West Coast faces days of record-breaking tidal flooding, sending streets and businesses underwater

THE TAKEAWAY

CALIFORNIA - More than 500 miles of California’s heavily populated coastline will continue to face record tidal flooding through Friday, with water levels rising more than 2 feet above normally dry ground.

RECORD KING TIDES SWAMP PARTS OF FLORIDA WITH HURRICANE-LEVEL FLOODING AS SOUTHEAST FACES MORE INUNDATION

The flooding comes as forecasters monitor the development of a Super El Niño.

Record-high tides have already been observed in Los Angeles, where water levels exceeded 2.5 feet for three consecutive days, reaching 2.70 feet on Tuesday and 2.6 feet on Wednesday.

In San Francisco, water levels reached a new October record on Tuesday, rising to 2.01 feet above normally dry ground, according to the FOX Forecast Center.

WHAT ARE KING TIDES? THE NATURAL PHENOMENON BEHIND SEASONAL COASTAL FLOODING

San Diego and Santa Monica also experienced more than 2.50 feet of coastal flooding on Monday.

SUPER EL NIÑO THEN AND NOW: HOW THIS YEAR'S STRENGTHENING EVENT COMPARES TO HISTORIC EXTREMES

Coastal communities in Huntington Beach and Newport Beach have been hit particularly hard, with residents and business owners forced to bail water out of homes and businesses.

Part of the Pacific Coast Highway near Huntington Beach was closed Tuesday from 8 a.m. to noon local time due to flooding, according to city officials.

The City of Newport Beach declared a local state of emergency ahead of the flooding and approved a sand replenishment project to build a sand berm along beaches that have been eroded by swells from large Pacific hurricanes earlier this year.

FLORIDA MANATEE LEFT STRANDED AS EXTREME LOW TIDE REVEALS HIDDEN DANGER OF KING TIDES

According to the FOX Forecast Center, additional coastal flooding is expected from San Francisco south to San Diego.

Coastal flood advisories and warnings remain in effect for these areas through Friday.

WHAT IS COASTAL EROSION AND WHY IS IT DANGEROUS?

Residents should prepare for significant beach erosion, flooding of roads and parking lots, and higher-than-average surf as coastal communities continue to contend with the impacts of the unusually high tides.