15-Foot Waves Cause Flooding in Seal Beach

Mother Nature played her April Fool’s joke tonight, sending 15-foot waves to flood the boardwalk and beachfront properties just days after the city pulled down the winter berm.

Fortunately, there was minimal damage.

The 7:30 p.m. high tide sent swells all the way to the boardwalk and over the sand wall, where it pooled at depths reaching about 2.5 feet. Beachfront residents barricaded their properties with sandbags, and some turned off their utilities as a precaution when it seemed like the waves might flood the homes.

“I didn’t think it was going to get this bad, “ said Sonny Flor, as he stood on the front steps of his building watching a river of saltwater flow by.

Having seen worse flooding over the years, Flor took it in stride, grateful that the water hadn’t risen one more foot to reach his front door.

Seal Beach resident Rome Fiore came home from a hockey game Sunday night to discover the flooded boardwalk.

“I have lived here for 10 years. This isn’t so bad compared to years past. I’ve seen it coming all the way down the street before,” said Fiore. “It never fails – every couple of years, this happens. You can’t control Mother Nature.”