High tides flood Newport Beach, Long Beach as more flooding threatens

High tides flooded streets and businesses in Newport Beach and Long Beach on Monday morning, with forecasters warning that elevated tides could bring more flooding and property damage through Thursday, ABC7 Los Angeles reported.

The coastal flood warning covers the entire Orange County coastline until 1 p.m. Thursday. Areas where little or no sandy beach remains, along with places that have flooded during previous high tides, face the possibility of more significant flooding and damage.

Water reached Newport Beach’s peninsula from the bay side and inundated the Balboa Fun Zone despite sandbags placed ahead of the high tide, according to ABC7 Los Angeles. Sand berms on the ocean side reportedly helped limit additional flooding.

Officials put Monday morning’s high tide at about 8.3 feet, more than a foot above the prediction, ABC7 reported. Tuesday’s high tide was expected to reach 8.5 feet, with elevated tides continuing through Thursday.

In Long Beach, seawater spilled over sand berms at Bayshore Beach and crossed 54th Place toward waterfront properties. Some homes had been red-tagged in recent weeks after flooding and damage caused by high surf and high tides.

Floodwater also filled a garage below sea level and inundated a fully restored 1968 Volkswagen Beetle, according to the report. Annie Koury described water entering the car when she opened its door.

The Los Angeles County coastline was under a coastal flood advisory until 1 p.m. Thursday, with morning tides forecast at 7.5 to 8 feet. ABC7 reported that forecasters expected tides could challenge San Pedro’s record of 7.93 feet, set Jan. 10, 2005. Tide records there began in 1924.

Tides along the Orange County coast were running 1 to 1.7 feet above astronomical predictions, according to ABC7. Forecasters warned that further flooding, erosion and property damage remained possible as elevated tides persisted.