Residents and visitors along Northern California’s coastline are being urged to exercise extreme caution as dangerous flooding conditions threaten multiple regions through the weekend. The National Weather Service issued a coastal flood advisory Thursday morning, warning that elevated tides combined with storm surge could create hazardous situations along shorelines and in low-lying areas.
The advisory, which remains active until Sunday at noon, affects several key coastal regions including Northern Monterey Bay, the Big Sur coastline and San Francisco County. Forecasters predict water levels could rise up to 1.4 feet above normal ground elevation in vulnerable areas near shorelines and tidal waterways, creating potentially treacherous conditions for anyone near the coast.
Multiple factors amplify flooding risk
The convergence of several weather phenomena has created particularly concerning conditions along the Northern California coast. Above-normal high tides are occurring each morning through the weekend, with storm surge adding additional water volume that pushes levels even higher than typical tidal patterns would suggest. This combination significantly increases the likelihood of flooding in areas that might normally remain dry during regular tidal cycles.
Tide gauges stationed throughout San Francisco Bay have recorded consistently elevated readings, confirming that water levels are tracking above historical norms for this time of year. Weather officials emphasize that high tide timing can vary considerably depending on specific coastal locations and positions within the bay area, meaning some areas may experience peak water levels at different times than their neighboring communities.
Infrastructure and roadways face flooding threat
The flood advisory warns that numerous coastal facilities face likely inundation during the highest tidal periods. Parks situated near the waterline, parking lots adjacent to beaches, and coastal roadways all remain vulnerable to flooding as water levels rise throughout the coming days. Officials anticipate that some roads may require temporary closure if water depths become too significant for safe vehicle passage…