High Surf Floods Coast Highway In Laguna Beach

LAGUNA BEACH, CA — Laguna Beach residents may have noticed slick sidewalks and deep puddles Thursday morning, after high surf brought flooding into the city's downtown area.

According to the City of Laguna Beach, residents can expect the flooded conditions on streets like Coast Highway and Broadway to linger as the next high tide rolls in at around 8:37 p.m. Thursday night.

The flooding comes as the region braces itself for the arrival of Hurricane Rachel.

The Orange County Register reported that motorists on Coast Highway were driving through inches of water Thursday morning.

Marine Safety Chief Kai Bond told The OC Register that the water came from the ocean during a period of high tides and high surf.

"Rachel came earlier than expected," he told the newspaper.

Residents were urged by city officials to take the following precautions:

• Slow down and avoid driving through standing water.
• Watch your step on wet, slick sidewalks.
• Stay off rocks and seawalls, and keep kids and pets back from the water.