Marie-driven waves flood Southern California, force evacuations
High surf flooded Long Beach and swept a surfer over a Newport Beach jetty as dangerous conditions continued.
Waves as high as 12 feet slammed the California coast, causing minor coastal flooding and prompting the evacuation of some beachfront homes over Labor Day weekend.
Towering waves surged over seawalls and flooded streets along the Southern California coast as distant Tropical Rainstorm Marie churned over the Eastern Pacific Ocean.
The most dramatic scenes unfolded during high tide on the Alamitos Peninsula in Long Beach, where waves pushed seawater and sand into neighborhoods. Water poured across walkways and low-lying roads as residents and crews rushed to protect buildings.
Firefighters keep watch from the porch of a beachside home as a Pacific Ocean wave crashes over a seawall protecting homes on Sept. 7, 2026 in Long Beach, California. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)
Long Beach firefighters went door to door Monday evening, notifying residents of roughly 20 homes along the seawall between 63rd Place and 67th Place to evacuate. Officials said the seawall had been compromised and sections of the boardwalk were damaged. Water and sand entered several homes, while protective berms eroded under the surge.
Dangerous conditions extended south into Orange County.
Video shared by Newport Beach Lifeguards showed a surfer being swept over the jetty at 56th Street. A lifeguard entered the turbulent water and reached the surfer after the waves pushed the person across the rocks and back into the ocean. No injuries were reported.
Powerful waves swept a surfer over a rock jetty in Newport Beach, California, amid heavy surf on Sept. 6. The surfer escaped without injury as dangerous coastal conditions impacted the area.
“These currents are no joke,” Newport Beach Lifeguards warned, urging people to use caution and remain alert as ocean conditions change.
A large wave crashes into a wooden barricade while residents move vehicles out of flooded areas as hide tide surges onto Ocean Blvd at Alamitos Peninsula on Sunday, Sept. 6, 2026 in Long Beach, CA. (Ronaldo Bolaños / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
In Malibu, 31 homes were evacuated on Tuesday, when coastal erosion and powerful waves from Marie contributed to a 30-foot sinkhole outside a home owned by actor Nicholas Cage.
This aerial view shows a sinkhole on a street and driveway of a seaside home that belongs to actor, Nic Cage. Hurricane Marie stayed well offshore of Southern California during Labor Day weekend but its large swells produced dangerous surf and rip currents, with waves reaching around 10 feet in some areas. (Photo by David Swanson / AFP via Getty Images)
Marie remained hundreds of miles offshore early Tuesday. The National Hurricane Center said the storm was moving west-northwest at 8 mph with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph. Tropical-storm-force winds extended up to 140 miles from the center.
Steady weakening is predicted; however, its swells will continue reaching Southern California and the Baja California Peninsula for the next couple of days, creating life-threatening surf and rip currents.
In an aerial view, a Pacific Ocean wave crashes over a seawall protecting beachside homes on Sept. 7, 2026 in Long Beach, California. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)
A high surf advisory and coastal flood advisory remain in effect for Los Angeles and Ventura County beaches until 11 p.m. Tuesday. Breaking waves of 4-7 feet, with isolated sets up to 8 feet, are expected. Tuesday evening’s high tide in Long Beach is forecast to reach about 7.2 feet, raising the threat of additional flooding and erosion.
Beachgoers should remain out of the water or stay near staffed lifeguard towers. Officials also warned people to stay off rock jetties and never drive through flooded roads.
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