OC Coastal High Tides: Flood Advisory and Metrolink OC Line Suspension
The Metrolink Orange County Line suspension between Laguna Niguel/Mission Viejo and Oceanside ended as scheduled after Aug. 14, 2026, with weekend service planned as normal; tides have eased (Aug. 15 forecast peak 5.2 ft at Newport Bay) and no new NWS advisory or tidal damage has been reported. The acute event is resolved; OCTA's San Clemente riprap work and its September Coastal Commission emergency-permit review continue as a long-term coastal-rail track.
NWS San Diego (advisory authority); Metrolink and Amtrak (transit operators); OCTA (coastal track maintenance); OC coastal communities and rail riders.
King tide cycle produced minor coastal flooding along OC beaches Aug. 9–13; Metrolink suspended OC Line service south of Laguna Niguel/Mission Viejo Aug. 10–14 due to forecast high-tide risk to the coastal rail corridor.
Orange County coastal cities (Seal Beach, Huntington Beach, Newport Beach, Laguna Beach, Dana Point, San Clemente) and the LOSSAN rail corridor south of Laguna Niguel/Mission Viejo station to Oceanside.
Tidal cycle began Aug. 9; NWS Coastal Flood Advisory ran Aug. 10–12; Metrolink suspension Aug. 10–14; advisory expired, suspension lifted, and tidal peaks easing as of Aug. 14–15.
An astronomical king tide alignment produced the highest predicted tidal peaks of the year along the Southern California coast, threatening low-lying coastal infrastructure including the LOSSAN rail right-of-way near sea level.
The Metrolink Orange County Line suspension between Laguna Niguel/Mission Viejo and Oceanside ended as scheduled after Aug. 14, with no extension reported. According to Metrolink's Upcoming Advisories page, the OC Line suspension is listed only for Aug. 10–14; the next listed closures concern the Antelope Valley Line. The NWS San Diego Coastal Flood Advisory expired after 11 PM PDT Aug. 12 and has not been reissued. NOAA data shows the Aug. 15 Newport Beach forecast peak falling to 5.2 ft — a marked decline from the 6.6–6.9 ft peaks recorded at the cycle's height. A High Tide Alert was still logged at Newport Beach in the early hours of Aug. 15, but tidal activity is now easing toward background levels consistent with the close of this astronomical cycle.
The advisory window documented minor coastal flooding during evening high tides each night, with peaks ranging from 6.6 ft (Aug. 9) to 6.9 ft (Aug. 10 and Aug. 12) and advisory projections reaching 7.2–7.5 ft. NWS identified impacts including inundation of low-lying parking lots, parks, and roadways along the OC coast. The Aug. 13 king tide forecast of 6.5 ft and the subsequent Aug. 14 forecast of 5.9 ft confirmed a steady decline from peak levels, consistent with the astronomical alignment weakening. No structural damage or injuries have been reported in available evidence.
Metrolink suspended Orange County Line service south of Laguna Niguel/Mission Viejo beginning Aug. 10, citing forecast high-tide risk to the coastal rail corridor. Trains originated and terminated at Laguna Niguel/Mission Viejo for the duration; no bus bridge was provided. Amtrak's Pacific Surfliner, which shares the LOSSAN corridor, logged extended delays on both Aug. 13 and into the early hours of Aug. 14, consistent with ongoing disruptions on the affected segment. The suspension lifted after Aug. 14 with no extension.
Separate from the tidal suspension, OCTA added roughly 1,000 tons of riprap near Cyprus Shore and south San Clemente in recent weeks as precautionary emergency work after hurricane swell moved rock onto the tracks. OCTA indicated it would seek a retroactive emergency Coastal Commission permit covering work since June, with a hearing targeted for the September commission meeting. San Clemente officials have asked the Coastal Commission to allow the city to lead sand replenishment rather than continued rock placement. Community meetings on the Coastal Rail Resiliency Study were held Aug. 10–11, reflecting broader, longer-term concerns about the corridor's vulnerability independent of this tidal event.
The formal NWS advisory has closed, tidal levels are receding, and the Metrolink suspension has lifted on schedule. This astronomical tidal cycle is effectively over. The situation is expected to move to resolved status absent any new advisories or reported impacts.
- Aug 7, 10:00(about 2 months ago)
Metrolink announces OC Line suspension south of Laguna Niguel/Mission Viejo for Aug. 10–14, citing forecast high tides.
- Aug 9, 16:01(about 2 months ago)
First significant king tide of the cycle: NOAA logs 6.6 ft forecast peak at 19:11 at Newport Beach.
- Aug 10, 10:00(about 2 months ago)
Metrolink OC Line suspension takes effect; KTLA reports service halted due to high tides.
- Aug 10, 13:53(about 2 months ago)
NWS San Diego issues Coastal Flood Advisory for OC Coastal Areas through 11 PM PDT Aug. 12; cycle peak of 6.9 ft forecast at 20:04.
- Aug 12, 13:24(about 2 months ago)
NWS issues updated Coastal Flood Advisory; Aug. 12 evening peak reaches 6.9 ft at 21:38 — tied for cycle high.
- Aug 12, 23:55(about 2 months ago)
Amtrak Pacific Surfliner reports extended delays on Aug. 13, consistent with ongoing LOSSAN corridor disruptions.
TRNMetrolink EXTENDED DELAYED — PAC SURF - Aug 13, 16:30(about 2 months ago)
Aug. 13 king tide forecast: 6.5 ft at 22:22 — tidal peak begins declining from cycle high.
- Aug 13, 21:25(about 2 months ago)
Amtrak Pacific Surfliner reports extended delays into early hours of Aug. 14.
TRNMetrolink EXTENDED DELAYED — PAC SURF - Aug 14, 16:30(about 2 months ago)
Aug. 14 king tide forecast: 5.9 ft at 23:05 — continued decline from peak levels; Metrolink suspension ends as scheduled.
- Aug 15, 00:00(about 1 month ago)
OC Line suspension ends as scheduled: Metrolink's advisories page lists the closure only for Aug. 10-14 with no extension, weekend service planned as normal; Aug. 15 tide forecast eases to 5.2 ft. Situation resolved.
- Aug 15, 00:31(about 1 month ago)
NOAA logs High Tide Alert at Newport Beach; Aug. 15 forecast peak falls to 5.2 ft, marking effective end of king tide cycle.
- FLDabout 8 hours agoSIG 63
Current: 5.9ft MLLW. Low 1.2ft @ 04:11, High 6.1ft @ 10:26, Low 0.1ft @ 17:09, High 4.4ft @ 23:19
- FLDabout 2 months ago
Today's tides — Low -0.6ft @ 05:05, High 5.1ft @ 11:25, Low 1.2ft @ 17:04, High 5.9ft @ 23:05
- TRNabout 2 months agoMetrolink EXTENDED DELAYED — PAC SURF
Train A785N to Goleta
- FLDabout 2 months ago
Today's tides — Low -1.1ft @ 04:31, High 5.0ft @ 10:52, Low 1.3ft @ 16:16, High 6.5ft @ 22:22
- TRNabout 2 months agoMetrolink EXTENDED DELAYED — PAC SURF
Train A595S to LA Union Station
- FLDabout 2 months ago
Today's tides — Low -1.3ft @ 03:56, High 4.7ft @ 10:19, Low 1.5ft @ 15:29, High 6.9ft @ 21:38
- CSTabout 2 months ago
Coastal Flood Advisory issued August 12 at 1:24PM PDT until August 12 at 11:00PM PDT by NWS San Diego CA
- FLDabout 2 months ago
Today's tides — Low -1.1ft @ 02:38, High 4.1ft @ 09:15, Low 2.2ft @ 13:49, High 6.9ft @ 20:04
- CSTabout 2 months ago
Coastal Flood Advisory issued August 10 at 1:53PM PDT until August 12 at 11:00PM PDT by NWS San Diego CA
- WTHabout 2 months ago
Coastal Flood Advisory issued August 10 at 1:53PM PDT until August 12 at 11:00PM PDT by NWS San Diego CA
- TRNLaguna Niguelabout 2 months ago
High tides have caused Metrolink officials to halt service through part of coastal Orange County.
- FLDabout 2 months ago
Today's tides — Low -0.7ft @ 01:54, High 3.8ft @ 08:41, Low 2.6ft @ 12:49, High 6.6ft @ 19:11
- TRNLaguna Niguelabout 2 months ago
Metrolink will temporarily suspend Orange County Line service between Laguna Niguel/Mission Viejo and Oceanside stations Aug. 10–14 due to anticipated high tides affecting the coastal rail corridor.
- NOAAHigh Tide Alert — Newport Beach
- NWSCoastal Flood Advisory — San Diego County Coastal Areas; Orange County Coastal
- NWSCoastal Flood Advisory — San Diego County Coastal Areas; Orange County Coastal
- NEWSKTLA: Metrolink train service in Orange County halted due to high tides
- NEWSMetrolink: OC Line service suspended Laguna Niguel–Oceanside Aug 10–14 for high tides