Record-breaking high tides flooded homes, businesses, and major roadways across Southern California on Tuesday, October 27, 2026. The water levels reached 8 feet, 2 inches in the Los Angeles Harbor, surpassing a record that had been established only one day earlier.
The flooding was driven by "king tides," which are the highest tides of the year typically occurring during a full moon. In addition to the California coast, record-setting tides were reported on the U.S. East Coast, while strong offshore winds caused shoreline washouts in Southern Florida.
In the Sunset Beach community of Huntington Beach, residents utilized paddleboards to navigate flooded streets as seawater inundated the Pacific Coast Highway. In Long Beach, crews worked at low tide to repair a damaged seawall along the boardwalk, while protective sand berms were positioned in front of homes that sustained damage from heavy surf.
Local officials in Newport Beach declared a local emergency due to the flooding on the Balboa Peninsula. Linda Holle, an employee at a marine fueling station in Newport Beach, reported that her office was flooded and stated she had not previously seen flooding of this magnitude. Residents in affected areas noted that seawater was emerging from storm drains.
For residents and workers, the immediate impact included the inundation of workplaces and the need to use paddleboards for transportation in residential areas. Long Beach homeowners saw crews installing sand berms to protect against further surf damage to their dwellings. The flooding also demonstrated the vulnerability of local infrastructure, as seawater bypassed traditional coastal defenses by rising through inland storm drains.
Experts stated that upcoming king tides during full moons in November and December could result in more severe flooding. If these future high tides coincide with winter storms or heavy surf, additional property damage and infrastructure failures are expected. The specific dates for these anticipated tides and any subsequent court or legislative actions related to the Newport Beach emergency declaration were not reported.