Super El Niño Threatens Heavy Storms, Flooding and Coastal Erosion
We’ll talk with experts on what would make this El Niño climate pattern “super” and what you need to know to prepare.
NEWPORT BEACH, CA - October 19: A tarp covers a crumbling bluff along Pacific Coast Highway at Crystal Cove State Park between Newport Beach and Laguna Beach on Monday, October 19, 2026. Caltrans crews did a site assessment, and now its engineers are developing a plan to address the cracking, mitigate further damage and protect the roadway and traveling public. (Paul Bersebach/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via Getty Images)
Airdate: Wednesday, October 21, 2026 at 10 AM
Communities up and down California are bracing for what experts are calling a “Super El Niño” that could bring an unusually wet winter. El Niño is a cyclical climate pattern during which a huge swath of Pacific Ocean waters heat up. The warmer water has long-ranging effects such as higher sea levels and a robust storm season. Some low-lying areas of the state are expecting heavy flooding and some coastal areas are concerned about erosion and mudslides. We’ll talk with experts on what would make this El Niño climate pattern “super” and what you need to know to prepare.
Guests:
- Ezra David Romero, climate reporter, KQED
- Brian Garcia, Warning Coordination Meteorologist, National Weather Service SF Bay Area/Monterey
- Michael W. Beck, Center for Coastal Climate Resilience Director, AXA Chair in Coastal Resilience, NSF Hub on Strong Coasts, UC Santa Cruz
- Patti D’Angelo Juachon, senior program director, Marin Community Foundation