500-miles of California coast battle continued flooding from King Tides, closing part of Pacific Coast Highway
Peak high tide flooding is expected for the region to last through Thursday before high tides slowly beginning to recede.
Enhanced King Tides slam Southeast and West Coast with record coastal flooding
Parts of Florida saw some of the worst coastal flooding yet on Tuesday from the ongoing fall King Tide event, with flood levels continuing to surpass records set by several hurricanes. Several low-lying neighborhoods in South Florida were completely flooded with several feet of water during high tide. While peak flooding is expected to continue through Wednesday across the Southeast coast, relief for some of these neighborhoods will be gradual as high tide cycles slowly begin to recede. Meanwhile, California also set tidal flooding records in Los Angeles and San Francisco Tuesday, with West Coast tidal flooding expected to remain an issue through Friday.
THE TAKEAWAY:
- Portions of the California coastline are seeing higher-than-normal King Tides.
- In Los Angeles, San Diego and Santa Monica, water levels have already exceeded 2.50 feet.
- Coastal Flood Advisories and warnings are in effect from San Francisco south to San Diego.
Parts of the heavily populated California coast have seen record-high coastal flooding due to the King Tides, including Los Angeles, as roads in beach cities were turned into canals Tuesday.
Peak high tide flooding is expected for the region to last through Thursday before high tides slowly beginning to recede.
![HUNTINGTON BEACH, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 27: James Hays paddles with his dog Flynn through coastal floodwaters during high tide flooding along the closed Pacific Coast Highway in the Sunset Beach community on October 27, 2026 in Huntington Beach, California.]()
Image 1 of 7HUNTINGTON BEACH, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 27: James Hays paddles with his dog Flynn through coastal floodwaters during high tide flooding along the closed Pacific Coast Highway in the Sunset Beach community on October 27, 2026 in Huntington Beach, California. ((Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images))
![HUNTINGTON BEACH, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 27: In an aerial view, a motorist drives through coastal floodwaters during high tide flooding along the closed Pacific Coast Highway in the Sunset Beach community on October 27, 2026 in Huntington Beach, California.]()
Image 2 of 7HUNTINGTON BEACH, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 27: In an aerial view, a motorist drives through coastal floodwaters during high tide flooding along the closed Pacific Coast Highway in the Sunset Beach community on October 27, 2026 in Huntington Beach, California. ((Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images))
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Image 3 of 7A surfer crosses a parking lot on E. Ocean Blvd. after exiting Alamitos Bay Dredging operations continue as a King Tide comes ashore in the Balboa Peninsula, Long Beach, CA on Monday, Oct. 26, 2026. (Robert Gauthier)
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Image 4 of 7Dredging operations continue as a King Tide comes ashore in the Balboa Peninsula, Long Beach, CA on Monday, Oct. 26, 2026. (Robert Gauthier)
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Image 5 of 7Michael Koury stands near his classic Volkswagen Beetle in a flooded garage on Bay Shore Avenue as a King Tide comes ashore in the Balboa Peninsula, Long Beach, CA on Monday, Oct. 26, 2026. (Robert Gauthier)
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Image 6 of 7Dredging operations begin along the Long Beach coast. (Robert Gauthier)
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Image 7 of 7King Tide comes ashore in the Balboa Peninsula. (Robert Gauthier)
Record-high tides have been observed in Los Angeles, where water levels reached 2.70 feet above normally dry ground Tuesday, setting a new record after surpassing Monday’s high-water mark.
San Francisco set a new October flooding record, with water reaching 2.01 feet Tuesday. San Diego and Santa Monica also saw more than 2.50 feet of coastal flooding Monday.
WHAT IS COASTAL EROSION AND WHY IS IT DANGEROUS?
Coastal communities in Huntington Beach and Newport Beach have been hit particularly hard, with residents and business owners forced to bail water from homes and businesses.
Huntington Beach, CA - October 27, 2026: High tide floods businesses and homes along Pacific Coast Highway at Sunset Beach, Huntington Beach, CA on Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026.
((Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images) / Getty Images)
Part of the Pacific Coast Highway near Huntington Beach was closed Tuesday from 8 a.m. to noon local time due to flooding, according to city officials.
The City of Newport Beach declared a local state of emergency ahead of the flooding and approved a sand replenishment project to build a sand berm along beaches that have been eroded by swells from large Pacific hurricanes earlier this year.
Watch: Tidal flooding inundates San Diego
Tidal flooding inundates San Diego on Oct. 26, 2025.
Coastal Flood Advisories and Warnings are in effect from San Francisco southward to San Diego through Friday.
(FOX Weather)
A King Tide is the highest naturally occurring high tide of the year. Even on clear, sunny days with no storm in sight, these extra-high seasonal tides can push seawater back up through storm drains and onto coastal streets.
Unlike Florida and the Southeast coast, King Tides on the West Coast are driven by astronomical factors, namely the full moon, as well as seasonal changes in water temperatures.
WHAT IS A KING TIDE OR PERIGEAN SPRING TIDE?
Huntington Beach, CA - October 26: Sea water floods on to Pacific Coast Highway during high tide in Sunset Beach on Monday, October 26, 2026.
((Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG) / Getty Images)
According to the FOX Forecast Center, residents should expect significant beach erosion, higher-than-average surf and flooding of parking lots and roads.
(FOX Weather)
Low-lying homes and businesses may also be impacted.
THIS COMPANY IS FIGHTING THE SEA TO PROTECT NORTH CAROLINA COASTAL HOMES
Flooding will be worse during high tides, which typically occur between 9 and 10 a.m. and between 10 and 11 p.m. each day.
Stay with FOX Weather as we continue to track this developing story.