MARINE SAFETY staff helped rescue motorists who drove in flooded areas of Huntington Beach (HBFD photo).

By a staff writer

The high water levels of the “king tides” have closed parts of America’s most famous highway and threatened to flood parts of coastal Huntington Beach.

On Tuesday, Pacific Coast Highway was shut down in Seal Beach from Seal Beach Boulevard all the way to Warner Avenue in Surf City.

The northbound lanes of PCH were also closed between Seapoint Street and Warner Avenue, according to CalTrans. The City of Huntington Beach reports that PCH was also closed between Warner and Anderson Street until noon.

Motorists were cautioned not to drive to drive through flooded roads. According to the Huntington Beach Fire Department, its Marine Safety staff have had to rescue several drivers whose cars stalled in rising waters.

Travelers are advised to use alternate routes.

The highest tides are expected on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, according to the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration

High tide on Thursday – at 11:07 a.m. – is expected to reach 6.5 feet. On Friday, high tide is expected to reach 6.07 feet at 12:02 p.m. and on Saturday, the high tide should be at 1:14 p.m. with waves up to 5.54 feet.

King tides are the result of the gravitational pull of the moon when it aligns with the pull of the sun, creating ocean tides higher than usual.

The resulting surf affects beaches and low-lying areas and can be affected by onshore winds

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