Long Beach officials have declared a local emergency as Pacific shoreline communities brace for severe coastal flooding and high surf driven by Hurricane Polo and seasonal warming patterns. City work crews are hastily building several-foot-high sand berms along vulnerable beaches to protect local properties ahead of an incoming storm window.
Hurricane Polo Track and Southern California Surf Threats
Hurricane Polo is currently churning in the Pacific Ocean as a Category 4 storm. While forecasters do not expect the hurricane to make direct landfall in Southern California, powerful swells generated by the storm system are projected to impact the coast starting Saturday and continuing through next week. The National Weather Service anticipates strong rip currents and significant coastal flooding across Orange and San Diego counties. Meteorologist Rose Schoenfeld with the National Weather Service’s Los Angeles/Oxnard office noted that high tides could peak between Monday and Wednesday at roughly seven feet, well above the five-foot seasonal average.
Erosion Damage Left Behind by Hurricane Marie
Beachfront residents remain on edge while watching the latest forecasts, still dealing with the aftermath of severe erosion caused by Hurricane Marie over Labor Day weekend. During that earlier storm, high water stripped 18 feet of vertical sand height away in just three days, according to Long Beach Fire Department Assistant Chief Jake Heflin. The storm surge battered boardwalks, flooded streets, washed away steps from home decks, and forced the emergency evacuation of 24 homes on the Long Beach Peninsula. Local resident Shawn Jeffery, who rents an apartment on the Peninsula, reported that a sinkhole formed beneath his home after the beach lost nine feet of sand during Marie. Neighbors have spent recent days boarding up windows and attempting to move sand themselves to brace for the new wave action.
City Storm Preparations and Marine Heatwave Factors
City crews are aggressively moving sand to rebuild protective berms and extend the beach, though Assistant Chief Heflin acknowledges the shoreline has not yet fully recovered to its pre-Marie state. Officials are urging residents to monitor emergency updates and map out evacuation plans with their families. Meanwhile, experts point to compounding environmental factors worsening the surf hazard. Sarah Lesser, education supervisor at the Aquarium of the Pacific, explained that an ongoing marine heatwave is driving up water temperatures while the region simultaneously prepares for the El Niño weather pattern. These overlapping warm-water events provide ideal fuel for hurricanes like Polo to develop and sustain intensity off the coast.
Did You Know?
El Niño is the warmer-than-average phase of the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) natural cycle, during which sea surface temperatures across the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean rise and fall, creating favorable conditions for tropical storm formation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hurricane Polo expected to make landfall in Southern California?
No, Hurricane Polo is not expected to make direct landfall in Southern California, but powerful waves and southerly swells generated by the storm will impact coastal areas.
When is the peak threat window for Southern California beaches?
The National WeatherService expects strong rip currents and coastal flooding from Tuesday through Wednesday, with high tides peaking around seven feet, while Saturday marks the primary window of influence for local surf.
What are local authorities doing to protect Long Beach properties?
Long Beach officials declared a local emergency and directed work crews to build several-foot-high sand berms along the shoreline to fortify vulnerable areas against incoming storm surges.
Pro Tip
If you live in a coastal flood zone, keep essential supplies stocked and establish a clear family evacuation route before high-surf warnings go into effect.
Call to Action
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