video by CBS 8 San Diego
Takeaways:
• Recent rains have raised concerns about the stability of cliffside trails along the San Diego coastline, particularly at Torrey Pines and near Black’s Beach.
• A cliff collapse at Black’s Beach in January 2023, which was caught on video, highlighted the dangers of such events, with large blocks of rock left precariously tilted on the hillside.
• Dr. Pat Abbott, a geology expert, explained that rain adds weight to cliffs, causing clay minerals to swell and lose strength, which can lead to landslides and collapses.
• Signs of potential cliff instability include visible cracking, and Dr. Abbott warns against being near cliffs that look like they could fall.
• The access trail at Beacon’s Beach in Leucadia has been closed for over a month due to a reactivated landslide, and local residents are taking precautions by walking only during low tide and staying away from the base of cliffs.
References:
[1] Are there cliff dangers along the San Diego coast from rain, water saturation?. Link