Community Corner
King Tides, Gale-Force Winds, Rain Trigger Flood Warning
Because of forecasted rain, city lifeguards have also issued a water quality warning from the San Gabriel River to 300 feet south.
A forecast of high tides, rain and high surf has Seal Beach lifeguards on alert.
The combination of precipitation, high water levels -- called king tides -- and an expected swell has spurred the National Weather Service to issue a “coastal flood advisory warning” for Orange and San Diego Counties.
The advisory will go into effect 5 a.m. Thursday and run until 11 a.m. Saturday.
Find out what's happening in Los Alamitos-Seal Beachwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
According to forecasters, a northwest swell will begin building Thursday through Friday morning to heights of 6-10 feet along Orange County beaches, and 8- 13 feet along San Diego County beaches.
The areas affected include exposed west-facing beaches, beach parking lots, jetties, piers, harbors and lagoons.
Find out what's happening in Los Alamitos-Seal Beachwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Near gale force winds are also expected.
Because of forecasted rains, the Seal Beach Lifeguard Department posted a water quality warning from the San Gabriel River to 300 feet south, according to city Marine Safety Chief Joe Bailey.
"Reminder," Bailey said, in a written statement. "We advise swimmers to stay out of the ocean for 72 hours after it rains due to water quality concerns."
Seal Beach has already seen the arrival of the 2013 king tides at 6:30 a.m. Wednesday, Bailey said.
On Thursday at 7:22 a.m. forecasts predict a 6.8-foot tide and on Friday, 8:09 a.m. a 6.9-foot tide.
Bailey said he's doubtful there will be flooding, but city lifeguards are on alert.
“We have high tide, but not a lot of surf,” Bailey said. “We’re monitoring it fulltime, keeping an eye on it, making sure.”
According to city officials, a combination of three things can create a serious flooding risk in Seal Beach: a large swell, heavy rain and high tide.
The most recent king tides occurred Dec. 12, spurring flood warnings and flooding on the corner of PCH and Warner
The weather forecast also calls for an 80 percent chance of rain Wednesday through Thursday afternoon.
The city will be providing sandbags at the 8th Street Parking Lot northwest of the pier, at the Seal Beach Fire Department at 211 8th Street at the Naval Weapons Station Liberty Gate on Seal Beach Boulevard, at the Public Works Yard on 1776 Adolfo Lopez Drive and at Arbor Park in College Park East.
Bailey advises people to call the Lifeguard headquarters at 562-430-2613 with any questions and urges locals to sign up for Nixle, which the city uses to important messages to residents through emails or cell phones.
