Pacific Hurricanes Pose Flood Risk to Southern California

Two hurricanes, Polo and Odalys, are stirring in the Pacific Ocean near Mexico, causing high surf that threatens Southern California beaches. These waves are expected to coincide with unusually high tides, presenting risks of coastal flooding and hazards for beach visitors.

The hurricanes, while impactful, aren’t predicted to reach California directly. Only sporadic showers are anticipated in parts of Southern California on Monday. However, regions in the Southwest could experience significant rainfall.

Polo is a Category 4 hurricane, boasting sustained winds of 140 mph, and is projected to land in Baja California Sur on Monday. It will bring intense rain and flooding to the area. Meanwhile, Hurricane Odalys carries 90 mph winds and is located about 900 miles west of Baja California. It is expected to veer away from the land, decreasing in strength.

“To have a storm of this intensity persist as a strong hurricane all the way into Baja is unusual,” said Marty Ralph, director of the Center for Western Weather & Water Extremes at UC San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography.

The strengthening of Polo is linked to the warm ocean temperatures near Mexico. These are helping the hurricane maintain its intensity in ways that are uncommon. Both hurricanes are occurring during a marine heat wave and a significant El Niño, marked by warming waters in the central and eastern Pacific.

Hurricane Nolo is also causing strong winds and heavy rain in Hawaii this weekend. Southern California areas like L.A. and Ventura counties anticipate four- to seven-foot surf on Monday and Tuesday, bringing strong rip currents and potential coastal flooding, according to Lisa Phillips, a National Weather Service meteorologist in Oxnard.

“Ocean water is going to creep up higher than normal,” Phillips stated. “We also have high tides going on at the same time as the higher surf, so that’s when we start to see more of those coastal flooding impacts, beach erosion.”

A coastal flood advisory has been issued for L.A. and Ventura counties on Monday and Tuesday. For Orange and San Diego counties, the advisory extends from Monday through Wednesday. Beachgoers should exercise caution, check safety conditions with lifeguards, and avoid rock jetties.

Earlier in the month, waves from Hurricane Marie caused damage to beachfront homes in Southern California. In Long Beach, where waves battered the seawall and homes, crews are reinforcing parts of the boardwalk and distributing sandbags.

While Polo is close to Mexico, Southern California might see some unusual cloud formations and a few showers. The region will be on the hurricane’s outer edge as it moves through Baja California and into the southwest U.S. Arizona and New Mexico are likely to receive significant rainfall, and the storm might also provide a slight increase in water levels for the Colorado River.