A microwave water level sensor measures water levels at NOAA’s La Jolla, California tide gauge. Credit: NOAA

Last week, communities along the California coast felt the effects of this year’s strong El Niño, as high water levels inundated the state’s low-lying areas. NOAA tide gauges throughout the state captured these water levels with some locations seeing their highest readings ever, with observations that date back more than 100 years.

Record Water Levels

From October 24 to 30, 2026, locations on the California coast experienced heightened water levels — which are measured above Mean Higher High Water (MHHW), the average of the highest tides for that location.…