King tides flood Southern California coast, breaking Los Angeles County records
The gist
King tides flooded Southern California beaches and businesses this week, with San Pedro's gauge hitting 8.18 feet Tuesday.
Experts warn November and December king tides could be worse if storms coincide.
How it unfolded
- Oct 25, 2026Coastal flood alerts took effect at Southland beaches, with forecasters warning of possible record high tides; Newport Beach's morning high tide peaked at 8 feet, almost 2 feet above predictions.
- Oct 26, 2026Unusually high tides sent seawater into streets and businesses, breaking a decades-old Los Angeles County record; the San Pedro gauge reached a preliminary 8.02 feet, topping the 7.93 feet set Jan. 10, 2005.
- Oct 26, 2026Newport Beach's high tide hit 8.3 feet, nearly two feet above the predicted 6.6 feet; parts of the Balboa Peninsula went underwater and Metrolink suspended its Orange County Line between Laguna Niguel/Mission Viejo and Oceanside for five days.