Record-Breaking Tides Flood Newport Beach, Balboa Island Ferry Suspended

Newport Beach experienced record-breaking tides this week, causing widespread flooding that inundated homes and businesses, according to the Los Angeles Times. The Balboa Island Ferry, which has operated for over a century, temporarily suspended service due to the high water levels.

Residents like Bill Sharp, who has lived on the Balboa Peninsula for six decades, were surprised by the severity of the flooding. Seawater from Newport Harbor surged over sea walls and flowed onto city streets. On Tuesday, the tide reached 8.4 feet in Newport Beach, significantly higher than the predicted 6.7 feet, marking the highest tide the city has ever recorded. San Pedro also saw a new all-time high tide of 8.19 feet, sending water onto the International Boardwalk in Redondo Beach and Marine Stadium in Long Beach.

Scientists attribute the unusually high tides to a combination of a full moon, warmer-than-normal ocean temperatures from human-caused climate change, an El Niño-fueled Kelvin wave, and a separate marine heat wave. This marine heat wave alone has caused sea levels to rise 1.25 to 1.8 feet higher than normal tidal movements.

Newport Beach has been particularly affected due to the topography of the Balboa Peninsula, which is “pinched in between” the beach and the bay, according to Sharp. City officials and residents are using sandbags, water pumps, and sand berms to combat the floods, but acknowledge they are at the mercy of the tides. Councilmember Joe Stapleton noted that city preparations are working, but breaches are occurring on commercial and private residential properties, highlighting the need for individual property owners to shore up their defenses.

Coastal communities anticipate a challenging winter as El Niño is expected to peak. Even higher tides are forecast around the Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Martin Luther King Jr. Day holidays. If these coincide with strong storms, even more severe flooding could occur.

Southern California's coastal communities need to prepare for a long, wet winter. Keep an eye on local alerts, especially if you live or work near the water in Newport Beach, Redondo Beach, or Long Beach.