A coastal flood alert was issued for beaches stretching from Malibu to San Diego on Saturday as Tropical Storm Rachel approached Southern California. Long Beach enforced an evacuation order for some oceanfront residents, while Newport Beach closed piers and temporarily shut down beaches before reopening them later.
“There is increasing confidence that the anticipated coastal flooding effects on Sunday morning for susceptible south-facing beaches in LA County could be the most severe we have experienced this season, including those from Marie,” stated the National Weather Service’s Oxnard office on Saturday.
According to the agency’s San Diego office, the greatest flooding threats will occur along the Orange and San Diego coasts on Sunday morning due to the combination of swells, onshore winds, and high tides.
The National Hurricane Center indicated that the core of Rachel was expected to make landfall in northern Baja California on Saturday night.
Despite the forecast path shifting further south, warnings remained in place, keeping most of San Diego County outside the projected trajectory, revealed Adam Roser, the lead meteorologist at the National Weather Service in San Diego. “Even with the track movement southward, wind impacts are still anticipated,” Roser mentioned during a briefing.
A tropical storm watch was still in effect for all of San Diego County, as reported by the weather service.
The evacuation order in Long Beach affects residences on Seaside Walk between 64th and 66th places. This order came into force at 7 p.m. on Friday and will last until noon Tuesday, according to city officials. A commercial crane is planned to deploy sandbags on 65th Place and extending westward in front of properties between 64th and 65th, city sources noted.
“The return date is subject to modification based on changing conditions,” an announcement from the city stated.
Mike Carter, center, and his daughter Ellie Carter, 11, of Costa Mesa, wade through ocean water that flooded the beach due to a mix of high tide and strong surf in Newport Beach.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
City officials reported that waves overtopped the bulkhead and inundated homes and streets. Eight buildings at 13 different addresses, including apartments, were red-tagged by inspectors, and at least one was yellow-tagged, stated Mayor Rex Richardson on Saturday. A red tag signifies a building is unsafe for entry, while a yellow tag imposes usage restrictions.
To prevent unwarranted access, the city closed the Peninsula to non-residents, initiating further street closures from 62nd Place.
Richardson urged residents to “take this seriously and be prepared.” Todd Leland from the Long Beach Parks, Recreation, and Marine Department indicated that the city’s bulkhead and pedestrian boardwalk had already seen considerable structural damage.
To secure vulnerable sections and avert collapse, workers are reinforcing damaged areas with timber and thousands of sandbags.
“Get ready now for the upcoming impacts,” Richardson emphasized. “Our infrastructure wasn’t designed for this.”
Long Beach City Manager Tom Modica anticipated an extended recovery period. “We will seek assistance from the governor, and possibly from the federal government as well,” Modica stated. “We believe this won’t just affect us this weekend but will last for several months to come.”
On Saturday morning, water at the Los Angeles Harbor tide gauge peaked at 7.7 feet, approximately 1.6 feet above the predicted tide, according to the National Weather Service. “The expected high tides, estimated at around 8 feet for Sunday morning, could approach or surpass recent record levels for L.A. County,” it warned.
Newport Beach police announced on their social media on Saturday morning that all city beaches and piers would remain closed until further notice due to flooding.
“Avoid these areas,” advised the police. This announcement came after Newport Beach declared a local emergency on Friday following overnight flooding on the Balboa Peninsula.
By early afternoon, the beaches were reopened, but Newport Pier, Balboa Pier, and the Wedge, from the rock jetty to M Street, remained closed.
In a video shared on the city’s Instagram account, an official requested the public to stay off the berms, indicating that flooding would continue over the following days. “We prioritize public safety during this time. We will overcome this,” the post stated.
The weather service anticipates continued coastal flooding on Sunday, with high tide in Newport Beach expected to reach 7.6 feet at 9:48 a.m. “Low-lying areas, including homes, businesses, and critical infrastructures, may be inundated,” the San Diego office mentioned.
Surf conditions could reach heights of 6 to 9 feet, particularly affecting south-facing beaches, notably in Orange County, said Roser.
Joe Angelo, a resident of Newport Beach for 60 years and owner of a beachfront home for 27 years, expressed his astonishment at the flooding. “I’ve never seen a drop of water on that sand in 27 years. Every bit of sand, yet not one droplet of water,” Angelo said. “We cherish living on this oceanfront, but it certainly makes you reconsider.”
Robert Wells removes sand from around his car tires at 69th Place on the Long Beach Peninsula on Saturday.
(Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)
“I haven’t seen a single drop of water on that sand in 27 years. All the sand, yet no water at all,” Angelo remarked. “We all love living here by the ocean. But ultimately, it makes you think twice.”
On Saturday morning, sandbags were placed around numerous homes and businesses near Balboa Boulevard. Beachgoers enjoyed their morning with coffee, went jogging, and walked their dogs. Despite the warnings, many climbed on the sand berms to observe the waves, with some even performing backflips off the sand.
Chris Perkins from Orange County brought his son Connor to witness the surf. “I grew up near the ocean, and I’m just trying to introduce my kid to these intense waves while teaching him how to stay safe,” Perkins explained.
In Long Beach, vehicles formed a line at a Peninsula parking lot as fire department personnel loaded sandbags into car trunks. Light rain began falling shortly before noon.
Monica Shephard, a resident of a beachfront apartment complex, expressed her concerns, recalling when ocean water reached her doorstep three years ago. She intended to collect sandbags for her complex that evening and commended the city’s preparedness. “They’re doing an excellent job,” she remarked.
Huntington Beach also activated its emergency operations center on Friday, the city reported. Many gathered to watch the crashing waves during high tide Saturday morning. Cyclists, walkers, and joggers filled the white concrete path along Bolsa Chica State Beach. A section that flooded on Friday appeared to evade more complications on Saturday, despite warning signs indicating “flooded.”
People gather along the boardwalk as heavy machinery creates sand berms on the Long Beach Peninsula on Saturday.
(Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)
The most substantial rainfall is predicted late Saturday night into Sunday morning, Roser mentioned. Most coastal regions could receive about an inch of rain or slightly less, with some mountainous areas potentially exceeding four inches.
Many areas west of the mountains will remain in the 60s on Monday, while Big Bear could see temperatures only in the 40s, Roser added. Temperatures are expected to rise by the end of the week.
Inland southern San Bernardino County is facing at least a 40% chance of intense rainfall leading to flash flooding through Saturday night, said Julie Phillipson, lead meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Las Vegas. “Our main concern continues to be the heavy rainfall and resultant flooding,” she noted.
Deputy Managing Editor Shelby Grad contributed to this article.
