Unusually high surf has already pounded our neighbors to the north
Pictures and video of the unusually high waves affecting Oxnard and points north last week point to what weather forecasters say will likely be an El Niño winter.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has forecast a greater than 95 percent chance that El Niño conditions consisting of extended periods of high intensity rainfall, triggering heavy runoff, floods, mudslides, debris flow, and landslides both inland and along the coast, will appear through the 2023-2024 winter. Coastal Malibu residents who have lived through previous El Niño conditions know of the damage that can occur. Many longtime Malibu residents probably remember the 1998 rock slide on Pacific Coast Highway between Las Flores Canyon and Topanga that disrupted traffic for months.
The California Coastal Commission is taking notice. In December, the commission heard a presentation on El Niño and potential consequences for the coast. The first speaker, Joe Street, stated the tropical Pacific weather condition appears to be strengthening and will to some degree influence weather and coastal conditions in California this winter. But he said El Nino gets a lot of attention even though it’s sometimes hard to get an accurate picture of its potential to cause harm. A winter prediction of El Niño alone is not a reliable bell weather for major winter storms, according to Street.
“We’ve had several fizzles or El Nadas just in the last decade,” he commented on predicted El Niños that never materialized. The coastal commissioners still urged readiness as does the City of Malibu.
The city has published a checklist for homeowners that will help preparedness and hopefully minimize any damage that could occur due to prolonged heavy rainfall that can make Malibu hillsides vulnerable to dangerous slope movement.
The checklist on the city website includes the following:
Inspect slopes: Visually inspect all sloped areas for signs of erosion gullying, surface cracks, and slumping. Inspect buildings, patios, retaining walls, and garden walls for signs of cracking or rotation, which may indicate slope movement has occurred. If signs of slope movement are observed, consider contacting a California-licensed geologist or geotechnical engineer for a site inspection.
Inspect bare ground: Large bare areas may be sources for mudflows during rain. Consider covering or vegetating bare areas before storm season. Consider covering and securing mounds of loose soil or fill material.
Inspect drains and gutters: Visually inspect and remove debris from retaining wall drains, surface drains, culverts, and gutters before storm season. Storm water runoff should be directed into appropriate drainage control areas to avoid excessive soil saturation.
Inspect structures: Visually inspect all structures, including seawalls, revetments, and bulkheads, for signs of distress, loss of material, obstructed drainage, or exposed reinforcing steel before storm season and after every rainstorm. If significant problems are observed, consider contacting a California-licensed engineer for maintenance suggestions.
Inspect Roofs: Visually inspect roofs, or hire a roofing contractor, to check for loose tiles, holes or other signs of distress.
To protect structures from water seepage free sandbags are available at the following local fire stations:
- Fire Station #70: 3970 Carbon Canyon Road. 310-456-2513
- Fire Station #71: 28722 W. Pacific Coast Highway. 310-457-2578
- Fire Station #88: 23720 W. Malibu Road. 310-456-2812
- Fire Station #99: 32550 Pacific Coast Highway. 310-457-3706.
The free sandbags are empty and must be filled yourself. Remember it is illegal to remove sand from beaches that is crucial for beach habitats. Please call fire stations for availability of sand and sandbags. Also note that plastic sandbags are prohibited in Malibu, except for use by emergency response agencies during emergency conditions.
Questions concerning slope stability, flooding, mudflows, or erosion can be directed to Malibu City Geology staff during public counter hours Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. or email mbuilding@malibucity.org.
