Carpinteria Beach Homes Brace as Rising Tides Come to Their Properties

CARPINTERIA, Calif.  (KEYT) - The rising tides for three days this week have stunned some Carpinteria residents who have water filling their streets.

It's coming from the Salt Marsh on the west end of town where the level is higher than the city street nearby. 

The water isn't coming over the embankments, there are connecting drains and water is backing out into the city streets in the area of Ash Avenue and Third Street.

By noon today, it was filling with water, and you could see it taking place right in front of you.

Residents in that area with flood fears have stacked sandbags to slow the water's progress but in some areas, the water is getting through and their concerns are rising at the same rate.

Some of the water flowing down the street knocked over full trash cans.

Carpinteria Public Works crews are closely monitoring the situation but can not defeat nature when the tide impacts are higher than the street level.

The city has an on line process to report issues and it is checked around the clock. Crews are on standby and are working after hours to respond to clogged drains or flooding emergencies.

A town hall meeting was held Wednesday night about the impacts of El Niño-related weather patterns including high tides and the impact of the warm water Kelvin wave which can increase the ocean levels by a foot or more that has been taking place this week.

Fortunately without a storm or ocean swell the additional push is not happening. 

It will be a larger concern during the November and December King Tide impact expected around the time of Thanksgiving and Christmas.