While eager surfers flock to marquee spots to catch historic waves generated by Hurricane Marie 2.0, coastal communities across Southern California are facing catastrophic flooding and devastating beach erosion.<\/p>\n
Among the hardest-hit areas is the low-lying city of Long Beach, where massive ocean surges have turned scenic waterfront streets into treacherous, waterlogged disaster zones.<\/p>\n
Dramatic videos circulating online show towering waves crashing directly over concrete barricades and swamping public beach paths. Waters breached low-lying properties on the Peninsula, inundating coastal homes and parking lots. See here<\/a> and below.<\/p>\n In anticipation of the high surf, municipal crews worked tirelessly with heavy machinery to construct a massive emergency sand berm along the shoreline. However, the relentless force of the tide quickly overtopped and breached the barrier, allowing saltwater to pour into residential neighborhoods.<\/p>\n Describing the frightening scene, local Peninsula residents expressed helplessness as ocean water rushed toward their doorsteps.<\/p>\n Related: Hurricane Marie Swallows Car with Big Surf in SoCal During Labor Day Flooding (Video)<\/a><\/p>\n “The water just kept coming over the top of the berm,” noted one long-time resident watching municipal pumps work furiously to clear the street. “No matter how high they built it, the ocean was just too big.” City officials urged residents in vulnerable, flood-prone zones to stay vigilant and maintain sandbags.<\/p>\n For Long Beach, this terrifying marine assault echoes one of the darkest chapters in California’s meteorological history. In September 1939, a rare tropical storm known as “El Cordonazo” (The Lash of St. Francis) slammed directly into Long Beach and San Pedro.<\/p>\n That historical catastrophe produced furious gale-force winds, torrential downpours, and massive coastal flooding that claimed nearly 100 lives\u2014serving as a permanent reminder of how vulnerable the Southland coast remains to tropical weather systems.<\/p>\n Now, as Long Beach takes another brutal beating from Hurricane Marie’s ocean surges, forecasters warn that the crisis isn’t over yet.<\/p>\n With high tides remaining elevated and heavy swells continuing to hammer the shore, emergency crews remain on high alert along the battered coastline.<\/p>\n Related: Watch 20-Foot Backwash Waves Destroy Southern California Beach (Video)<\/a><\/p>\n This story was originally published by Surfer<\/a> on Sep 7, 2026, where it first appeared in the News<\/a> section. Add Surfer as a Preferred Source by clicking here.<\/a><\/p>\n