Newport Beach declares emergency as sea levels rise 22 inches

Newport Beach declared a local emergency on Monday, more than a week before high tides are scheduled to reach the coast. The Orange County city is preparing for water levels that could submerge roads, homes, and businesses.

The National Weather Service issued a warning for San Diego and Orange counties, predicting significant coastal flooding through Thursday. Roads may close and critical infrastructure could be inundated. North of these counties, areas from San Luis Obispo to Los Angeles County face minor to moderate flooding, with tides expected to reach eight feet.

City Manager Seimone Jurjis stated that ocean water levels in the region are already 15 to 22 inches higher than normal. She attributed this rise to El Niño and a Kelvin wave. Jurjis noted that this extra depth can determine whether water stays behind seawalls or spills into streets and garages during the year's highest tides.

City staff are currently inspecting infrastructure, reinforcing beach berms, and installing sandbags. The city is distributing free sandbags to residents and urging them to check vulnerable areas of their properties. The National Weather Service office in San Diego advised the public to stay off rock walls and jetties during high tides.

Residents should keep a greater distance from the ocean than usual, as waves are expected to run farther up the beach. The NWS stated that waves will reach higher on the sand than typical conditions would suggest. Officials emphasized protecting flood-prone property during this week.

This month brought other extreme weather events to the region. Flooding overtook city streets, and large waves struck beachside homes. Remnants of Tropical Storm Rachel damaged homes, destroyed a boardwalk, and forced evacuations in California.

The current conditions are part of a historic El Niño unfolding in the Pacific. The region is expected to face severe storms this winter.