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.
Santa Monica is forecast at 17 ft today, 2.4x its usual 7 ft. Venice Beach at 17 ft and Lunada Bay at 19 ft are also above normal.
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.
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,.
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.
Los Angeles County health officials have posted a bacteria advisory at Leo Carillo State Beach, Nicholas Canyon County Beach, Topanga County Beach, and 38 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.
