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.
Goleta Beach is forecast at 16 ft today, 33% above its usual 12 ft. More Mesa Beach at 16 ft is 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.
Heal the Bay's weekly dry-weather grades for Santa Barbara, issued October 23rd, put Goleta Beach at F. Butterfly Beach came in at D. County health departments sample these beaches at least once a week and measure 3 fecal indicator bacteria, total coliform, fecal coliform, and Enterococcus, which stand in for the pathogens that make swimmers sick. The grade summarizes those samples. It does not report a spill, a beach closure, or any single incident. Each grade covers bacteria levels at one sampling point, so water a few hundred yards along the same beach can test very differently. Levels run highest beside storm drain and creek outlets, and for roughly 3 days after rain.
