Record-Breaking King Tides Flood Southern California Coast, Setting New Benchmarks

Key points

• The Los Angeles Harbor recorded a high tide of 8 feet 2 inches on Tuesday, October 27, breaking a record set just one day earlier.
• Newport Beach reached a record high of 8.4 feet, a level not observed since the 1920s, according to city spokesperson Georgia Rios.
• The Pacific Coast Highway was closed in Huntington Beach between Warner Avenue and Seal Beach Boulevard to allow emergency crews access and prevent further damage.
• Flooding impacted businesses and homes in Sunset Beach, Long Beach’s Naples Island, and Newport Beach’s Pirate House, with residents using sandbags and pumps to mitigate water intrusion.
• The National Weather Service and local experts attribute the extreme tides to a combination of a strong El Niño, a Kelvin wave, and full moon astronomical cycles.

Background

This event follows a series of coastal warnings issued in late October 2026. On October 25, the National Weather Service issued alerts for San Diego and Orange counties due to king tides amplified by El Niño and record ocean heat. On October 26, the San Pedro tide gauge reached 8.02 feet, breaking a 2005 record. Prior to this, Hurricane Polo and Tropical Storm Odalys generated swells that threatened to exacerbate erosion and flooding along the coast in late September.

How outlets are covering it

CBS News emphasized the visual impact of the flooding, highlighting photos of submerged roads and homes, and noted that experts expect worse conditions in November and December. The New York Times focused on the broader trend, stating that these record tides are a preview of what California residents should expect throughout the winter due to the strong El Niño. The Orange County Register provided detailed local impacts, noting specific closures, such as the Pacific Coast Highway in Huntington Beach and the Newport Boulevard Bridge, and highlighted resident efforts to protect property with sandbags and pumps. All three sources agree on the record-breaking nature of the tides but differ in emphasis: CBS on the immediate visual damage, The New York Times on the long-term climate implications, and the Orange County Register on local community responses and specific infrastructure closures.

Why it matters

The record-breaking tides highlight the increasing frequency and severity of coastal flooding in Southern California, driven by climate change and El Niño conditions. The closure of major roads like the Pacific Coast Highway and the flooding of businesses and homes indicate significant economic and social impacts. Experts warn that future king tides, particularly in November and December, could be even more severe if they coincide with winter storms, posing a greater risk to coastal infrastructure and residents.

What to watch

Authorities expect high tides to continue through Thursday, October 29, with advisories in place. The Pacific Coast Highway is scheduled to be closed again on Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Huntington Beach. Residents are advised to monitor tide levels and prepare for potential further flooding. Experts predict that king tides in November and December could be more extreme, especially if they coincide with winter storms and high surf.