Record-breaking high tides spark chaos – and kayak commutes – across California – The Guardian

Record-breaking high tides spark chaos – and kayak commutes – across California  The Guardian

Seawater surges into low-lying communities from San Diego to San Francisco Bay Area, submerging streets, homes and businesses Historic high tides have caused chaos up and down the California coast this week, as parts of the state were inundated by record-breaking water levels. Seawater surged into low-lying communities from San Diego to the San Francisco Bay Area, submerging streets, flooding homes and businesses, and jamming important transportation corridors and train routes. Kayakers and paddle boarders could be seen gliding through typically busy thoroughfares in Marin county, north of San Francisco, on Monday and Tuesday. Several drivers had to be rescued from floating cars in the area, while cyclists who had attempted to cross the temporary lagoon that had formed quickly found themselves waist-deep.

Further south, in cities such as Newport Beach, water pounded the emergency infrastructure set up to keep out the swelling sea, which seeped through berms, seawalls and sandbag blockades along the shoreline. Up and down the state, all-time records were smashed. Near Los Angeles and San Diego, tides rose above 8ft. San Francisco registered its highest reading for the month of October on Wednesday, breaking a record set the day before. The National Weather Service has issued a swathe of flood advisories and warnings that will last for days. In San Diego and Orange counties, forecasters said