High tides, large surf predicted to flood Santa Barbara beaches and harbor

Ocean tides as tall as 8 feet are predicted to flood low-lying areas, beach parking lots and harbor walkways along the South Coast over the next few days. 

The National Weather Service issued a coastal flooding advisory for Santa Barbara County on Monday, predicting high tides in the late mornings until Thursday.

“This is a very unusually high tide period,” said Roger Briggs, a boat owner of 35 years in the marina.

For the most part, Briggs believed many of the boats anchored in the harbor are safe from any predicted coastal flooding in Santa Barbara.

Officials say it’s just getting started. 

“We’re in the beginning phase of what we’re going to be expecting this season,” said Lt. Ryan Kelly of the Santa Barbara Harbor Patrol.

The Harbor Patrol is preparing for a wet winter season in Santa Barbara, with more flooding predicted to come during the upcoming Halloween weekend and around Thanksgiving. 

The ongoing El Nino weather system and the Kelvin wave is also contributing to the ocean inundation, Kelly added.

In Los Angeles, the San Pedro tide gauge reported an all-time record high of 8.02 feet Monday morning, according to the National Weather Service, surpassing the previous record of 7.93 feet in 2005. 

The coastal flooding advisory will last from Monday until 1 p.m. on Thursday for Santa Barbara, Ventura and Los Angeles County beaches.

On Monday, tides in the Santa Barbara Harbor nearly reached the bottom of the loading dock at 8 feet, Kelly said, but dropped to around 6 feet in the early afternoon.

Swells and large surf in isolated areas of the coast could also increase the chance of more severe flooding, Kelly said.  

Harrison Heyl, a boat owner who has lived in the marina for six years, said many fleeting docks have enough “elbow room” to keep boats secured during high tide periods. 

Most owners use boat fenders, a protective cushion that prevents scuffs and damage when boats bounce around.

The Santa Barbara Harbor is closed off by a large sea wall that wraps around the marina, stopping many big waves from impacting any boats, Heyl said. 

Kelly noticed many of the harbors drain systems worked well during the rainstorms last week, but he expects some flooding to potentially impact businesses along Harbor Way and the West Beach Parking Lot.

Sand berms along the waterfront were also built to protect the vulnerable areas from flooding.

In the event of coastal flooding along the harbor this week, Kelly said the Harbor Patrol and the city’s Public Works department will collaborate to provide updates to businesses and visitors near the beach. 

Businesses in the harbor will also receive sand bags for the city if conditions worsen throughout the week.

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