High tides set to break records again Tuesday in San Pedro and Newport Beach

Coastal flooding is expected to recur on Tuesday morning along the shores of Los Angeles and Orange counties. The recurrence follows a Monday morning when exceptionally high tides flooded streets in Newport Beach and set a preliminary record in San Pedro.

The National Weather Service reported that the tide gauge in San Pedro registered a preliminary reading of 8.02 feet on Monday morning. This figure surpasses the previous record of 7.93 feet, which was established on January 10, 2005. Records for this gauge date back to November 1923. Officials indicated that tides on Tuesday could be slightly higher than Monday's levels.

In Newport Beach, the high tide reached 8.3 feet on Monday, flooding streets in low-lying areas. The Newport Beach Police Department forecast an 8.5-foot tide for Tuesday. To protect vulnerable neighborhoods, particularly along the Balboa Peninsula, authorities activated water pumps and installed sand berms.

Parking enforcement in Newport Beach was suspended until Wednesday night. This measure allows residents time to move vehicles out of flood-prone zones. The police department issued a statement advising residents in low-lying or waterfront areas to take precautions. They recommended using sandbags or temporary flood barriers and moving vehicles to higher ground if necessary.

Katrina Foley, Vice President of the Orange County Board of Supervisors, stated that the city constructed a berm and the county assisted in distributing sandbags. Foley said she received a request for additional sandbags and submitted it, noting preparations to provide more bags for Laguna Hills by Wednesday night.

Georgia Rios, a spokesperson for Newport Beach, attributed limited damage to the extensive use of sandbags by residents. Rios said the city has distributed more than 25,000 sandbags since the weekend. She noted that flooding primarily affected Balboa Island and the peninsula, and city crews pumped water out quickly.

Rios said tides are expected to return to normal after another high tide on Wednesday morning. Authorities also anticipate high tides around Thanksgiving and Christmas. A coastal flood advisory remains in effect until 1 p.m. on Thursday for the coast of Orange County. A separate coastal flood warning for the Los Angeles County coast is also valid until 1 p.m. on Thursday.

Forecasters indicated that tides are running 1 to 1.7 feet above astronomical predictions in Orange County. Along the Los Angeles County coast, tides are approximately 1 to 1.5 feet above predictions. Minor flooding is possible in vulnerable areas such as harbor piers, beach parking lots, bike paths, and beaches. More substantial flooding and damage may occur where sand bars are absent or where previous high tides caused issues.

High tides also disrupted rail service along the Orange County coast. Metrolink's Orange County Line suspended service on Monday between the Laguna Niguel/Mission Viejo and Oceanside stations. Trains will start and end at Laguna Niguel/Mission Viejo until Friday. Away from the coast, dry weather is expected to continue in Los Angeles and Orange counties on Tuesday, with highs in the 70s for most coastal and valley areas.

A marine layer is expected to expand on Wednesday, bringing morning clouds to coastal zones and many valleys. Some beaches may remain cloudy throughout the day. Thursday is expected to be mostly cloudy with highs in the upper 60s to lower 70s. The National Weather Service is monitoring a potentially moderate to strong storm system that may bring rain to Southern California during the Halloween weekend. There is a 10% to 20% chance of brief, light showers on Friday. Forecasters have high confidence that rain will fall during the weekend, though timing and intensity remain uncertain. Current projections indicate about 1 inch of rain in most areas south of Point Conception, including Los Angeles County, with heavier amounts possible in foothills and coastal slopes. There is a 20% to 30% chance that totals could reach double those amounts. High temperatures during the weekend are expected to stay in the mid to upper 60s.