Powerful ocean waves and unusually high tides associated with Tropical Storm Rachel flooded coastal communities across Southern California on Friday, October 9, 2026. The severe weather submerged streets in Newport Beach, slowed traffic in Laguna Beach, and heavily damaged a boardwalk on the Long Beach Peninsula. The aggressive marine surge pushed water inland, threatening coastal properties as local safety officials monitored conditions and repeatedly warned motorists and residents to stay away from flooded areas.
Balboa Peninsula Submerged by Surging Tides
In Newport Beach, aerial footage captured by KTLA’s Sky5 at 10 a.m. showed vehicles stranded in rising floodwater across the Balboa Peninsula. Water flowed primarily from The Wedge toward surrounding neighborhoods, including areas near Balboa Island, with Oceanfront Street experiencing severe flooding.
Eyewitnesses and aerial reports indicated that large, powerful waves pushed seawater as far as two blocks inland. Newport Beach City Councilmember Erik Weigand noted that communities near The Wedge, 51st Street, and the stretch between 12th Street and 17th Street experienced significant water intrusion. Local authorities noted that high tide hit around 8:50 a.m., with a secondary high tide projected for the evening. These conditions were compounded by tidal pushes roughly 20 inches higher than standard astronomical projections.
The City of Newport Beach issued an urgent emergency alert, advising motorists to avoid the Balboa Peninsula due to deep street flooding and elevated tides. While some surfers embraced the massive swells, residents found themselves overwhelmed by the sudden inundation.
Long Beach Peninsula Boardwalk Damaged
Further up the coast, the Long Beach Peninsula was hit hard. Strong ocean swells combined with extreme high tides battered the coastline, eroding beaches and destroying a roughly 30-foot section of the protective seawall and boardwalk.
The structural failure allowed seawater to spill directly onto nearby streets and creep toward residential doorsteps. Floodwater reached ankle-deep levels in several pockets, and vehicle access was heavily restricted at locations including 62nd Place. City building and safety inspectors surveyed the area, marking two buildings containing three residential units as unsafe to enter.
Emergency crews rushed to place sandbags and reinforce protective barriers to limit further structural decay. Officials made thousands of sandbags available to vulnerable residents, limiting distribution to 10 bags per vehicle as firefighters and lifeguards manned distribution hubs at active fire stations.
Broader SoCal Impacts and Warnings
The coastal turbulence stretched far beyond Orange County. In Malibu, surfers capitalized on heavy surf, while in Laguna Beach, intense waves caused temporary flooding along the Pacific Coast Highway. In Dana Point, water encroached toward homes along Capistrano Beach.
A Coastal Flood Advisory remained in effect through Tuesday afternoon for beaches across Ventura, Los Angeles, and Orange counties. Forecasters warned that swells could regularly reach 3 to 5 feet, with isolated sets peaking at 6 to 7 feet. Officials emphasized that flooding risks would remain elevated through the weekend, urging the public to avoid flooded roadways and hazardous shoreline areas.
