Long Beach is preparing for increased damage as its Alamitos Peninsula faces continued threats from powerful ocean waves exacerbated by El Niño conditions. The peninsula, a narrow strip of land situated between Alamitos Bay and the Pacific Ocean, has transformed over the decades from an area of small beach cottages to one dominated by multistory homes and apartments with waterfront views. Despite its exposure, residents have long relied on a breakwater built roughly 80 years ago to shield the harbor and shoreline from storm activity.
The breakwater, constructed primarily to protect the United States Navy’s harbor and one of the world’s largest ports at Long Beach, was positioned to offer defense against waves coming from the west. However, this configuration has left a portion of the shoreline, particularly a narrow section of the peninsula, exposed to waves approaching from the south. During the summer months, tropical storms generate strong winds and northward-traveling waves that can strike this vulnerable stretch directly, resulting in ongoing coastal damage.
Recent months have seen this vulnerability manifest as increased erosion and destruction along the peninsula's oceanfront. Several homes facing the Pacific Ocean have suffered structural damage from relentless high surf, and the historic wooden boardwalk has sustained significant splintering. City officials and residents alike are concerned that conditions will deteriorate further as the peak of what some are calling a “super El Niño” approaches this winter, potentially intensifying wave impact and coastal degradation.
Local authorities are evaluating the situation as they anticipate continued storm activity, examining possible measures to mitigate damage and protect the peninsula’s infrastructure and community. The unique orientation of the breakwater and the specific local geography combine to create challenges in defending this stretch of coastline, highlighting the ongoing risks posed by changing weather patterns and ocean dynamics in the region.