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.
Laguna Beach Marine Safety expected coastal flooding at Main Beach and Aliso Beach on Sunday morning, with surf of 4 to 6 feet at high tide. Crews built protective sand berms, and the city asks people to stay off the berms and off the rocks.
Newport Beach closed Balboa Pier, Newport Pier and the Wedge, from the jetty to M Street, until further notice as flooding continues. Lifeguards ask people to stay out of the ocean near Tower 56, stay off the sand berms and keep clear of heavy equipment.
Very strong surge was reported in the water on October 9, and the National Weather Service rates the rip current risk as high in San Diego and Orange counties. Surf of 3 to 5 feet with sets to 6 feet is expected through Saturday, building to 5 to 8 feet on Sunday as swell from Tropical Storm Rachel arrives, and Los Angeles County expects 4 to 7 feet on Sunday. The Weather Service advises staying out of the water. Visibility on this site reads 0 in the Break Zone and 0 to 5 feet past the break through Tuesday.
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.
The wettest spot in Orange County took 0.92 in of rain in the last 3 days, Wheeler North Reef, most recently on Sunday, October 11th. County health guidance is to stay out of the ocean for 72 hours after rain, and runoff plumes near creek mouths and storm drains cut visibility hard.
Coastal Flood Advisory from the National Weather Service, in effect for Catalina Island, Los Angeles County, Orange County, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura County until Tuesday 2:00 PM. Until 2 PM PDT Tuesday.
The Coastal Flood Warning ended Sunday afternoon. A Coastal Flood Advisory stays in effect until 2 PM Tuesday from San Diego to Ventura County and at Catalina, with minor flooding possible around each morning high tide on low beaches, lots and roads.
Orange County health officials have posted a bacteria advisory at Baby Beach, 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.
