Sandbags offered as high surf, tides prepare to hit Southern California coast
High surf crashes into the sea wall near Big rock on Will Rogers State Beach along Pacific Coast Highway in Pacific Palisades. Unusually high tides, fueled by high surf and a full moon, began hitting Southern California on Tuesday.
Unusually high tides are expected to begin hitting Southern California on Tuesday morning and could bring water up to beachside home doorsteps and parking lots, the National Weather Service said.
Fueled by high surf and a full moon, the tides are expected to peak about 9:20 a.m. in Los Angeles County, where areas including Alamitos Bay in Long Beach could be affected, said meteorologist Curt Kaplan.
Tides could reach up to 8 feet, partially encouraged by a warm-water phenomenon that’s spanned the entire West Coast all year, Kaplan said. The highest tides are expected Wednesday, he said.
Residents who want sandbags to protect against flooding can get them at certain fire stations in Venice, Westchester, Playa Vista and Mar Vista, L.A. Councilman Mike Bonin, whose district includes those neighborhoods, announced on Facebook.
Neighboring counties are also offering sandbags for residents.
In Santa Barbara County, tides are expected to peak at nearly 7 feet about 10 a.m. The larger issue there, however, may be the surf. An advisory issued by the Weather Service predicts waves as high as 15 feet by Friday as a large storm begins to churn in the northern Pacific.
“Tides combined with high surf could cause some local coastal flooding around … Pismo Beach as well as Jalama Beach,” the Weather Service warned.
There could be some beach erosion, officials said.
In Orange County, meanwhile, Seal Beach could see the water climb up to its shoreline parking lots. The tide could peak at 7 feet about 9 a.m., said lead forecaster Greg Martin.
Rip currents also pose a danger to swimmers, forecasters warned.
Times staff writer Lauren Raab contributed to this report.
For breaking California news, follow @JosephSerna.
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