Los Angeles coastal flooding breaks 1983 record, with more high tides expected

Overview

Updated 59 minutes ago

Los Angeles has recorded 12 days of coastal flooding in 2026, more than any year since the San Pedro tide gauge began operating in 1923. The previous record was nine days in 1983, during a strong El Niño.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) says the flooding this week came without a storm. NOAA oceanographer Karen Kavanaugh said a combination of king tides, the year's highest predicted tides, a Kelvin wave from the equatorial Pacific, a marine heat wave, and long-term sea level rise pushed water into streets and homes from Sunset Beach to Newport Beach. More high tides are expected around Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Why it matters

Coastal residents and infrastructure from Sunset Beach to Newport Beach face more sunny-day flooding through the holidays, even without rain.

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Key Indicators

High-tide flood days in Los Angeles in 2026

Through late October, surpassing the previous record of nine set in 1983.

Previous record flood days, set in 1983

The old record stood for 43 years, during a strong El Niño year.

3–6

NOAA forecast flood days, May 2026 to April 2027

Models had predicted three to six days, but nine were already recorded in that window by late October.

8.5 ft

Forecast peak tide in Newport Beach

Tuesday's high tide was projected to top 8.5 feet, nearly two feet above predictions.

Voices

Curated perspectives — historical figures and your fellow readers.

People Involved

Karen Kavanaugh

Oceanographer at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Monitoring high-tide flooding and advising coastal communities

Organizations Involved

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal agency

Monitors tide gauges and issues coastal flood data

The federal agency that operates the San Pedro tide gauge and publishes high-tide flooding data.

City of Newport Beach

City government

Declared a local emergency and approved sand replenishment ahead of high tides

The Orange County city where king tides flooded streets and businesses along the Balboa Peninsula.

Timeline

1923 October 2026

5 events Latest: Yesterday

Tap a bar to jump to that date

October 2026
Los Angeles breaks 1983 coastal flooding record
Latest Record

NOAA data shows 12 flood days in 2026, surpassing the nine recorded in 1983.
Yesterday
High tide floods Pacific Coast Highway in Huntington Beach
Flooding

Several inches of seawater cover the highway between Warner Avenue and Anderson Street.
4 days ago
Newport Beach declares local emergency
Emergency

The city approves sand replenishment as king tides threaten the Balboa Peninsula.
4 days ago
1983
El Niño year sets previous flood-day record
Record

The San Pedro gauge records nine coastal flood days, the most until 2026.
1983
1923
San Pedro tide gauge begins recording
Infrastructure

The gauge starts collecting water-level observations that now form a century-long record.
1923

Scenarios

Thanksgiving king tides trigger new Pacific Coast Highway closures in Huntington Beach

Likely Resolves by Dec 1, 2026

Discussed by: NOAA oceanographer Karen Kavanaugh and state emergency officials warned of high-risk tides around Thanksgiving.

Kavanaugh said the moon's closest approach to Earth around Thanksgiving will produce some of the year's highest tides. If a Kelvin wave or storm overlaps, water could again cover low-lying stretches of Pacific Coast Highway. The city has staged sandbags and pumps before.

Los Angeles finishes 2026 with at least 15 high-tide flood days

Likely Resolves by Jan 15, 2027

Discussed by: NOAA's seasonal outlook and Kavanaugh's warning of more flooding around the holidays.

The San Pedro gauge had already logged 12 flood days by late October, and NOAA's models had forecast only three to six for the entire May-to-April window. Another three flood days would push the 2026 total to 15, a clear record. Kavanaugh said more king tides are due in November and December.

Newport Beach extends its coastal flooding emergency through December

Possible Resolves by End of 2026

Discussed by: City of Newport Beach emergency declaration and state warnings about the holiday king tides.

Newport Beach declared a local emergency and approved sand replenishment before this week's tides. If holiday tides again threaten the Balboa Peninsula, the City Council could extend the emergency to unlock continued spending and coordination. The city has already pumped water from flooded streets.

Historical Context

2 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.

1983

1983 El Niño flood record

A strong El Niño helped push tides over seawalls and into low-lying areas of Los Angeles and Orange counties. The San Pedro tide gauge recorded nine high-tide flood days, the most in any year since observations began in 1923. In Newport Beach, residents remembered the ocean and bay meeting.

Then

The nine-day record stood for 43 years.

Now

It became the benchmark for comparing later El Niño flooding, including the six days recorded in 2015.

Why this matters now

In 2026, Los Angeles passed that record by late October, with holiday tides still ahead.

2015-2016

2015-16 El Niño

One of the strongest El Niños on record brought heavy rain and high surf to California, but the San Pedro gauge recorded only six high-tide flood days in 2015. That was still above the four days recorded in 2025.

Then

The season showed that El Niño strength alone does not determine coastal flooding.

Now

It highlighted the role of king tides, Kelvin waves, and sea level rise in pushing water over the same thresholds.

Why this matters now

The 2026 season has already doubled 2015's flood-day count, even before winter.