Los Angeles sees record 12 coastal flooding days in 2026 so far

Los Angeles has experienced 12 recorded coastal flooding days in 2026, exceeding the previous 100-year record of nine days set in 1983, according to NOAA data reported by CBS News Los Angeles.

The city's tide gauge, installed in 1923, tracks these flooding events, and experts note that the current data does not yet include flooding days from October 2026, indicating that the total for this year will be even higher.

NOAA oceanographer Karen Kavanaugh explained that this flooding is not caused by tropical cyclones or major storms but by a combination of astronomical tides, a Kelvin wave, and warmer water, leading to what she calls "sunny day flooding."

Kavanaugh highlighted that similar record flooding days have been observed at tide gauges in San Diego, La Jolla, and Santa Barbara, with other locations like Santa Monica, Port San Luis, and Monterey also seeing top 10 all-time flood readings.

Residents are advised to be aware of this unusual flooding during otherwise clear weather, including moving vehicles from low-lying areas, especially as more intense coastal flooding is expected around Thanksgiving and Christmas.

This trend illustrates a significant change in coastal water levels and flooding frequency that may increasingly affect the Los Angeles metro area moving forward.