SoCal Coastline Erodes During Heavy Storm, Delaying Trains

Our coastline is especially vulnerable to erosion when big storms arrive, and this latest round of precipitation was no exception.

Over the past 72 hours, we’ve seen train delays, a threat to apartment buildings and to PCH. And with additional patches of precipitation passing through, we’re not out of the woods just yet.

Apartments undercut

In Isla Vista, more than 40 people were evacuated from several apartments as a bluff gave way, leading to the partial collapse of a deck.

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Local authorities investigated the incident and allowed residents to return after determining the homes were safe.

PCH compromised

Pacific Coast Highway was temporarily closed in Ventura County, as waves undercut the roadway there.

The destruction of PCH by waves and rain is a problem up and down the coast. And it’s expected to get compounded in the coming decades.

It’s since been reopened.

Train tracks threatened

San Clemente saw some of the most significant impacts, as a hillside beneath some homes continued to crumble towards train tracks below. Between 1.5 to 3 feet of soil movement was seen between Monday and Tuesday due to the rains.

The Mariposa pedestrian bridge damaged by a landslide in San Clemente in January 2024.

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Orange County Transportation Authority

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The movement triggered a suspension of freight service on Tuesday night, but it resumed as of Wednesday morning. However, because of ongoing movement, both Amtrak Pacific Surfliner and Metrolink have determined that it’s unsafe to operate passenger rail through the corridor.

Soil and debris have been falling down the hill towards the tracks since Jan. 15.

California recently approved $10 million in emergency funding to build a barrier, to prevent debris from falling on the train track. It’s currently in the design phase.

Soil movement is expected to continue whether it’s raining or not.

What we’re watching for

Long after the rains have passed, water continues to percolate deep into the Earth and can cause deep-seated landslides, as we saw on a sunny day in the Palos Verdes Peninsula last year.

Hopefully soils will have some time to dry out before more heavy storms move through.