Hurricanes Odalys and Polo cause high tides and crashing waves along Long Beach boardwalk.

The effects of Hurricanes Odalys and Polo began to manifest in Southern California on the morning of September 28, as coastal areas faced significant wave action. One notable incident occurred in Long Beach, particularly along the boardwalk in a peninsula neighborhood where crashing waves inundated the sea wall and encroached upon nearby homes.

Previously, this area had been subjected to damage from Hurricane Marie early in September, which had left parts of the boardwalk vulnerable. City officials initiated preventive measures prior to the arrival of the new storms, distributing approximately 5,100 sandbags to local residents from September 25 to help mitigate the risk of flooding in homes and streets. As a precautionary move, a residence on 65th Place received a yellow tag designation, signaling potential safety concerns, although it was unclear if this action was directly related to the storms.

The National Weather Service issued coastal flood and high surf advisories for Los Angeles County, expected to last through the late afternoon of September 29. The advisory outlined the risks associated with the anticipated high tides, which were expected to persist until at least Tuesday evening. For residents of Long Beach, these challenges were compounded by the prior evacuations of 24 homes following the impacts of Hurricane Marie, where the strong waves had caused structural issues along the boardwalk, including caving in wooden planks.

While forecasters did not predict as severe an impact from Hurricanes Odalys and Polo as had been experienced earlier in the month, they cautioned that locations such as Long Beach, Malibu, and Catalina Island could remain particularly vulnerable due to ongoing beach erosion.

Throughout Monday, waves rose approximately one to two feet above the boardwalk level around 11 a.m. before calming conditions returned later in the afternoon. For many residents, the damage seen on social media was shocking, with families visiting the area to observe the changes firsthand. Longtime residents expressed concern about the increasing frequency of such events, linking them to longer-term issues of coastal vulnerability and erosion, which they felt needed more urgent attention from local authorities.

Although no significant disturbances were reported at Zuma Beach and Point Dume—where beachgoers continued to enjoy their day—the overall apprehension regarding potential flooding and coastal damage remained prevalent as additional high tides were anticipated that evening. The National Weather Service’s predictions indicated possible waves reaching heights of 4 to 7 feet, with a heightened risk of coastal flooding in lower-lying areas.

As communities along the Southern California coast prepare for the continued impacts of hurricanes and changing weather patterns, the events serve as a reminder of the precarious balance between natural forces and urban development in vulnerable coastal locations. Media News Source.