Water really did cover streets in Laguna Beach, and the video of it spread fast. The Rachel swell flooding was real, but the “20-foot wall of water” that went viral is a different story, and the gap between the two is worth knowing.
A swell from Rachel, a former hurricane that was only a tropical storm when it neared California, collided with unusually high seas and big tides. As a result, water pushed up streets in Laguna Beach and Newport Beach. Surf magazines went with “Hurricane Rachel Demolishes Laguna Beach.” The official record is calmer. For the wider storm picture, see our rundown of the three hurricanes threatening North America.
What the Rachel swell flooding actually did
Local TV confirmed the basics. ABC7 Los Angeles reported waves flooding Laguna Beach along Pacific Coast Highway on Thursday, Oct. 8. The city handed out thousands of sandbags, capped at 10 per vehicle. Water was also rising toward homes in Capistrano Beach, where several houses were damaged last month.
The most dramatic footage came from YouTuber Chris Monroe. In a video featured by SURFER, he says, “The ocean is literally in the city right now.” He also says he has never seen water push this far into Laguna.
Newport Beach had it rough too. SURFER, relaying the Los Angeles Times, says Friday’s morning high tide ran 20 inches above the predicted level. It also says the city declared a local emergency as water swamped the Balboa Peninsula. We could not independently confirm that declaration.
The same report quotes city councilman Joe Stapleton calling it the worst he has seen in 20 years on the Peninsula.
The 20-foot problem with Laguna Beach flooding claims
Here is where the hype starts. The “15-to-20-foot” backwash figure is a visual estimate from a video. SURFER’s own reporting puts Laguna Beach’s marine safety chief at 5-to-7-foot surf. The National Weather Service forecast the same range, with local sets to 9 feet.
A wave that breaks at 7 feet can still throw water much higher once it slams into a seawall. That is how a real flood and a frightening clip can both be true. But “demolishes” and “swallowing cars” are the magazine’s words, not an official damage count. So far, we found no city tally of destroyed streets or vehicles, which keeps the Rachel swell flooding story in perspective.
Here’s the thing: if you live on this coast, the difference between 7 feet and 20 feet is not trivia. Accurate numbers tell you how much to prepare for, and what your street may actually face.
Rachel’s own timeline also deserves care. It peaked as a Category 3 hurricane with 120 mph winds in early October. By the time it neared California, it had weakened to a tropical storm. As of Sunday, trackers placed what is left of it inland over the Nevada-Arizona area.
Why Rachel coastal flooding keeps happening
So why does a weakening storm hundreds of miles away cause this much trouble? Because the ocean was already primed.
SURFER ties the flooding to an El Niño-driven Kelvin wave that is lifting baseline Pacific sea levels. Add high tides and a long-period swell, and normal beaches stop behaving normally. That combination is why this Southern California swell hit so hard.
This is a repeat. Swells from Hurricane Marie stripped Laguna’s beaches and led to homes in Dana Point being red-tagged, per Patch. Hurricane Polo swells followed in late September. Each round hits a coastline that has less sand to give.
What happens next
The danger from the Rachel swell flooding is not over. The Weather Service’s coastal flood warning for Orange and San Diego counties runs until 3 PM PDT Sunday, Oct. 11. It warns of significant flooding and erosion, with possible road closures and flooded low-lying homes and businesses. A Coastal Flood Advisory follows from Sunday afternoon through Tuesday, Oct. 13.
Elsewhere, the flooding threat from Isaias across the Southeast shows how far these storms reach.
Residents should check local alerts and stay away from the shoreline, even for a photo. The next big question is the bill: expect damage assessments from Laguna Beach, Newport Beach and Orange County once the water drops.
