Elevated Tides Bring Flooding Concerns to San Diego Bay as El Niño Preparations Continue

Recent dry-weather flooding along the San Diego waterfront adds another Southern California coastal community to the list of areas experiencing unusually high water as officials prepare for the coming El Niño season.

SAN DIEGO — Southern California’s recent coastal flooding has reached San Diego Bay, where elevated water levels have already pushed onto waterfront streets and prompted temporary road closures as officials prepare for the possibility of additional flooding during the coming El Niño season.

The Port of San Diego is warning boaters, waterfront visitors and motorists to expect intermittent flooding in low-lying areas along the bay as elevated ocean levels combine with seasonal high tides, Kelvin waves and periods of rainfall.

The warning follows dry-weather flooding Oct. 26 and 27, when high water affected portions of the San Diego bayfront despite the absence of significant rainfall. A section of West Harbor Drive between Market and Front streets temporarily closed after water reached the roadway, reopening about an hour later as levels receded.