Ocean water along Southern California reached its highest recorded heights this week.
Hundreds of homes, shops, and roads flooded from Malibu down to San Diego.
Water covered the highway near Huntington Beach and Sunset Beach, reaching knee-deep in spots.
In Redondo Beach, waves broke over the seawall and pushed water into bars and restaurants.
San Diego's tide gauge topped 8 feet, nearly 1.5 feet above the predicted level.
An extreme El Nino warmed the ocean. Warm water expands and pushed levels to record highs.
This week's tides were not even true king tides. El Nino, not the moon, drove the records.
A Halloween storm added rain. Los Angeles saw its first wet Halloween in 12 years.
Rain overwhelms drains while high seas block water from escaping. Streets trap the floodwater.
True king tides arrive at Thanksgiving and Christmas, 6 to 12 inches higher than this week.
With El Nino effects lasting months, record water levels could climb a full foot higher.
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