The vibe is officially off in Newport Beach
If you were planning a beach day this weekend, big yikes—the city has officially shut down all beaches and piers until further notice. Serious flooding is currently hammering the coastline, and it’s giving major emergency energy.
What is happening
Newport Beach declared a local emergency on Friday as Tropical Storm Rachel started churning toward Southern California. The storm is sending seawater straight into the Balboa Peninsula, and honestly, the plot thickens—water is already spilling into the streets and threatening local homes and businesses.
Crews are working overtime to plug gaps in sand berms to stop the water from getting worse, but the National Weather Service isn't playing around. They have a coastal flood warning in effect for Orange County through Sunday afternoon. We are looking at potential 9-foot waves and tides over 7 feet, which is a massive L for anyone trying to hang out by the water.
What this means for you
Real talk: stay away. Officials are begging people to steer clear so emergency crews can do their jobs. If you live in a low-lying area, move your car to higher ground and use those sandbags. Most importantly, do not—and I mean do not—try to drive through flooded roads. Just say less and stay safe indoors until this clears up.
