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.
LOS ANGELES – 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.
The flooding comes as forecasters monitor the development of a Super El Niño.
next
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 )
prevnext
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 )
prevnext
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)
prevnext
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)
prev
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)
The El Niño climate pattern can generate Kelvin waves, large underwater waves that occur when warm water is moved eastward along the equator in the Pacific by westerly wind bursts. The waves slam against South America but can raise the sea level along Central America and the West Coast by 6-12 inches.
High tide flooding is also being amplified by the recent full moon.
What is a Kelvin Wave?
(FOX Weather / FOX Weather)
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
Tidal flooding inundates San Diego on Oct. 26, 2025.
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.
🌊SURF’S UP: A kayak was better than a car on some San Diego streets Tuesday. Roads were turned into canals across parts of the heavily populated California coast, which were inundated with record-high King Tide flooding. What’s making the flooding even worse along the West Coast: https://t.co/cvAyDwfWOQ
— FOX Weather (@foxweather) October 28, 2026
Part of the Pacific Coast Highway near Huntington Beach was closed on Tuesday and Wednesday 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 will now remain in effect for these areas through Saturday.
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.