{"id":455511,"date":"2026-09-06T16:38:14","date_gmt":"2026-09-06T16:38:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/455511\/"},"modified":"2026-09-06T16:38:14","modified_gmt":"2026-09-06T16:38:14","slug":"hurricane-marie-sparks-mass-flooding-in-seal-beach-in-california-on-labor-day-weekend","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/455511\/","title":{"rendered":"Hurricane Marie sparks mass flooding in Seal Beach in California on Labor Day weekend"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hurricane Marie is impacting the Southern California coastline<\/a> with powerful swells and dangerous rip currents triggering flooding, water rescues, and a frantic effort to keep ocean water away from homes.<\/p>\n

The storm, churning in the eastern Pacific off the coast of Baja California, is not expected to make landfall in the Golden State \u2014 but it is already hitting beaches spanning Los Angeles County to Orange County.<\/p>\n

At Seal Beach on Saturday, ocean water surged into parking lots<\/a> near the pier, flooding low-lying areas and trapping vehicles.<\/p>\n

Ocean water inundates parking lots near the Seal Beach Pier on Saturday along the Southern California coast.<\/p>\n

Video obtained by ABC7<\/a> showed roughly a dozen people joining forces to push one overwhelmed vehicle out of the floodwaters.<\/p>\n

By nighttime, wet sand had spread across the boardwalk and flooding was still visible at homes along the shoreline.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is crazy. I\u2019ve lived here for 20+ years, and usually we get like 1- to 2-foot waves. But when we get the storm to come in here, it\u2019s like, crazy. We\u2019re just not used to that,\u201d Seal Beach resident Clifford Scarborough said.<\/p>\n

Crews responded by constructing a berm and pumping seawater back toward the ocean. The 8th Street and 10th Street parking lots that were inundated are expected to remain closed through Wednesday.<\/p>\n

The dangerous conditions weren\u2019t limited to Seal Beach.<\/p>\n

In Manhattan Beach<\/a>, a lifeguard rescue was caught on video as towering swells and powerful currents created hazardous conditions, despite Marie remaining hundreds of miles away.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s extremely concerning \u2014 having children, you\u2019re always on high alert,\u201d Melissa Sann of Mid-Wilshire said.<\/p>\n

At Seal Beach Saturday, ocean water surged into parking lots near the pier, flooding low-lying areas.<\/p>\n

Los Angeles County lifeguards are preparing for a particularly busy holiday weekend, with officials anticipating more than 1,000 water rescues. On a typical day, that number can be around 500.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re expecting to see these elevated wave heights in the 3- to 5-foot range, with sets up to 6- to 8-feet up in some of our standout beaches up in Zuma Beach and Malibu,\u201d Los Angeles County Fire Department ocean lifeguard specialist Jake Miller told ABC7.<\/p>\n

Lifeguards are warning beachgoers to check conditions before entering the water and to recognize their own limits as the storm-generated swells<\/a> continue to arrive.<\/p>\n

The National Weather Service has warned that Marie\u2019s effects could include coastal flooding, dangerous rip currents, beach erosion and large waves across Southern California.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere is an increased risk for ocean drowning,\u201d the NWS warned, saying rip currents could become \u201cwidespread and very strong\u201d and potentially pull swimmers and surfers away from shore.<\/p>\n

The conditions mark the beginning of impacts expected along the coast for Labor Day weekend.<\/p>\n

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Low-lying coastal areas could see seawater flooding around high tide, particularly vulnerable stretches.<\/p>\n

The agency also warned that large breaking waves could injure people<\/a>, sweep beachgoers from rocks and beaches, and overturn small boats near shore.<\/p>\n

Low-lying coastal areas could see seawater flooding around high tide, particularly vulnerable stretches including Avalon, Long Beach\u2019s Alamitos Peninsula and the coastline from Oxnard to Malibu, including Point Mugu, according to the NWS.<\/p>\n

The weather service has issued coastal flood, high surf and small craft advisories, along with a beach hazards statement, for parts of Southern California through Tuesday.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, the National Hurricane Center said Marie is expected to weaken steadily and become a post-tropical remnant low by Wednesday.<\/p>\n

But the storm\u2019s swells are expected to continue affecting Southern California for several days, potentially creating life-threatening surf and rip-current conditions.<\/p>\n

Back in Seal Beach, Scarborough said the weekend\u2019s flooding was a stark reminder of the ocean\u2019s power. \u201cIt just shows you how powerful it is. We have to respect nature,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

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