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Laguna Beach in local emergency from coastal erosion as city looks ahead to El Niño
A beachgoer takes a dip as high surf rushes up in Laguna Beach on Sept. 4, 2026.
(
Don Leach
/
Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
)
Topline:
Laguna Beach is now in a local emergency because of coastal erosion, city officials announced Thursday.
The backstory: The emergency proclamation follows a loss of sand from the ocean swell of Tropical Storm Marie, which caused damage along parts of Southern California’s coast, including Dana Point, Malibu and Long Beach. In Laguna Beach, the city says six oceanfront homes have been yellow-tagged, and the parking lot for Aliso Beach "has partially failed," leaving the lot and three other areas temporarily closed.
Why now: Dave Kiff, city manager, said most residents haven’t seen this much sand leave the city’s beaches at once. “We expect it to come back, but we are not counting on it, and with a very strong El Niño forecast we need the ability to act quickly to protect homes, beaches and public infrastructure,” Kiff said in a statement. The city didn’t immediately respond to LAist’s request for an interview.
The details: You can see the full proclamation here.
What's next: Forecasters said Thursday that El Niño is strengthening, and that there is a more than 90% chance of a “very strong” El Niño in our region this year into next. Those conditions raise the risk of additional coastal erosion, according to Laguna Beach.
Why it matters: The city says the proclamation means officials can immediately take steps toward emergency shoreline protection, adding sand, removing debris and doing repairs — without the delays of typical contracting procedures.
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Go deeper: Why LA County emergency managers are prepping for the worst ahead of this year's El Niño
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