Threat Of High Tide Lingers In Newport Beach This Week After Flooding

NEWPORT BEACH, CA — Newport Beach residents and officials will continue monitoring high surf and the threat of coastal flooding Monday in the aftermath of Post-Tropical Cyclone Rachel, with protective sand berms in place after powerful waves inundated streets on the Balboa Peninsula and prompted a local emergency declaration.

The National Weather Service said the peak of the coastal flooding threat passed Sunday, but minor to moderate flooding remains possible through Tuesday due to elevated surf and high tides.

A coastal flood warning for Orange County beaches was downgraded to an advisory Sunday afternoon, with the advisory remaining in effect until 2 p.m. Tuesday.

Morning high tides of 7 to 7.5 feet are expected Monday and Tuesday, with elevated surf gradually subsiding over the next several days, according to the NWS.

The Newport Pier, Balboa Pier, Balboa parking lot and the Wedge, from the rock jetty to M Street, were temporarily closed over the weekend for public safety and to prevent damage to protective sand berms.

"Individuals climbing on the sand berms can compromise the berms' structural integrity and reduce their effectiveness in protecting nearby homes and infrastructure from coastal flooding," city officials said.

"Things are looking good. Our berms are staying strong, which is great," Georgia Rios, public information manager for Newport Beach, told City News Service at midday Sunday.

The city declared a local emergency after higher-than-normal surf and elevated ocean water levels associated with Rachel began flooding streets on the Balboa Peninsula on Thursday night.

"Everybody got caught off guard," Orange County Board Vice Chair Katrina Foley told CNS Sunday. "We didn't expect the swell to hit this early. We've been in the planning stages for the past few weeks, but this hit a little earlier because of Hurricane Rachel. We had already planned to do some sand replenishment at Capo Beach, which we're still planning to do on Tuesday."

City Manager Seimone Jurjis, acting as the city's director of emergency services, issued the emergency declaration Friday to help Newport Beach obtain additional resources to protect public and private property.

Foley said her office helped get 10,000 sandbags to the city Friday morning, and another 20,000 were delivered later. She said neighboring Costa Mesa also contributed sandbags.

Foley said Sunday she helped secure additional county assistance to pump water and protect homes and businesses.

"At my request based on a request by (the) Newport Utilities director and mayor on Saturday and Sunday, Water Emergency Response of OC sent 20 mutual aide staff to join Newport Beach city pumpers" to operate various pumps, Foley told CNS. The county's public works crews also sent bulldozers to work on north Newport Beach about a half-mile from the outlet to push and build sand berms, Foley said.

Prefilled sandbags were made available at City Corporation Yard, 592 Superior Ave.; Marina Park, 1600 W. Balboa Blvd.; and Fire Station No. 1 (Temporary Station), at the East Ocean Front Parking Lot near Balboa Pier.

Empty sandbags were made available at Benjamin M. Carlson Lifeguard Headquarters, 70 Newport Pier.

"I've been on the phone with the Coastal Commission to try to help get support for Beach Row residents," Foley said. "We've also reached out to building trades to see if they can help with labor and equipment."

Orange County Public Works crews were on hand to help, and Foley said she also appealed to the governor's office for assistance from the conservation corps or National Guard.

"We're all hands on deck," she said.

Rios said workers moved sand from the Santa Ana River bottom to shore up vulnerable areas.

The city urged residents and motorists to avoid the Peninsula, where streets have been flooded, and warned that continued high surf and elevated tides could worsen conditions.

Six city crews worked Friday to rebuild protective sand berms along the shoreline, while additional teams operated pumps and opened tide valves to drain flooded streets, according to city officials. Crews continued monitoring ocean conditions and deploying additional resources over the weekend.

Temporary street closures and parking restrictions may be implemented if conditions worsen, according to the city. The weather service warned that numerous roads and walking paths could be closed by flooding, with low-lying homes, businesses and some critical infrastructure at risk of inundation.

Shoreline erosion remains possible during morning high tides, while elevated surf continues to pose a risk of dangerous rip currents.

Residents in waterfront and flood-prone neighborhoods were encouraged to protect their properties with sandbags or temporary barriers, clear debris from gutters and drainage areas when safe to do so and move vehicles away from areas vulnerable to flooding. City officials emphasized that flood mitigation efforts cannot eliminate all risks and urged residents to avoid walking or driving through flooded streets.

The weather service also urged motorists not to drive around barricades or through water of unknown depth.

Newport Beach maintains a network of 86 tidal valves designed to prevent rising ocean water from backing up through storm drains, along with 18 pumps used to remove standing water from streets near the harbor.

The city has previously identified the Balboa Peninsula, Balboa Island, Newport Island and other low-lying harborfront neighborhoods as areas particularly vulnerable to flooding during unusually high tides.

"This is the worst I've seen it in my 20 years on the Peninsula," City Councilman Joe Stapleton told the Los Angeles Times.

Another man who said he bought his beachfront home 27 years ago told the newspaper, "I haven't seen one drop of water on that sand in 27 years. All the sand, not one drop of water. We all love living on this oceanfront. But, boy, it makes you think twice."

Newport Beach residents were encouraged to monitor official city communications and register for Newport Notified emergency alerts at NBPD.org. Residents seeking additional information about sandbags and flood protection can contact the city's Municipal Operations Department at 949-644-3055.