Public Safety
High tide floods 15–20 blocks of Newport Beach’s Balboa Peninsula
Several Balboa Peninsula streets went underwater Friday morning as an unusually high tide pushed coastal flooding into Newport Beach.
Newport Beach’s utilities director estimated that 15 to 20 blocks experienced street flooding, ABC7 Los Angeles reported Friday. The city said the tide arrived about 20 inches above its predicted level and sent an emergency alert advising motorists to avoid the peninsula.
City estimate: 15–20 flooded blocks
Hard-hit area: Balboa Peninsula
Federal alert: Coastal Flood Advisory through 2 p.m. Tuesday
Crews prepare for another high tide
ABC7 reported that city crews were clearing roads and opening tide valves near 21st Street and Balboa Boulevard while adding sand along the beachfront. Residents and businesses were encouraged to obtain sandbags. Officials had not released an estimate of possible damage to homes.
The National Weather Service’s San Diego office kept a Coastal Flood Advisory in effect for Orange County coastal areas through Tuesday afternoon. Its Friday surf-zone forecast also listed a high rip-current risk, underscoring that the flooding remained part of a broader coastal hazard rather than a one-morning disruption.