A storm system has brought elevated surf and high waters to Manhattan Beach. Beachgoers are urged to use caution. 

Manhattan Beach - a west-facing beach with 300 to 400 feet of sand serving as a buffer - has not faced the same dramatic flooding issues as some south-facing beaches in Los Angeles County and Orange County. Nevertheless, high waters that reached all the way to the base of the Manhattan Beach Pier on Saturday began causing alarm for residents. 

Meanwhile, the National Weather Service has issued a Coastal Flood Warning and High Surf Advisory with the potential for minor to moderate seawater flooding of beaches, in effect through Sunday afternoon. All beachgoers are urged to use extreme caution, particularly around rip currents. Always check with a lifeguard before entering the water. 

 

A spokesperson for the city told MB News that Manhattan Beach is committed to being prepared for coastal conditions, including wave activity, king tides, and beach erosion, as outlined in the City's Sea Level Rise Adaptation Plan, a framework that allows staff to identify when conditions warrant a city response.

Manhattan Beach is also part of OurCoast LA: Regional Shoreline Coalition, a countywide effort working to advance a Regional Coastal Strategic Adaptation Plan and a Regional Shoreline Monitoring Program. That monitoring program will track beach width and erosion across the county, including at three potential sites in Manhattan Beach, and will help support science-based decisions on coastal adaptation going forward.

In 2021, the city prepared a  Sea Level Rise Risk Assessment to assess its future vulnerability.