Los Angeles has set a new LA coastal flooding record, with 12 flood days so far in 2026, according to NOAA. The count comes from the San Pedro tide gauge, and the old record of nine days dates to 1983, another El Niño year.
As of Oct. 31, 2026, forecasters say more high-water days could follow around Thanksgiving and Christmas. So coastal residents should plan ahead now.
How the LA coastal flooding record compares
NOAA’s San Pedro gauge has tracked tides since 1923. In that time, no calendar year has had more flood days than 2026. LAist reports that October is not even counted in the 12 yet.
The forecasts also fell short. NOAA models predicted three to six flood days from May 2026 through April 2027. Instead, nine have already happened in that window. NOAA oceanographer Karen Kavanaugh called the number “abnormally high.”
When the next king tides could hit
Kavanaugh said the highest-risk periods match Thanksgiving and Christmas. At those times the moon sits closest to Earth, which produces king tides. Flooding could also return in November and December if another Kelvin wave arrives. A Kelvin wave is a pulse of warm water that raises sea level along the coast.
Researchers cannot say yet how many more flood days 2026 will bring. Also, the National Weather Service flood models only become useful within about seven days of an event, so warnings may come late in the week.
Coastal communities across Southern California saw flooding this past week. For example, tidewaters reached businesses and homes along Pacific Coast Highway in Sunset Beach in Orange County. No damage totals are available. Earlier this month, we covered the coastal flood advisory for LA beaches.
What residents can do
Kavanaugh suggested a few steps. First, check National Weather Service Los Angeles forecasts for Los Angeles and Orange counties. Then follow local emergency officials. Avoid parking in low-lying areas that flood, and keep sandbags handy if officials recommend them, since you may need them again within weeks.
NOAA also publishes monthly and yearly high tide flooding outlooks and a real-time inundation dashboard. Both help you see which days carry the most risk. For more local planning, see our Los Angeles and California guide.
Because El Niño winters can also bring heavy rain, flooding from tides may overlap with storms. Our report on burn scar flooding and the El Niño winter covers that risk.