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Newsom Signs Order to Protect Highway 1 From El Niño

By Drooid · Oct 27, 2026, 23:15 UTC · How we work

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Summary

Governor Gavin Newsom signed an executive order to protect California’s Pacific Coast Highway from El Niño storms.
He declared emergency on Sept. 21, forming a Highway 1 task force led by transportation and natural resources agencies.
Newport Beach tide gauge recorded a 7.6-foot high tide; San Pedro hit an all-time eight-foot sea-level record.
The National Weather Service issued a flood advisory for five counties Oct 24-29 and warnings for Orange and San Diego.

History

The 1997-98 super El Niño produced record tides—7.6 ft at Newport Beach and an 8-ft surge in San Pedro—causing $1.5 billion damage and prompting Caltrans to spend $45 million on emergency repairs. After the 1982-83 El Niño spurred scientific study, super events have become more frequent, leading Governor Gavin Newsom’s September 21, 2023 order to revive a Highway 1 task force that mirrors the 1998 multi-agency response.

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Historical Context

The 1997-98 super El Niño produced record tides—7.6 ft at Newport Beach and an 8-ft surge in San Pedro—causing $1.5 billion damage and prompting Caltrans to spend $45 million on emergency repairs. After the 1982-83 El Niño spurred scientific study, super events have become more frequent, leading Governor Gavin Newsom’s September 21, 2023 order to revive a Highway 1 task force that mirrors the 1998 multi-agency response.

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