California braces for massive El Niño waves and flooding
Forecasters warn California coastal communities of dangerous storms and up to fifty-foot waves arriving Friday through Monday due to the strengthening El Niño pattern.
Dangerous waves hit San Francisco coast
National Weather Service officials issued an advisory for Friday evening warning of breaking waves reaching thirty feet off San Francisco. Occasional monstrous sets between forty and fifty feet could pound shores near southern Monterey Bay and the Big Sur coast. The agency urged residents to stay off jetties, piers, and rocks while avoiding entering the water entirely. Low-lying infrastructure faces inundation as large breaking waves run up beaches and crash over seawalls in these areas.
Rain and flooding expected near Los Angeles
Farther south near Los Angeles, widespread rainfall is scheduled to begin Friday and continue into Saturday according to local forecasters. Elevated surf conditions will fuel dangerous rip currents and breaking waves that peak on Saturday before potentially returning Monday. Moderate coastal flooding impacts are anticipated especially on Saturday with some erosion affecting normally dry beaches and walkways. Storm systems combined with high tides have already triggered dramatic property destruction in recent months along these vulnerable coastlines.
El Niño strengthens into winter season
This year's El Niño phenomenon has driven global disruptions while turbocharging impacts caused by human-caused climate change. Changes in winds and rainfall occur globally as the weather pattern elevates surface temperatures across the central and eastern Pacific Ocean. Increased atmospheric warmth allows for greater moisture retention, resulting in rainfall that is unusually intense for this area of California. Sea levels will likely rise further due to king tides occurring in late fall and winter months ahead.
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