Jun 23, 2021

| UPDATED: June 23, 2021 at 8:03 a.m. Beach hazards will be looming this week as summer officially gets underway, with a south swell bringing beefy waves and an extreme evening high tide that could cause flooding. The National Weather Service issued a Beach Hazard Statement starting Tuesday, June 22, that remains in effect through Thursday evening for the Southern California coast as far north as Ventura County. Combined with waves in the 4- foot to 6-foot range, it could spell trouble for areas prone to flooding such as low-laying harbors and coastal areas, including the Balboa Peninsula in Newport Beach, which suffered major flooding last Fourth of July weekend. Flooding on July 3, 2020 washed sea water into parking lots, streets and homes on Balboa Peninsula. Newport Beach officials say their beaches need help from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to keep ocean water from causing destruction. (Photo courtesy of @surflick/ Brandon Yamawaki)  Workers in Newport Beach are using heavy equipment this week to build up a berm in the area to hopefully stop ocean water from again flooding the parking lots, streets and homes as it did last year. The extreme high tide is expected to reach 7 feet at about 8:40 p.m. on Wednesday and around 9:20 p.m. on Thursday, before slowly dropping toward the weekend. “Higher than normal tides will create the potential for minor tidal overflow and beach erosion,” the NWS warned. “Pooling of sea water is possible around high tide at beach and harbor areas that is uncommon with normal tidal ranges. Enhanced beach erosion is also expected.” Other vulnerable areas include Capistrano Beach in Dana Point, which is getting slammed this week, adding to the problems seen at already battered beach that has suffered from its sand getting sucked out to sea. Some coastal homes with shrinking sand buffers could be at risk. Beach erosion has been a hot topic in recent years as the coastline’s sand strips dwindle. Cities and other government officials have been lobbying the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in recent months, with hopes of boosting federal funding to help replenish sand in vulnerable areas threatened by the sea. The rising swell was a welcome sight for surfers who flocked to the coast as the size was building on Monday, June 21, the first official day of summer. Strong surf rolled into Southern California on Monday, June 21, 2021, for the first day of summer. Big waves, along with high tides will stick around through Thursday. Use caution if headed to the coast. (Photos courtesy of Tony Prince) Strong surf rolled into Southern California on Monday, June 21, 2021, for the first day of summer. Big waves, along with high tides will stick around through Thursday. Use caution if headed to the coast. (Photos courtesy of Tony Prince) Strong surf rolled into Southern California on Monday, June 21, 2021, for the first day of summer. Big waves, along with high tides will stick around through Thursday. Use caution if headed to the coast. (Photos courtesy of Tony Prince) Strong surf rolled into Southern California on Monday, June 21, 2021, for the first day of summer. Big waves, along with high tides will stick around through Thursday. Use caution if headed to the coast. (Photos courtesy of Tony Prince) A man plays in the surf in Santa Monica on Tuesday, June 22, 2021. Strong surf and high tide rolled into Southern California on Monday and will continue through Thursday. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG) A man plays in the surf in Santa Monica on Tuesday, June 22, 2021. Strong surf and high tide rolled into Southern California on Monday and will continue through Thursday. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG) A man plays in the surf in Santa Monica on Tuesday, June 22, 2021. Strong surf and high tide rolled into Southern California on Monday and will continue through Thursday. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG) People play in the surf in Santa Monica on Tuesday, June 22, 2021. Strong surf and high tide rolled into Southern California on Monday and will continue through Thursday. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG) Giselle Yusuf, 8, of Memphis, Tenn., plays in the surf in Santa Monica on Tuesday, June 22, 2021 while visiting her grandparents who live Santa Monica. Strong surf and high tide rolled into Southern California on Monday and will continue through Thursday. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG) Alma Montero, of South Gate, holds onto her children Samantha, 5, and Aaron, 7, as they play in the surf in Santa Monica on Tuesday, June 22, 2021. Strong surf and high tide rolled into Southern California on Monday and will continue through Thursday. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG) Show Caption