Seaside opens free sandbag stations as El Niño rain nears

Seaside residents can pick up free sandbags at two locations across the city as El Niño-driven wet weather approaches the Monterey Peninsula.

The city activated the stations after the CAL FIRE Gabilan Fire Crew filled 1,300 sandbags on Monday, Oct. 26, according to a city alert posted on Seaside's website. Each household may take up to 10 bags.

The two pickup sites are:

Seaside Fire Station, 1635 Broadway Ave. — behind the fire station, with access from Broadway Avenue.
Canyon Del Rey Boulevard — in the vacant lot between Chili's Restaurant and Laguna Grande Park.

The city advised residents to be prepared to fill their own sandbags, as staff assistance may not be available. A separate drop-off area for used sandbags is set up at the Canyon Del Rey Boulevard location.

Coastal flood advisory in effect

The sandbag stations come as a coastal flood advisory covers Monterey Bay and surrounding shoreline areas. KSBW reported the advisory has been extended through Friday, Oct. 30. The Watchers, citing National Weather Service data, listed the advisory as running through 3 p.m. PDT on Thursday, Oct. 29.

Elevated astronomical tides combined with higher-than-normal coastal water levels could cause minor flooding in low-lying areas, including portions of Monterey County, KSBW reported. The greatest risk falls around morning high tides, when water can affect coastal roads, walkways and shoreline areas.

The NWS San Francisco office linked the regional flood threat to astronomical high tides combined with higher water levels from warm-water expansion during El Niño, according to The Watchers.

NOAA said on Oct. 8 there is a 100% chance of a strong El Niño persisting through March, the Mercury News reported. The agency put the probability of it ranking as the strongest since modern records began in 1950 at 83%.

Breezy conditions are also possible along the coast, with afternoon wind gusts reaching 20 to 30 mph, according to KSBW.