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.
Rescuers from the Pacific Marine Mammal Center, Entangled Whale Response Orange County and SeaWorld San Diego freed a 29-foot young humpback from about 100 feet of trailing line off San Clemente on October 18. It was the first confirmed disentanglement off Southern California in 2026.
Coastal Flood Warning from the National Weather Service, in effect for Orange County and San Diego until Thursday 1:00 PM. Significant coastal flooding expected. Numerous roads may be closed. Low lying property including homes, businesses, and some critical infrastructure will be inundated.
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.
Orange County health officials have posted a bacteria advisory at 1st Street, 8th Street, South of Pier, and 129 more beaches, where bacteria levels in the water are higher than normal. Counties post an advisory when water samples test above state health standards, or when runoff is likely to push them there. Swimming, surfing, or diving there raises the risk of getting sick, and the advisory stays in place until the county lifts it.
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.
Corona del Mar State Beach is running unusually clearGood news · Orange County · Until Oct 28, 6:12 AM
Rescuers free an entangled humpback off San ClementeGood news · Orange County · Until Oct 27, 11:59 PM
