Why did Newport Beach, Balboa Peninsula flood? Official explains amid tsunami fears; scary visuals emerge from California
Newport Beach declared a local emergency amid coastal flooding on Balboa Peninsula, and an official explained the reason as tsunami fears took hold.
A local emergency was declared in Newport Beach on October 9 due to coastal flooding on Balboa Peninsula. Officials warned of high surf, elevated tides, and potential flooding throughout the weekend. The National Weather Service issued a coastal flood warning for Orange County beaches, which lasted until 3pm on Sunday. This warning was due to the approach of Tropical Storm Rachel towards Southern California.
Forecasts indicated that Sunday morning would bring increased ocean swells, strong onshore winds, and high tides over 7 feet, posing a risk of dangerous coastal conditions. While fears of tsunami waves were unfounded, videos emerged showing the severity of the flooding. Residents and motorists were advised to avoid the Balboa Peninsula due to severe street flooding caused by recent storm conditions and elevated tides.
The flooding took many by surprise, with Orange County Board Vice Chair Katrina Foley admitting they hadn't expected the swell to hit as early as it did. Georgia Rios, a spokesperson for the city of Newport Beach, explained that the combination of an unprecedented high swell from Tropical Storm Rachel and the effects of El Niño led to this unexpected flooding.
Rios added that this situation is not even the worst expected, with even worse conditions forecasted for Sunday following heavy rain. The Utilities Director of Newport Beach Utilities, Mark Vukojevic, reported that the morning tide came in 20 inches higher than predicted, describing it as record-breaking.
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