Unusually High Surf, High Tides Bring Flood Threat to Long Beach

A threat of coastal flooding exists in Southern and Central California this week because of a combination of building surf and unusually high tides, the National Weather Service said today.

The highest high tides are expected Tuesday through Thursday, rising from 6.8 feet at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday morning, peaking at 6.9 feet at 10 a.m. Wednesday, then falling to 6.7 feet at 10:40 a.m. Thursday, according to a statement’s on the NWS website.

Also forecast is long-period northwest swell Wednesday through Friday, with a potential for high surf on west- to northwest-facing beaches, it said, adding that at the same time, a southwest swell will build to 4 feet at 15 seconds.

“The combined swells will create elevated to high surf along the Southwest California Coastline,” the statement said.

Along the Central Coast the surf is expected to build to 10 to 12 feet or higher while the beaches south of Point Conception could see surf of 6 to 10 feet, according to the NWS.

“There will be a risk of coastal flooding during this time as elevated water levels result from the combination of building surf and unusually high tides,” the statement said. It said locations prone to coastal flooding include Long Beach as well as Pismo and Oceano beaches in San Luis Obispo County.

City News Service