This state in the US is likely to get the worst of El Niño

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🗞️ Driving the news: California is preparing for potentially severe impacts from an exceptionally strong El Niño, with coastal flooding, powerful waves, heavy rain and landslides among the main risks this winter
• Governor Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency to strengthen preparedness.

🔭 The context: El Niño raises coastal water levels through warmer tropical Pacific waters and coastally trapped Kelvin waves
• This event is also occurring alongside rising sea levels and an 18-year high-tide cycle, while scientists caution that rainfall patterns are harder to predict than coastal impacts

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Climate change is increasing baseline sea levels, meaning El Niño-driven coastal water-level increases can compound existing coastal risks
• Stronger storms, flooding and erosion can threaten ecosystems, infrastructure and communities along California’s coast

⏭️ What’s next: The strongest impacts are expected from late fall through winter.
• Scientists are set to monitor storm tracks, precipitation and coastal water levels, while state authorities prepare for flooding, erosion, landslides and disruptions to coastal infrastructure

💬 One quote: “We do know we’re going to have these coastal hazards.” — Patrick Barnard, University of California, Santa Cruz

📈 One stat: 6 inches to 1 foot — the expected increase in coastal water levels associated with this El Niño, according to the experts cited by CNN

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