San Diego coast under third flood alert in three weeks as El Niño tides run a foot above forecast

San Diego's coast is under its third coastal flood alert in three weeks, as El Niño-boosted ocean levels push morning high tides more than a foot above forecast and local agencies stage sand, berms and crews ahead of the winter storm season.

The National Weather Service in San Diego has a coastal flood advisory in effect for San Diego County coastal areas until noon Tuesday, Nov. 10, along with a beach hazards statement through Tuesday evening. The weather service forecast minor to locally moderate flooding of parking lots and roads, with only isolated road closures, and surf of 3 to 7 feet on west-facing beaches. Morning high tides were expected to peak at 7.2 to 7.4 feet on Monday, 1.2 to 1.4 feet above astronomical predictions.

The advisory follows a stronger event in late October. On Oct. 23, the weather service issued a coastal flood warning, its highest coastal flood alert, for San Diego and Orange county coasts from Oct. 25 through Oct. 29, saying numerous roads could close and that low-lying homes, businesses and some critical infrastructure would be inundated. A lesser advisory followed through Oct. 30.

The NOAA tide gauge on San Diego Bay recorded a preliminary peak of 8.52 feet above mean lower low water at 9:48 a.m. Oct. 27, about 1.4 feet higher than the predicted tide. The La Jolla gauge peaked the same morning at 7.98 feet, also about 1.4 feet above prediction. NOAA data show the bay gauge again running more than a foot above prediction through Nov. 9.

The Port of San Diego said high water on Oct. 26 and 27 flooded parts of the bayfront on dry days and closed a section of West Harbor Drive between Market and Front streets for about an hour. The Port listed other low spots, including North Harbor Drive at Laurel Street, West Harbor Drive at Kettner Boulevard, Pacific Highway at Laurel Street, Anchorage Lane at Canon Street in Point Loma and the Bayshore Bikeway between state Route 75 and Flamingo Trail. The Board of Port Commissioners declared a local emergency on Oct. 13. The Port says it is inspecting its storm drains, installing backflow preventers at storm drain outfalls and increasing monitoring of flood-prone areas.

In Mission Beach, bay water topped sand berms on Oct. 26 and flooded homes and streets between Belmont Park and the Catamaran Hotel, Times of San Diego and 10News reported. City crews brought in heavy equipment and rebuilt and enlarged the berms.

Mayor Todd Gloria proclaimed a city emergency on Oct. 2, which the City Council was scheduled to ratify Oct. 6. The city says it has cleared more than 11 miles of storm channels, built berms along beaches and the Mission Bay shoreline and staged temporary pumps. The city reported that San Diego received more than twice its normal October rainfall.

The city's last scheduled free sandbag giveaway, up to 10 filled bags per household, runs Saturday, Nov. 14, from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Robb Athletic Field, Encanto Recreation Center, Mountain View-Neal Petties Community Center, Southcrest Recreation Center and City Heights Recreation Center. Earlier giveaways ran Oct. 24, Oct. 31 and Nov. 7. Seniors in flood-prone areas can request sandbag delivery by calling 619-525-8247; deliveries begin Nov. 14.

The county proclaimed its own emergency Sept. 30, citing a National Weather Service estimate of a better than 90% chance of a strong El Niño. The county reports more than 1,200 trained Disaster Service Workers and free sand and sandbags at county and Cal Fire stations. On Oct. 6, supervisors set aside up to $1 million to help residents after a flood or wildfire, Patch reported. Supervisor Jim Desmond said at that meeting the county gave the city $34 million in relief after the January 2024 floods and that "the city did not prepare."

Residents can find sandbag sites and sign up for alerts at AlertSanDiego.org.