Large ocean swells driven by two Pacific hurricanes are reaching Carlsbad beaches Monday, Sept. 28, compounding erosion along a coastline the city declared an emergency over on Sept. 10.

Hurricanes Polo and Odalys are not expected to make landfall in California. But the storms are pushing tropical moisture and surf northward, and the National Weather Service (NWS) forecast large swells hitting Southern California's coast starting Sunday, Sept. 27, peaking Monday and lasting through Tuesday, Sept. 29.

High tides Monday could reach 7 feet, Fox 5 San Diego reported. Those tides are expected to peak during late mornings Monday and Tuesday, according to KTLA. The most likely impacts include shallow seawater flooding of low-lying walkways, parking lots and roads, along with significant beach erosion.

Sam Zuber, a meteorologist with the NWS in San Diego, told the Los Angeles Times on Thursday, Sept. 24, that the swells alone might not be extraordinary. The problem is timing. They coincide with bimonthly astronomical high tides that are already elevating water levels.

"The tides are going to be so high that any little bump-up in the surf is going to help contribute to those impacts," Zuber said.

Zuber advised the public to stay away from beaches through Tuesday. Strong rip currents and hazardous swimming conditions are expected to persist through Tuesday, Sept. 29. San Diego County has seen a record year for beach rescues in 2026, Fox 5 reported, though no specific count has been released.

Carlsbad's coast already under stress

The swells arrive as Carlsbad's shoreline is already battered. The city declared a local emergency on Sept. 10 to fast-track repairs along Carlsbad Boulevard, where coastal erosion threatened to undermine the road, the San Diego Union-Tribune reported. Crews began placing boulders weighing 4 to 8 tons each on the beach north of the Encinas Creek outlet.

The beach along the Carlsbad seawall between Tamarack Avenue and Pine Avenue had been scoured to cobblestones for the first time in years as of early September. During high tides, waves were crashing onto the Tamarack beach parking lot, which had been closed to vehicles.

The city is tracking the storms and taking steps to maintain its coastal infrastructure, the Los Angeles Times reported Sept. 24, citing city manager Geoff Patnoe. As we reported Sunday, Sept. 27, Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a statewide emergency the week of Sept. 21 in anticipation of El Niño-charged storms.

What residents should do

The City of Carlsbad advises residents to sign up for AlertSanDiego for emergency notifications and to monitor NWS forecasts. The city's emergency preparedness page includes signup links and severe-weather guidance.

San Diego County Emergency Services also launched a new El Niño 2026 information hub on AlertSanDiego on Saturday, Sept. 26, offering preparedness resources in one place.

Conditions are expected to ease after Tuesday, Sept. 29.