A luxury resort in Laguna Beach is relocating guests from its first floor as powerful waves threaten Southern California. The forecast suggests potential coastal flooding and considerable beach erosion from Sunday through Thursday.
The Surf & Sand Resort is taking these measures out of caution, with a hotel representative stating that no guests will be accommodated on the first floor due to safety concerns. Interestingly, the employee noted that the building itself has remained intact and has weathered major storms before.
This decision reflects a larger issue affecting coastal communities in Southern California—a situation where rising tides and eroding beaches are increasingly putting homes, businesses, and public infrastructure at risk.
The National Weather Service in Los Angeles has issued a warning for minor to moderate coastal flooding expected during the same period, predicting high tides between 7.5 to 8 feet, which exceeds previous estimates by as much as 1.5 feet.
They emphasized the seriousness of the situation, mentioning that moderate to significant beach erosion is anticipated, and some regions may require updated warnings.
California’s Office of Emergency Services has announced a Coastal Flood Advisory effective from October 25 to October 29, with specific warnings for Orange and San Diego counties.
Concerns have grown following a new video shared on social media that allegedly shows a part of the resort’s sea wall collapsing due to the relentless surf, although the extent of any actual damage hasn’t yet been verified.
Local surfer and skimboarding champion Blair Conklin commented on the situation, mentioning that the beach is much more exposed now. He noted, “There’s a reason they call it Beach Road… now it feels more like a rocky road.”
Conklin also pointed out that offshore reefs, which used to absorb wave energy, are no longer providing the same level of protection, allowing waves to crash over and hit structures without any sand buffer left.
The coastal threat extends well beyond Laguna Beach. Crews are now working on a $4 million emergency project aimed at reinforcing a damaged 360-foot bluff near El Moro and Crystal Cove, employing heavy machinery, rocks, and sand-filled plastic bags to prepare for the incoming king tides.
In Capistrano Beach, several homes on Beach Road have reportedly sustained structural damage, with six or seven being deemed uninhabitable and currently undergoing demolition.
This situation follows a series of hurricane-generated swells from storms like Marie, Polo, and Rachel, all of which have eroded beach sand, compounded by an oceanic Kelvin wave contributing to rising water levels.
