Record High Tides Flood California Coast as El Niño Threatens Winter

Coastal flooding from record high tides continues to damage low-lying areas in San Diego and across the Bay Area. Seawater broke through a sand berm along Bayside Walk on Monday, October 26, flooding the yard of Mission Bay Puppy Rescue. Jackie Nipper, who founded the organization 30 years ago, said the berm had never been this high before.

Crews raised the sand berm along Bayside Walk on October 27 after flooding damaged homes the previous day. A stalled car nearly made it through floodwaters on the road between Ingraham Street and Sunset Cliffs Boulevard. Nipper credited a storm drain system built in the 1990s with protecting her home from extensive damage.

“This is probably, unfortunately for those who are dealing with it, just a preview of what is to come.”

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration tide gauge at Broadway Pier recorded a peak of 8.52 feet at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, October 27, more than a foot above predictions. Observed water levels exceeded forecasts at the pier in San Diego Bay.

Sunny-day flooding also struck San Francisco this week, with water spilling over the sidewalk near Pier 14 early Wednesday afternoon. The area was cordoned off with caution tape. A new UC Davis report identified Bay Area roads, airports, and neighborhoods most at risk from sea-level rise and a potentially historic El Niño.

The report says sea levels along the California coast have risen nearly a foot because of climate change. A Kelvin wave could add a foot or more, potentially pushing water two to three feet above current levels. National Weather Service meteorologist Rachel Kennedy said El Niño thermal expansion has kept water higher than initially forecast.

Marin County is a flooding hotspot, with water reaching some people’s homes. On Thursday afternoon, floodwaters blocked entrances to Highway 101 in north Sausalito, and kayakers took to the new waterways. Workers at a Mexican restaurant in San Rafael raced to move items as water surrounded the building.

King tides are expected around Thanksgiving and Christmas, raising the likelihood of widespread and potentially serious coastal flooding. Climate scientist Daniel Swain said this is likely just a preview of what is to come later this winter.