This week, Southern California beach communities saw significant flooding as record-breaking king tides pushed water onto boardwalks and into businesses, forcing owners and staff to adapt on the fly, as News from California, across the nation and world - Los Angeles Times reported. The high tides, some with waves over 8 feet, affected multiple cities, including Redondo Beach, Newport Beach, Long Beach, Laguna Beach, and Huntington Beach. This follows earlier flooding in October due to a Kelvin wave and tides strengthened by Tropical Storm Rachel.
In Redondo Beach, Rashel Mereness, co-owner of the neighborhood sports bar The Slip on the International Boardwalk, was on vacation when the water started streaming in. A staffer recounted seeing a city trash can float by on Wednesday morning. Mereness noted that the sandbags they'd placed weren't enough for the unexpected volume of water, and remarked to News from California, across the nation and world - Los Angeles Times, "What’s weather?" Houseboat residents pitched in to help vacuum water, and some customers even paddled by on rafts where the boardwalk once was. Mereness and her partners estimated a 30% loss in business on Tuesday, despite recently repainting the bar. The ocean breached the Redondo Beach seawall every day since Monday, which Mereness described as the worst flooding she had seen. Staff have kept the bar operational, clearing water each morning so that by afternoon, The Slip can serve its usual burgers and brews.
Just down the boardwalk, Joe Smith, co-owner of Project Barley and its adjacent Next Door Bar, faced similar challenges. His businesses feature roll-up doors, a nod to the wharf’s fishing community from the 1930s and ’40s, which made it particularly difficult to keep the ocean out. While Monday saw no flooding, Tuesday brought water into both establishments, damaging Next Door Bar’s hardwood floors, which now require replacement. Smith described the experience to News from California, across the nation and world - Los Angeles Times as finding himself wading in water when opening the doors in the morning. Despite the disruptions, Smith and his partners are offering a dollar off beers this week and maintaining their schedule of Halloween costume contests and live music.
Not all businesses experienced a slowdown. Quality Seafood, a Redondo Beach institution since 1953, actually saw an increase in sales compared to the previous Tuesday. Manager Adam Hurley attributed this to curious onlookers drawn to the pier and boardwalk to witness the flooding. The seafood market, equipped to handle small amounts of water thanks to its live-seafood tanks, was barely flooded but received a deluge of calls from concerned customers. General Manager Marcia Bamba expressed confidence to News from California, across the nation and world - Los Angeles Times, stating that when it comes to El Niño warnings, they prefer to believe it only when they see it. The market has never closed in her 29 years, even anticipating potential flooding on Wednesday and Thursday.
Beyond Redondo Beach, other coastal spots felt the impact. In Laguna Beach, Lost Pier Cafe's beachside parking lot remains closed for repairs after powerful waves hit its picturesque patio multiple times in October, though the cafe itself is open. In Long Beach, Matthew Chernus, owner of Grill ’Em All, had to close his heavy metal-themed burger shop on Bayshore Beach on Monday. Chernus, who moved operations to this location in 2023, thought he was prepared after experiencing a king tide in May. However, Monday's tide, which he called "so enormous," filled his patio and dining room with ankle-deep water despite sandbags and tarps. He recounted to News from California, across the nation and world - Los Angeles Times how water found its way in through small cracks and under floorboards, describing the day as a "financial setback" and noting the mental and physical toll of the cleanup. New, temporary sand berms are helping for now, but Chernus acknowledged they are not a permanent solution.
These unusually high tides are a result of a combination of astronomical and tidal events converging with warmer ocean waters off Southern California’s coast. Scientists are now warning that November and December will bring even stronger tides, along with heavy expected rains from El Niño. This forecast has coastal businesses starting to plan for potentially worse weather in the coming weeks. The Slip's management is recommending a renewed focus on to-go and delivery orders, while Project Barley's Joe Smith and partner Brenton Reger are already designing new barriers, concerned about reports of tides potentially reaching 8 feet. Chernus at Grill ’Em All is committed to continued preparations with tarps, sandbags, and berms, hoping to avoid a repeat of Monday’s events.
