California Governor Newsom has declared a statewide emergency in anticipation of this winter’s El Niño-fueled storms, signaling growing concern about coastal flooding and high waves in the coming months. The state’s emergency proclamation states that El Niño may bring high surf and high impact storms to California, necessitating “early, coordinated, and targeted preparedness actions to protect Californians, critical infrastructure, agricultural lands, natural resources, and the State’s economy.”
In a prepared statement issued Monday, Governor Newsom emphasized the importance of community support, stating, “California is strongest when we look out for one another.” He added that the action aims to provide communities with needed support, equip first responders, and assure families that the state is prepared. Beyond the statewide declaration, the governor also proclaimed emergencies in several counties, including Santa Barbara County, which have recently experienced significant storm impacts.
The statewide declaration comes amid growing alarm over the potential for coastal damage from El Niño. Already, homes spanning from south Orange County to Malibu have been flooded and severely damaged. The coastline from Carlsbad to Long Beach has experienced significant erosion.
Local emergencies have already been declared in multiple counties as a result of powerful tropical storms from the Pacific that sent high surf to Southern California, leading to local beach erosion. Specifically, Laguna Beach and Dana Point, along with Carlsbad, declared local states of emergency last week. These declarations cited coastal erosion and sand loss from a south swell brought on by Hurricane Marie. El Niño typically contributes to an unusually active hurricane season in the eastern Pacific, where Hurricane Marie originated.
In Orange County, officials announced the activation of their emergency operations center. This activation is required when two cities within the county declare a local emergency, which was met by the declarations in Laguna Beach and Dana Point. In San Diego County, Carlsbad declared its local emergency to protect Carlsbad Boulevard, also known as Old Highway 101, from severe erosion.
Looking ahead, an El Niño-influenced phenomenon, described as a “coastally trapped Kelvin wave,” is currently moving up the coast of Mexico and is expected to reach the U.S. West Coast soon. Government forecasters anticipate that this winter will bring more damaging storms, with a 75% chance that this latest El Niño will be stronger than any other since 1950. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Climate Prediction Center stated on Thursday that there is a 98% chance El Niño will be “very strong” for the three-month period concluding in December.
