Beach cities on watch for king tides this week

By Hannah FryStaff Writer

Jan. 10, 2017 12 AM PT

Orange County beach cities are preparing for king tides, expected to begin Tuesday and last through Thursday.

King tides, or above-average high tides, are expected to exceed 7 feet in some beach areas just before 7 a.m. Tuesday, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

The higher-than-normal tides have caused roadways and beachfront homes to become flooded in Seal Beach and Sunset Beach and on the Balboa Peninsula and Balboa Island in Newport Beach in past years.

Newport Beach will have crews in areas where flooding has previously occurred to monitor the tides and close tidal valves and pump water out of streets if necessary, said George Murdoch, Newport Beach’s municipal operations director.

Newport Beach residents may pick up 10 sandbags per household at 592 Superior Ave. to prepare for the tides.

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Hannah Fry

Hannah Fry covers breaking news for the Los Angeles Times. She most recently covered Orange County for The Times and has written extensively about criminal trials, housing, politics and government. In 2020, Fry was part of the team that was a Pulitzer finalist for its coverage of a boat fire that killed 34 people off the coast of Santa Barbara. Fry came to The Times from the Daily Pilot, where she covered coastal cities, education and crime. An Orange County native, Fry started her career as an intern at the Orange County Register.