High tides threaten coastal flooding in Southern California

The National Weather Service warned that unusually high tides could cause significant coastal flooding in Orange and San Diego counties through Thursday afternoon, putting low-lying properties and infrastructure at risk. The warning covers the counties’ coastlines and calls for morning high tides each day. The agency said roads could close, low-lying homes and businesses could be inundated, and shoreline erosion was expected. As of Sunday morning, no damage had been reported in San Diego County. For Los Angeles and Orange County beaches, the Weather Service forecast morning high tides of 7.5 to 8 feet from Sunday through Thursday. Tides from Monday through Wednesday could challenge the 7.93-foot San Pedro record set on January 10, 2005, according to the agency. The advisory for those beaches runs through 1 p.m. Thursday. Newport Beach officials reported that seawater reached 8 feet on Sunday, 1.8 feet above the level expected from the high tide alone. The Weather Service forecast possible levels of 8.3 feet there Monday and 8.5 feet Tuesday and Wednesday. Those city-specific seawater projections are distinct from the regional high-tide forecast. Forecasters said the flooding...