California’s coastline faces days of record-breaking tidal flooding

Name: California coastline battered by record flooding, leading to water levels rising more than 2 feet
Uploaded: 2026-10-28T20:01:18-04:00
Duration: 2 min 27 s
Description: California’s coastline continues to experience record-high coastal flooding, with water levels rising more than 2 feet above normally dry ground. In Los Angeles, water levels exceeded 2.5 feet for three consecutive days, reaching an all-time record high. Meanwhile, San Francisco saw a new October water-level record on Tuesday.

California coastline battered by record flooding, leading to water levels rising more than 2 feet

California’s coastline continues to experience record-high coastal flooding, with water levels rising more than 2 feet above normally dry ground. In Los Angeles, water levels exceeded 2.5 feet for three consecutive days, reaching an all-time record high. Meanwhile, San Francisco saw a new October water-level record on Tuesday.

THE TAKEAWAY

California's coastline will continue to see record tidal flooding through Friday.
Record-high tides were observed in Los Angeles, where water levels exceeded 2.5 feet for three consecutive days.
In San Francisco, water levels reached a new October record on Tuesday.

CALIFORNIA - More than 500 miles of California’s heavily populated coastline will continue to face record tidal flooding through Friday, with water levels rising more than 2 feet above normally dry ground.

RECORD KING TIDES SWAMP PARTS OF FLORIDA WITH HURRICANE-LEVEL FLOODING AS SOUTHEAST FACES MORE INUNDATION

The flooding comes as forecasters monitor the development of a Super El Niño.

San Diego, CA - October 28: A car is driven on a flooded Pacific Beach Drive as water from Mission Bay covers Briarfield Dr. during a high tide on October 28, 2026 in San Diego, CA. (K.C. Alfred )

San Diego, CA - October 28: A woman rides along a flooded Briarfield Dr. in Pacific Beach as water from Mission Bay overflows onto the street during a high tide on October 28, 2026 in San Diego, CA. (K.C. Alfred )

HUNTINGTON BEACH, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 27: Morgan Wynne paddles near his home as high tide coastal flooding impacts homes in the Sunset Beach community on October 27, 2026 in Huntington Beach, California. (Mario Tama)

HUNTINGTON BEACH, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 27: A resident carries a child in coastal floodwaters during high tide flooding near the closed Pacific Coast Highway in the Sunset Beach community on October 27, 2026 in Huntington Beach, California. (Mario Tama)

HUNTINGTON BEACH, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 27: In an aerial view, people paddle board in coastal floodwaters during high tide along the closed Pacific Coast Highway in the Sunset Beach community on October 27, 2026 in Huntington Beach, California. (Mario Tama)

Record-high tides have already been observed in Los Angeles, where water levels exceeded 2.5 feet for three consecutive days, reaching 2.70 feet on Tuesday and 2.6 feet on Wednesday.

In San Francisco, water levels reached a new October record on Tuesday, rising to 2.01 feet above normally dry ground, according to the FOX Forecast Center.

WHAT ARE KING TIDES? THE NATURAL PHENOMENON BEHIND SEASONAL COASTAL FLOODING

San Diego and Santa Monica also experienced more than 2.50 feet of coastal flooding on Monday.

SUPER EL NIÑO THEN AND NOW: HOW THIS YEAR'S STRENGTHENING EVENT COMPARES TO HISTORIC EXTREMES

Coastal communities in Huntington Beach and Newport Beach have been hit particularly hard, with residents and business owners forced to bail water out of homes and businesses.

Part of the Pacific Coast Highway near Huntington Beach was closed Tuesday from 8 a.m. to noon local time due to flooding, according to city officials.

The City of Newport Beach declared a local state of emergency ahead of the flooding and approved a sand replenishment project to build a sand berm along beaches that have been eroded by swells from large Pacific hurricanes earlier this year.

FLORIDA MANATEE LEFT STRANDED AS EXTREME LOW TIDE REVEALS HIDDEN DANGER OF KING TIDES

LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 27: A man prepares his kayak at a flooded bench at Marine Stadium boat launch on Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026 in Long Beach, United States. (Kelvin Kuo / Getty Images)

According to the FOX Forecast Center, additional coastal flooding is expected from San Francisco south to San Diego.

Coastal flood advisories and warnings remain in effect for these areas through Friday.

WHAT IS COASTAL EROSION AND WHY IS IT DANGEROUS?

Residents should prepare for significant beach erosion, flooding of roads and parking lots, and higher-than-average surf as coastal communities continue to contend with the impacts of the unusually high tides.