Palo Alto's bayshore could see up to 1.2 feet of flooding above ground level through Thursday, Oct. 1, under a Coastal Flood Advisory the National Weather Service issued Sunday night.
The advisory took effect at 11 a.m. Monday, Sept. 28, and runs through 5 p.m. Thursday. It covers bayshore locations along the San Francisco Bay, San Pablo Bay and Monterey Bay, the National Weather Service Bay Area office said on X.
The agency expects flooding of lots, parks and roads, with isolated road closures possible. High tides will flood coastal trails, cut off access to some low-lying beaches and push water farther up shorelines than usual, according to the advisory text reported by the Sacramento Bee.
Palo Alto's 1,940-acre Baylands Nature Preserve sits squarely in the advisory zone. During a similar coastal flood event in January 2026, the city closed Embarcadero Road from the airport entrance to the Sail Station, according to city storm updates. The Duck Pond, Marsh Front Trail and San Francisquito Creek Trail from the creek outlet to the Nature Center parking lot also closed.
No closures specific to the current advisory had been announced as of Monday, Sept. 28.
Day-by-day tide forecast
At the San Francisco tidal gauge, high tide is expected to reach 1.2 feet above normal each day of the advisory, according to the NWS:
- Monday, Sept. 28: 12:57 p.m. (6.87 ft MLLW)
- Tuesday, Sept. 29: 1:30 p.m. (7.01 ft MLLW)
- Wednesday, Sept. 30: 2:10 p.m. (7.03 ft MLLW)
- Thursday, Oct. 1: 2:58 p.m. (6.92 ft MLLW)
The NWS said the predictions include up to 0.7 feet of storm surge on top of the astronomical tide. High tide timing can vary up to 90 minutes earlier or later through the bay.
How to prepare
The NWS urged residents to allow extra time for travel, since some roads may close. The agency warned drivers not to go around barricades or through water of unknown depth.
Palo Alto makes sandbags available between November and March at the Palo Alto Airport, Mitchell Park and Rinconada Park, according to the city's flood preparedness page. It is unclear whether those locations are stocked outside that window.
Residents can sign up for AlertSCC, Santa Clara County's emergency notification system, to receive flood updates.
The advisory expires at 5 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 1.
