive. The proclamation directs all residents to obey emergency officials during this emergency. Nautical News has the full story, including when the sea level rise reaches each city and what the 1997 to 1998 winter looked like.

General photo of the Southern California coast. It does not depict this event.

Posted by Nautical NickSource: Nautical News: the full story

Advisory · Coastal flooding · Catalina Island · Los Angeles County · San Luis Obispo · Santa Barbara · Ventura County

Minor coastal flooding along the California coast through Thursday

Until Oct 29, 1:00 PM

Coastal Flood Advisory from the National Weather Service, in effect for Catalina Island, Los Angeles County, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura County until Thursday 1:00 PM. Minor to moderate coastal flooding expected due to very high tides. Minor to moderate flooding of sea water is likely over vulnerable low-lying coastal areas, especially around the time of high tide,.

From Nautical Nick dataSource: NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA

Advisory · Storm runoff · San Luis Obispo · Santa Barbara · Ventura County · Channel Islands · Los Angeles County · Catalina Island · Orange County · San Diego

Rain advisories cover most Southern California beaches

Until Oct 27, 11:59 PM

Every beach in San Diego, Los Angeles and Ventura counties is under a rain advisory or closure, and all San Luis Obispo sites are posted. Bacteria peak near creek mouths and storm drains. Counties advise staying out of the water 72 hours after rain.

From the editorial sweepSource: San Diego County Beach and Bay Program

Coastal updates · San Luis Obispo

Heads-ups and good news, listed apart from the advisories

Red tide organism running high off Cal Poly PierHeads-up · San Luis Obispo · Until Oct 27, 5:00 PM

Ocean Oracle Pro

Pro members see the clearest water in Southern California today and their own watchlist right here, without leaving the front page. Ocean Oracle also unlocks days 2 through 7 on every beach and emails you when a prime visibility day is coming.

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