Newport Beach Braces for November 23-27 King Tides: Council Has Declared a Local Emergency After October's 8.4-Foot Tide
NEWPORT BEACH — The City of Newport Beach, in Orange County, California, said in its weekly city update on November 13 that with Thanksgiving approaching, the city is preparing for another round of exceptionally high tides (king tides) expected November 23-27. At its November 10 meeting, the City Council declared a local emergency in anticipation of potential coastal flooding, giving the city greater flexibility to respond quickly, coordinate resources and pursue reimbursement for eligible emergency costs.
City Manager Seimone Jurjis said in the update that October brought a record-breaking high tide of 8.4 feet, the highest recorded in Newport Beach since the 1920s, and that the November tides could be even higher, potentially exceeding October's levels by more than a foot. Another round of high tides is expected December 22-26, with additional events into the new year.
The city said crews have constructed and reinforced 5.3 miles of protective sand berms along its beaches, distributed more than 150,000 sandbags, and are nearing completion of work to raise 70 public seawalls throughout the community. Waterfront and flood-prone residents are urged to inspect their private seawalls; eligible emergency seawall permits can be issued the same day through the city's Permit Center under a process streamlined with the California Coastal Commission. Free prefilled sandbags remain available at the City Corporation Yard, 592 Superior Ave., while supplies last.
The update also noted that the next City Council meeting will be held on Tuesday, November 17, at 4 p.m., a week earlier than usual because of Thanksgiving. Agenda items include agreements with the Orange County Water District and the Laguna Beach County Water District for the Bushard Water Well project, a proposal to allocate approximately $27.4 million in surplus General Fund revenue from fiscal 2025-26 toward future infrastructure and neighborhood improvements, and extension of the West Newport Beach Sand Replenishment Project.
(Source: City of Newport Beach)
Source: City of Newport Beach
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：Newport Beach 的 Balboa 半岛海滩（资料图）。Jukka 摄，CC BY 2.0，经 Wikimedia Commons。 / Photo: The beach at Balboa Peninsula in Newport Beach (file photo). By Jukka, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
