King Tide Gives Glimpse of Sea Level Rise

Byline: Taylor Hill The highest tides of the year hit Southern California’s coastline Dec. 13, giving a glimpse of what a possible future sea level rise could mean to beachfront and harbor communities. The high tides capped out at more than 7 feet at 8:15 a.m. Dec. 13, causing flooding and water damage to houses and businesses in Sunset Beach and along Huntington Harbour. Flooding was also reported on streets along the Balboa Peninsula. And the high tides led to seeping seawalls along Naples Island, with water spilling onto walkways and near homes along the canal. Overall, local officials said the damage was minimal in most locations, as the rain and weather that drenched the coast the night before subsided prior to the peak tide. Officials also said that if there had been a swell or stronger onshore winds, the flooding could have been much greater. The worst flooding was seen at Sunset Beach, where a 1.3-mile stretch of Pacific Coast Highway — from Warner Avenue to Anderson Street — had to be closed due to ankle-deep water. Caltrans workers spent two hours working to drain the stretch of highway that often floods during rainstorms. The combination of rainwater from the storm the night before,...