Updated on: October 28, 2026 / 9:06 AM EDT / CBS News
Recent high tides have led to extensive flooding across parts of Southern California. Record-breaking tide levels, attributed to the full moon, have swamped both homes and highways.
On Tuesday, the king tide reached 8 feet, 2 inches in the Los Angeles Harbor, setting a new high after breaking the previous day’s record. The Pacific Coast Highway was one of the severely affected areas, inundated with water. Many residents reported water rising through the storm drains.
Linda Holle, an employee at a marine fueling station in Newport Beach, described the flooding to CBS News. She mentioned it was unprecedented in her experience.
Experts warn of potentially worse conditions during November and December’s king tides. If these coincide with winter storms, the impact could be severe, possibly leading to more significant damage.
“I’ve never seen flooding like this before,” said Holle.
Images from Southern California show the extent of the flooding:
- Seawater covered the Pacific Coast Highway in Sunset Beach on October 27, 2026.
- Crews repaired a damaged boardwalk seawall in Long Beach, with some homes affected by heavy surf.
- Morgan Wynne paddled past Dani Wynne, who observed the coastal flooding from their home in Sunset Beach, Huntington Beach.
- Businesses and homes along the Pacific Coast Highway at Sunset Beach, Huntington Beach, faced significant flooding.
- People used paddle boards to navigate the floodwaters on the Pacific Coast Highway in Huntington Beach.