Ahead of incoming high tides, Newport Beach plans ahead to push back the waves

High tides are expected to sweep into Newport Beach next week with the waves expected to peak on Wednesday at about 7.2 feet, according to meteorologists at the National Weather Service in San Diego.

Although the tides will be quite high, they aren’t expected to reach “king tide” height, which the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says are common biannually in coastal areas.

King tides occur when the orbits and alignments of the Earth, moon and sun align to produce the greatest tidal effects.

Casey Oswant, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, explained king tides in the region typically produce waves of up to 7.3 to 7.5 feet — and can even reach 8 feet in height. The last king tide here occurred in December last year and the next are predicted for this upcoming Dec. 23 and 24 and Jan. 21 and 22.

Waves tend to average at around 5 feet in Newport Beach, but the waves next week will measure in at highs of 6.5 feet on Monday; 7.1 feet on Tuesday and peak at 7.2 feet on Wednesday. They will reach 7 feet on Thursday and by Friday drop to 6.6 feet.

King-sized or not, the city of Newport Beach is preparing to combat the high tides on its beaches and at its harbor.

Newport Beach utilities director Mark Vukojevic said on a call Friday his department will be distributing sand bags in strategic areas throughout the peninsula and Balboa Island, particularly near the Balboa Fun Zone and on the south end of Balboa Island, where bigger waves and wakes are expected. City staff will also be implementing stop gap boards on the southside sea wall on Monday.

“As the tide goes up, what happens is that the height creates pressure against the seawall and underground. Water does seep through the little cracks and crevices below and through the wall,” said Vukojevic. “We’re going to have crews out there with pumps.”

Also being addressed are the sand berms the city put up last year to contend with similarly high tides, which Vukojevic said are in relatively good shape and just need minor touch-ups.

Vukojevic said the tides this upcoming week do not compare to those that swept into Newport Beach two years ago on the Fourth of July, which resulted in flooding on Balboa Island. The westernmost end of the island is just 5 feet above sea level.

“The tide numbers seem about the same. It really depends on if there’s a swell or a storm going on at the same time. We can handle all of the regular tides, but what happens is the actual tide is usually higher than the predicted tide,” said Vukojevic. “Two years ago, it just overtopped and went way over the berm.”

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