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"title": "Reminder: Highway 101 Through SF Is Closed This Labor Day Weekend",
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"content": "\n\u003cp>Bay Area drivers already know to brace for traffic headaches over the Labor Day holiday weekend — especially with \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/forum/2010101914455/the-battle-for-the-future-of-burning-man\">Burning Man\u003c/a> crowds heading home.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But now, on the heels of\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12078991/i80-101-closure-san-francisco-weekend-april-17-18-19-bay-bridge-detour-traffic-alternative-route\"> April’s major Interstate 80 closure \u003c/a>through San Francisco and last month’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12093934/carquinez-bridge-closure-update-weekend-i-80-westbound-alfred-zampa-memorial-bridge-crockett-vallejo-detours-august-21-24\">highway shutdown over the Carquinez Bridge\u003c/a>, you’re getting another major highway closure this holiday weekend — and then again later this month.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Over a mile of Highway 101 through San Francisco near Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital will be \u003ca href=\"https://dot.ca.gov/caltrans-near-me/district-4/d4-news/2026-08-19-us101-nb-bayshore-freeway-hospital-curve-upcoming-full-closures\">fully closed to all northbound traffic \u003c/a>during the upcoming holiday weekend, starting Friday, Sept. 4 and ending Monday, Sept. 7.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Then, a few weeks later, it’ll be closed \u003cem>again \u003c/em>across another full weekend: Sept. 18-21. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260822-zuckerbergsfhospitalfile-00101_TV_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096569\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260822-zuckerbergsfhospitalfile-00101_TV_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260822-zuckerbergsfhospitalfile-00101_TV_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260822-zuckerbergsfhospitalfile-00101_TV_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center is located at 1001 Potrero Avenue in San Francisco on Aug. 22, 2026. (Tâm Vũ for KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cp>These closures on what’s known as the “Hospital Curve” part of 101 will affect not only drivers trying to drive from the South Bay and Peninsula to the East Bay or North Bay — including people arriving at San Francisco International Airport — but also anyone wanting to travel through the city on those weekends.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The two weekend closures are part of Caltrans’s ongoing work on what the agency calls “the Fab 4”: 101’s Hospital Curve, I-280, the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12080206/whats-the-deal-with-i-80-and-sfs-central-freeway-heres-a-brief-history\">Central Freeway\u003c/a> and 19th Avenue.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>With the upcoming 101 work, “all of those lanes are going to be completely closed to traffic so that major pavement work can happen,” said Lori Shepherd, Caltrans’ Bay Area public information officer. “Basically, they’re putting on a brand new repaving [on] the whole entire road.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#northbound\">When exactly will 101 through San Francisco be closed?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#detour\">What kind of detour will I have to take?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Warning: Delays and detours ahead\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Shepherd said that drivers should know that “this is going to be a major, major impact,” and that any travelers planning to drive in San Francisco during those weekends should expect sizable delays getting through the city — not just around 101, but on surrounding streets and detours.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Shepherd said that the greatest traffic impacts from the closure could be felt around Cesar Chavez and 17th streets, as well as around Potrero Avenue — and also on entrances to I-280.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Caltrans is already urging travelers wherever possible to take \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfmta.com/trip-planner\">public \u003c/a>\u003ca href=\"https://www.bart.gov/planner\">transportation \u003c/a>to travel through San Francisco those weekends, instead of using the roads.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>It “really remains the best option to bypass congestion and work zone delays — because there \u003cem>will \u003c/em>be some major delays getting through the city,” warned Shepherd. Delays from the closures could also have a knock-on effect on other routes through the city.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But if you \u003cem>really \u003c/em>have to drive through San Francisco over the upcoming Labor Day weekend — perhaps returning home from your own holiday plans — or the following closure, what should you know about timings, detours and delays?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Keep reading for what we know about navigating the upcoming 101 closure without having your weekend completely hijacked by traffic.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>(And a heads up that the southbound lanes of this same stretch of 101 will be closing for two weekends in October, too, on Oct. 2-4 and Oct. 16-18. Shepherd told KQED that I-80 westbound between Fifth and 10th streets will \u003cem>also \u003c/em>experience closures during the weekend of Oct. 23-25. We’ll publish more details about these future closures closer to the time.)\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"northbound\">Where will northbound 101 through San Francisco be closed?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>All northbound lanes on 101 between Cesar Chavez Street and 10th Street will be closed to traffic — a 1.2-mile stretch of highway.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Any drivers on northbound 101 approaching this closure will be forced to take the Cesar Chavez Street/Potrero Avenue off-ramp before the closed area.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>All southbound lanes on 101 will remain open during the closures of the northbound lanes.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">When will the northbound 101 closures in San Francisco take place?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>This stretch of northbound 101 will be closed over two separate weekends:\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Friday-Monday (this Labor Day holiday weekend)\u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Closure starts: 11 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 4\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Closure ends: by 6 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 7\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Sept. 18-21\u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Closure starts: 11 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 18\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Closure ends: by 6 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 21\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"detour\">I need to drive north through San Francisco during the closures. What detour should I take?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">If you’re already on 101 north through San Francisco\u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Caltrans recommends that \u003ca href=\"https://dot.ca.gov/caltrans-near-me/district-4/d4-news/2026-08-19-us101-nb-bayshore-freeway-hospital-curve-upcoming-full-closures\">motorists use I-280 northbound \u003c/a>to reach downtown areas of the city or the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>You can merge onto I-280 by staying in the right two lanes of 101 around Silver Avenue. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1757\" height=\"2560\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/1-Detour-101-closure-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096917\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/1-Detour-101-closure-scaled.jpg 1757w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/1-Detour-101-closure-160x233.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/1-Detour-101-closure-1054x1536.jpg 1054w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/1-Detour-101-closure-1406x2048.jpg 1406w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1757px) 100vw, 1757px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Caltrans’ suggested detour for drivers on northbound Highway 101 through San Francisco during the two September weekend closures. (Courtesy of Caltrans)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cp>If you don’t take the I-280 exit and continue on 101 northbound toward the closure, you’ll be forced to take the last exit before the closed area: the Cesar Chavez Street/Potrero Avenue off-ramp. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>From here, you can take Potrero Avenue north and either connect back onto northbound 101 to the Golden Gate Bridge or to Bryant Street, where you can take the Ninth Street/Bryant on-ramp to I-80 over the Bay Bridge.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">If you want to drive north through the city from SFO, the Peninsula or South Bay\u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Caltrans’ detour map suggests drivers on 101 by SFO merge onto I-380 westbound, and then transfer to northbound 280 into San Francisco. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1913\" height=\"2560\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/2-Detour-101-closure-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096918\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/2-Detour-101-closure-scaled.jpg 1913w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/2-Detour-101-closure-160x214.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/2-Detour-101-closure-1148x1536.jpg 1148w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/2-Detour-101-closure-1531x2048.jpg 1531w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1913px) 100vw, 1913px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Caltrans’ suggested detour for drivers heading northbound from SFO during the two September weekend closures. (Courtesy of Caltrans)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why can’t these 101 closures take place overnight instead?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Shepherd attributed the length of the multiple closures to the sheer scope of the “24-7” repaving work being undertaken on 101 at this time. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It’s a major, massive project, if you can imagine, repaving the freeway,” she said, and despite the Labor Day weekend, Caltrans has timed these closures “to do it with the least amount of impact on the public,” Shepherd said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>According to the traffic data Caltrans consulted, “holiday weekends actually are [a] lower volume of traffic,” she said. “So we knew that this would be a good weekend to come in and get the work done as quickly as possible.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The concrete used in this kind of repaving work also needs the kind of dry conditions that September brings. “There’s a lot of emphasis on getting work done — as much of it completed in the summer during the dry season as much as possible,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It’s difficult, yes, for the traveling public to have to find ways around,” Shepherd said. “But in the end, it will produce long-term gains, because the road will be safer and smoother to drive [and] less prone to flooding.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>KQED’s \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/jlara\">\u003cem>Juan Carlos Lara\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem> contributed to this report.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Then, a few weeks later, it’ll be closed \u003cem>again \u003c/em>across another full weekend: Sept. 18-21. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Then, a few weeks later, it’ll be closed \u003cem>again \u003c/em>across another full weekend: Sept. 18-21. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260822-zuckerbergsfhospitalfile-00101_TV_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096569\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260822-zuckerbergsfhospitalfile-00101_TV_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260822-zuckerbergsfhospitalfile-00101_TV_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260822-zuckerbergsfhospitalfile-00101_TV_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center is located at 1001 Potrero Avenue in San Francisco on Aug. 22, 2026.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Tâm Vũ for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260822-zuckerbergsfhospitalfile-00101_TV_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096569\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center is located at 1001 Potrero Avenue in San Francisco on Aug. 22, 2026.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Tâm Vũ for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>These closures on what’s known as the “Hospital Curve” part of 101 will affect not only drivers trying to drive from the South Bay and Peninsula to the East Bay or North Bay — including people arriving at San Francisco International Airport — but also anyone wanting to travel through the city on those weekends.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>These closures on what’s known as the “Hospital Curve” part of 101 will affect not only drivers trying to drive from the South Bay and Peninsula to the East Bay or North Bay — including people arriving at San Francisco International Airport — but also anyone wanting to travel through the city on those weekends.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The two weekend closures are part of Caltrans’s ongoing work on what the agency calls “the Fab 4”: 101’s Hospital Curve, I-280, the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12080206/whats-the-deal-with-i-80-and-sfs-central-freeway-heres-a-brief-history\">Central Freeway\u003c/a> and 19th Avenue.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>The two weekend closures are part of Caltrans’s ongoing work on what the agency calls “the Fab 4”: 101’s Hospital Curve, I-280, the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12080206/whats-the-deal-with-i-80-and-sfs-central-freeway-heres-a-brief-history\">Central Freeway\u003c/a> and 19th Avenue.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>With the upcoming 101 work, “all of those lanes are going to be completely closed to traffic so that major pavement work can happen,” said Lori Shepherd, Caltrans’ Bay Area public information officer. “Basically, they’re putting on a brand new repaving [on] the whole entire road.” \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>With the upcoming 101 work, “all of those lanes are going to be completely closed to traffic so that major pavement work can happen,” said Lori Shepherd, Caltrans’ Bay Area public information officer. “Basically, they’re putting on a brand new repaving [on] the whole entire road.” \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#northbound\">When exactly will 101 through San Francisco be closed?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#northbound\">When exactly will 101 through San Francisco be closed?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#detour\">What kind of detour will I have to take?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#detour\">What kind of detour will I have to take?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n"
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"text": "Warning: Delays and detours ahead",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Warning: Delays and detours ahead\u003c/h2>\n",
"innerContent": [
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Shepherd said that drivers should know that “this is going to be a major, major impact,” and that any travelers planning to drive in San Francisco during those weekends should expect sizable delays getting through the city — not just around 101, but on surrounding streets and detours.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Shepherd said that drivers should know that “this is going to be a major, major impact,” and that any travelers planning to drive in San Francisco during those weekends should expect sizable delays getting through the city — not just around 101, but on surrounding streets and detours.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Shepherd said that the greatest traffic impacts from the closure could be felt around Cesar Chavez and 17th streets, as well as around Potrero Avenue — and also on entrances to I-280.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Shepherd said that the greatest traffic impacts from the closure could be felt around Cesar Chavez and 17th streets, as well as around Potrero Avenue — and also on entrances to I-280.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Caltrans is already urging travelers wherever possible to take \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfmta.com/trip-planner\">public \u003c/a>\u003ca href=\"https://www.bart.gov/planner\">transportation \u003c/a>to travel through San Francisco those weekends, instead of using the roads.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Caltrans is already urging travelers wherever possible to take \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfmta.com/trip-planner\">public \u003c/a>\u003ca href=\"https://www.bart.gov/planner\">transportation \u003c/a>to travel through San Francisco those weekends, instead of using the roads.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>It “really remains the best option to bypass congestion and work zone delays — because there \u003cem>will \u003c/em>be some major delays getting through the city,” warned Shepherd. Delays from the closures could also have a knock-on effect on other routes through the city.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>It “really remains the best option to bypass congestion and work zone delays — because there \u003cem>will \u003c/em>be some major delays getting through the city,” warned Shepherd. Delays from the closures could also have a knock-on effect on other routes through the city.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>But if you \u003cem>really \u003c/em>have to drive through San Francisco over the upcoming Labor Day weekend — perhaps returning home from your own holiday plans — or the following closure, what should you know about timings, detours and delays?\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>But if you \u003cem>really \u003c/em>have to drive through San Francisco over the upcoming Labor Day weekend — perhaps returning home from your own holiday plans — or the following closure, what should you know about timings, detours and delays?\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Keep reading for what we know about navigating the upcoming 101 closure without having your weekend completely hijacked by traffic.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Keep reading for what we know about navigating the upcoming 101 closure without having your weekend completely hijacked by traffic.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>(And a heads up that the southbound lanes of this same stretch of 101 will be closing for two weekends in October, too, on Oct. 2-4 and Oct. 16-18. Shepherd told KQED that I-80 westbound between Fifth and 10th streets will \u003cem>also \u003c/em>experience closures during the weekend of Oct. 23-25. We’ll publish more details about these future closures closer to the time.)\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>(And a heads up that the southbound lanes of this same stretch of 101 will be closing for two weekends in October, too, on Oct. 2-4 and Oct. 16-18. Shepherd told KQED that I-80 westbound between Fifth and 10th streets will \u003cem>also \u003c/em>experience closures during the weekend of Oct. 23-25. We’ll publish more details about these future closures closer to the time.)\u003c/p>\n"
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"blockName": "core/heading",
"attrs": {
"text": "Where will northbound 101 through San Francisco be closed?",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"northbound\">Where will northbound 101 through San Francisco be closed?\u003c/h2>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>All northbound lanes on 101 between Cesar Chavez Street and 10th Street will be closed to traffic — a 1.2-mile stretch of highway.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>All northbound lanes on 101 between Cesar Chavez Street and 10th Street will be closed to traffic — a 1.2-mile stretch of highway.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Any drivers on northbound 101 approaching this closure will be forced to take the Cesar Chavez Street/Potrero Avenue off-ramp before the closed area.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Any drivers on northbound 101 approaching this closure will be forced to take the Cesar Chavez Street/Potrero Avenue off-ramp before the closed area.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>All southbound lanes on 101 will remain open during the closures of the northbound lanes.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>All southbound lanes on 101 will remain open during the closures of the northbound lanes.\u003c/p>\n"
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"blockName": "core/heading",
"attrs": {
"text": "When will the northbound 101 closures in San Francisco take place?",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">When will the northbound 101 closures in San Francisco take place?\u003c/h2>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>This stretch of northbound 101 will be closed over two separate weekends:\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>This stretch of northbound 101 will be closed over two separate weekends:\u003c/p>\n"
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"text": "Friday-Monday (this Labor Day holiday weekend)"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Friday-Monday (this Labor Day holiday weekend)\u003c/h3>\n",
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"\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Friday-Monday (this Labor Day holiday weekend)\u003c/h3>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Closure starts: 11 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 4\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Closure starts: 11 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 4\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Closure ends: by 6 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 7\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Closure ends: by 6 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 7\u003c/p>\n"
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"text": "Sept. 18-21"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Sept. 18-21\u003c/h3>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Closure starts: 11 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 18\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Closure ends: by 6 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 21\u003c/p>\n",
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"blockName": "core/heading",
"attrs": {
"text": "I need to drive north through San Francisco during the closures. What detour should I take?",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"detour\">I need to drive north through San Francisco during the closures. What detour should I take?\u003c/h2>\n",
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"text": "If you’re already on 101 north through San Francisco"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">If you’re already on 101 north through San Francisco\u003c/h3>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Caltrans recommends that \u003ca href=\"https://dot.ca.gov/caltrans-near-me/district-4/d4-news/2026-08-19-us101-nb-bayshore-freeway-hospital-curve-upcoming-full-closures\">motorists use I-280 northbound \u003c/a>to reach downtown areas of the city or the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Caltrans recommends that \u003ca href=\"https://dot.ca.gov/caltrans-near-me/district-4/d4-news/2026-08-19-us101-nb-bayshore-freeway-hospital-curve-upcoming-full-closures\">motorists use I-280 northbound \u003c/a>to reach downtown areas of the city or the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>You can merge onto I-280 by staying in the right two lanes of 101 around Silver Avenue. \u003c/p>\n",
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"srcset": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/1-Detour-101-closure-scaled.jpg 1757w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/1-Detour-101-closure-160x233.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/1-Detour-101-closure-1054x1536.jpg 1054w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/1-Detour-101-closure-1406x2048.jpg 1406w",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/1-Detour-101-closure-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096917\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/1-Detour-101-closure-scaled.jpg 1757w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/1-Detour-101-closure-160x233.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/1-Detour-101-closure-1054x1536.jpg 1054w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/1-Detour-101-closure-1406x2048.jpg 1406w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Caltrans’ suggested detour for drivers on northbound Highway 101 through San Francisco during the two September weekend closures.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Courtesy of Caltrans)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/1-Detour-101-closure-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096917\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Caltrans’ suggested detour for drivers on northbound Highway 101 through San Francisco during the two September weekend closures.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Courtesy of Caltrans)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>If you don’t take the I-280 exit and continue on 101 northbound toward the closure, you’ll be forced to take the last exit before the closed area: the Cesar Chavez Street/Potrero Avenue off-ramp. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>If you don’t take the I-280 exit and continue on 101 northbound toward the closure, you’ll be forced to take the last exit before the closed area: the Cesar Chavez Street/Potrero Avenue off-ramp. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>From here, you can take Potrero Avenue north and either connect back onto northbound 101 to the Golden Gate Bridge or to Bryant Street, where you can take the Ninth Street/Bryant on-ramp to I-80 over the Bay Bridge.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>From here, you can take Potrero Avenue north and either connect back onto northbound 101 to the Golden Gate Bridge or to Bryant Street, where you can take the Ninth Street/Bryant on-ramp to I-80 over the Bay Bridge.\u003c/p>\n"
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"text": "If you want to drive north through the city from SFO, the Peninsula or South Bay"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Caltrans’ detour map suggests drivers on 101 by SFO merge onto I-380 westbound, and then transfer to northbound 280 into San Francisco. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/2-Detour-101-closure-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096918\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/2-Detour-101-closure-scaled.jpg 1913w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/2-Detour-101-closure-160x214.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/2-Detour-101-closure-1148x1536.jpg 1148w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/2-Detour-101-closure-1531x2048.jpg 1531w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Caltrans’ suggested detour for drivers heading northbound from SFO during the two September weekend closures.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Courtesy of Caltrans)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/2-Detour-101-closure-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096918\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Caltrans’ suggested detour for drivers heading northbound from SFO during the two September weekend closures.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Courtesy of Caltrans)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"text": "Why can’t these 101 closures take place overnight instead?",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why can’t these 101 closures take place overnight instead?\u003c/h2>\n",
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"\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why can’t these 101 closures take place overnight instead?\u003c/h2>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Shepherd attributed the length of the multiple closures to the sheer scope of the “24-7” repaving work being undertaken on 101 at this time. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Shepherd attributed the length of the multiple closures to the sheer scope of the “24-7” repaving work being undertaken on 101 at this time. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“It’s a major, massive project, if you can imagine, repaving the freeway,” she said, and despite the Labor Day weekend, Caltrans has timed these closures “to do it with the least amount of impact on the public,” Shepherd said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“It’s a major, massive project, if you can imagine, repaving the freeway,” she said, and despite the Labor Day weekend, Caltrans has timed these closures “to do it with the least amount of impact on the public,” Shepherd said.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>According to the traffic data Caltrans consulted, “holiday weekends actually are [a] lower volume of traffic,” she said. “So we knew that this would be a good weekend to come in and get the work done as quickly as possible.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>According to the traffic data Caltrans consulted, “holiday weekends actually are [a] lower volume of traffic,” she said. “So we knew that this would be a good weekend to come in and get the work done as quickly as possible.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The concrete used in this kind of repaving work also needs the kind of dry conditions that September brings. “There’s a lot of emphasis on getting work done — as much of it completed in the summer during the dry season as much as possible,” she said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The concrete used in this kind of repaving work also needs the kind of dry conditions that September brings. “There’s a lot of emphasis on getting work done — as much of it completed in the summer during the dry season as much as possible,” she said.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“It’s difficult, yes, for the traveling public to have to find ways around,” Shepherd said. “But in the end, it will produce long-term gains, because the road will be safer and smoother to drive [and] less prone to flooding.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“It’s difficult, yes, for the traveling public to have to find ways around,” Shepherd said. “But in the end, it will produce long-term gains, because the road will be safer and smoother to drive [and] less prone to flooding.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cem>KQED’s \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/jlara\">\u003cem>Juan Carlos Lara\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem> contributed to this report.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "Here’s what to know about the upcoming 101 closure in September — including the holiday weekend — the recommended detours and which travelers will be most affected.",
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"title": "Reminder: Highway 101 Through SF Is Closed This Labor Day Weekend | KQED",
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"headline": "Reminder: Highway 101 Through SF Is Closed This Labor Day Weekend",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\n\u003cp>Bay Area drivers already know to brace for traffic headaches over the Labor Day holiday weekend — especially with \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/forum/2010101914455/the-battle-for-the-future-of-burning-man\">Burning Man\u003c/a> crowds heading home.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But now, on the heels of\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12078991/i80-101-closure-san-francisco-weekend-april-17-18-19-bay-bridge-detour-traffic-alternative-route\"> April’s major Interstate 80 closure \u003c/a>through San Francisco and last month’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12093934/carquinez-bridge-closure-update-weekend-i-80-westbound-alfred-zampa-memorial-bridge-crockett-vallejo-detours-august-21-24\">highway shutdown over the Carquinez Bridge\u003c/a>, you’re getting another major highway closure this holiday weekend — and then again later this month.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Over a mile of Highway 101 through San Francisco near Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital will be \u003ca href=\"https://dot.ca.gov/caltrans-near-me/district-4/d4-news/2026-08-19-us101-nb-bayshore-freeway-hospital-curve-upcoming-full-closures\">fully closed to all northbound traffic \u003c/a>during the upcoming holiday weekend, starting Friday, Sept. 4 and ending Monday, Sept. 7.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Then, a few weeks later, it’ll be closed \u003cem>again \u003c/em>across another full weekend: Sept. 18-21. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260822-zuckerbergsfhospitalfile-00101_TV_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096569\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260822-zuckerbergsfhospitalfile-00101_TV_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260822-zuckerbergsfhospitalfile-00101_TV_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260822-zuckerbergsfhospitalfile-00101_TV_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center is located at 1001 Potrero Avenue in San Francisco on Aug. 22, 2026. (Tâm Vũ for KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cp>These closures on what’s known as the “Hospital Curve” part of 101 will affect not only drivers trying to drive from the South Bay and Peninsula to the East Bay or North Bay — including people arriving at San Francisco International Airport — but also anyone wanting to travel through the city on those weekends.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The two weekend closures are part of Caltrans’s ongoing work on what the agency calls “the Fab 4”: 101’s Hospital Curve, I-280, the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12080206/whats-the-deal-with-i-80-and-sfs-central-freeway-heres-a-brief-history\">Central Freeway\u003c/a> and 19th Avenue.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>With the upcoming 101 work, “all of those lanes are going to be completely closed to traffic so that major pavement work can happen,” said Lori Shepherd, Caltrans’ Bay Area public information officer. “Basically, they’re putting on a brand new repaving [on] the whole entire road.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#northbound\">When exactly will 101 through San Francisco be closed?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#detour\">What kind of detour will I have to take?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Warning: Delays and detours ahead\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Shepherd said that drivers should know that “this is going to be a major, major impact,” and that any travelers planning to drive in San Francisco during those weekends should expect sizable delays getting through the city — not just around 101, but on surrounding streets and detours.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Shepherd said that the greatest traffic impacts from the closure could be felt around Cesar Chavez and 17th streets, as well as around Potrero Avenue — and also on entrances to I-280.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Caltrans is already urging travelers wherever possible to take \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfmta.com/trip-planner\">public \u003c/a>\u003ca href=\"https://www.bart.gov/planner\">transportation \u003c/a>to travel through San Francisco those weekends, instead of using the roads.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>It “really remains the best option to bypass congestion and work zone delays — because there \u003cem>will \u003c/em>be some major delays getting through the city,” warned Shepherd. Delays from the closures could also have a knock-on effect on other routes through the city.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But if you \u003cem>really \u003c/em>have to drive through San Francisco over the upcoming Labor Day weekend — perhaps returning home from your own holiday plans — or the following closure, what should you know about timings, detours and delays?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Keep reading for what we know about navigating the upcoming 101 closure without having your weekend completely hijacked by traffic.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>(And a heads up that the southbound lanes of this same stretch of 101 will be closing for two weekends in October, too, on Oct. 2-4 and Oct. 16-18. Shepherd told KQED that I-80 westbound between Fifth and 10th streets will \u003cem>also \u003c/em>experience closures during the weekend of Oct. 23-25. We’ll publish more details about these future closures closer to the time.)\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"northbound\">Where will northbound 101 through San Francisco be closed?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>All northbound lanes on 101 between Cesar Chavez Street and 10th Street will be closed to traffic — a 1.2-mile stretch of highway.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Any drivers on northbound 101 approaching this closure will be forced to take the Cesar Chavez Street/Potrero Avenue off-ramp before the closed area.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>All southbound lanes on 101 will remain open during the closures of the northbound lanes.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">When will the northbound 101 closures in San Francisco take place?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>This stretch of northbound 101 will be closed over two separate weekends:\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Friday-Monday (this Labor Day holiday weekend)\u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Closure starts: 11 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 4\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Closure ends: by 6 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 7\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Sept. 18-21\u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Closure starts: 11 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 18\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Closure ends: by 6 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 21\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"detour\">I need to drive north through San Francisco during the closures. What detour should I take?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">If you’re already on 101 north through San Francisco\u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Caltrans recommends that \u003ca href=\"https://dot.ca.gov/caltrans-near-me/district-4/d4-news/2026-08-19-us101-nb-bayshore-freeway-hospital-curve-upcoming-full-closures\">motorists use I-280 northbound \u003c/a>to reach downtown areas of the city or the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>You can merge onto I-280 by staying in the right two lanes of 101 around Silver Avenue. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1757\" height=\"2560\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/1-Detour-101-closure-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096917\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/1-Detour-101-closure-scaled.jpg 1757w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/1-Detour-101-closure-160x233.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/1-Detour-101-closure-1054x1536.jpg 1054w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/1-Detour-101-closure-1406x2048.jpg 1406w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1757px) 100vw, 1757px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Caltrans’ suggested detour for drivers on northbound Highway 101 through San Francisco during the two September weekend closures. (Courtesy of Caltrans)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cp>If you don’t take the I-280 exit and continue on 101 northbound toward the closure, you’ll be forced to take the last exit before the closed area: the Cesar Chavez Street/Potrero Avenue off-ramp. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>From here, you can take Potrero Avenue north and either connect back onto northbound 101 to the Golden Gate Bridge or to Bryant Street, where you can take the Ninth Street/Bryant on-ramp to I-80 over the Bay Bridge.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">If you want to drive north through the city from SFO, the Peninsula or South Bay\u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Caltrans’ detour map suggests drivers on 101 by SFO merge onto I-380 westbound, and then transfer to northbound 280 into San Francisco. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1913\" height=\"2560\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/2-Detour-101-closure-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096918\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/2-Detour-101-closure-scaled.jpg 1913w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/2-Detour-101-closure-160x214.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/2-Detour-101-closure-1148x1536.jpg 1148w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/2-Detour-101-closure-1531x2048.jpg 1531w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1913px) 100vw, 1913px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Caltrans’ suggested detour for drivers heading northbound from SFO during the two September weekend closures. (Courtesy of Caltrans)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why can’t these 101 closures take place overnight instead?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Shepherd attributed the length of the multiple closures to the sheer scope of the “24-7” repaving work being undertaken on 101 at this time. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It’s a major, massive project, if you can imagine, repaving the freeway,” she said, and despite the Labor Day weekend, Caltrans has timed these closures “to do it with the least amount of impact on the public,” Shepherd said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>According to the traffic data Caltrans consulted, “holiday weekends actually are [a] lower volume of traffic,” she said. “So we knew that this would be a good weekend to come in and get the work done as quickly as possible.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The concrete used in this kind of repaving work also needs the kind of dry conditions that September brings. “There’s a lot of emphasis on getting work done — as much of it completed in the summer during the dry season as much as possible,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It’s difficult, yes, for the traveling public to have to find ways around,” Shepherd said. “But in the end, it will produce long-term gains, because the road will be safer and smoother to drive [and] less prone to flooding.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>KQED’s \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/jlara\">\u003cem>Juan Carlos Lara\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem> contributed to this report.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "why-sick-sea-lions-are-washing-up-on-california-beaches-right-now",
"title": "Why Sick Sea Lions Are Washing Up on California Beaches Right Now",
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"headTitle": "Why Sick Sea Lions Are Washing Up on California Beaches Right Now | KQED",
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"content": "\n\u003cp>California \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1914632/algae-poisoned-sea-lions-inundate-marine-mammal-center\">sea lions\u003c/a> are in trouble. A toxic algal bloom has caused a rash of poisonings, leaving the mammals confused, lethargic and, in some cases, dead along the California coast.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Dozens of sea lions have been sickened by \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1931779/scientists-uncover-genetic-basis-for-toxic-algal-blooms\">domoic acid\u003c/a> poisoning, caused by a toxin in algae that can cause seizures and even heart failure. Signs of exposure in sea lions include lethargy, disorientation, tremors, twitching and seizures. The animals ingest the naturally occurring neurotoxin by eating fish or shellfish. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.marinemammalcenter.org/\">The Marine Mammal Center\u003c/a> in Sausalito said it has treated more than 100 sea lions — above the yearly average of 75 to 90 — with the majority of these cases occurring since the start of July. Officials with the center worry that already higher-than-normal sea surface temperatures and additional warming from \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/2001688/strong-el-nino-may-bring-record-sea-level-and-coastal-flooding-to-bay-area\">the climate pattern El Niño\u003c/a> could exponentially increase the number of infected mammals. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1500\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/SeaLionsPoisoned-KQED_1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12098090\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/SeaLionsPoisoned-KQED_1.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/SeaLionsPoisoned-KQED_1-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/SeaLionsPoisoned-KQED_1-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Two California sea lions suffering from domoic acid toxicosis are admitted to The Marine Mammal Center’s hospital and visitor center in Sausalito, California. Domoic acid is produced during certain harmful algal bloom events and accumulates in small fish, like sardines and anchovies. These small fish are a major food source for marine mammals like sea lions, which is how they can become poisoned by this toxin. (Courtesy of Giancarlo Rulli/The Marine Mammal Center)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cp>Giancarlo Rulli, spokesperson for the center, said dispatchers are receiving up to 600 calls a day reporting sick sea lions. Over the past week, the center rescued around 30 sea lions. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We’ve seen a major flare-up in Monterey and Santa Cruz counties,” Rulli said. “This is highly emotional, and it can be very disturbing to see an animal that’s not in control of itself out on the beach.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Additional rescues have taken place in San Mateo, San Francisco, Marin and Sonoma counties. The center has also treated a handful of northern fur seals. Treating a single mammal can require up to six trained responders and may involve repeated doses of antiseizure medication. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-3 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" data-id=\"12098095\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/SeaLionsPoisoned-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12098095\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/SeaLionsPoisoned-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/SeaLionsPoisoned-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/SeaLionsPoisoned-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A lethargic California sea lion with domoic acid toxicosis is transported by The Marine Mammal Center’s Morro Bay response team to be treated at the Center’s hospital and visitor center in Sausalito, California. (Courtesy of Giancarlo Rulli/The Marine Mammal Center)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1331\" data-id=\"12098094\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/SeaLionsPoisoned-KQED_4.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12098094\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/SeaLionsPoisoned-KQED_4.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/SeaLionsPoisoned-KQED_4-160x106.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/SeaLionsPoisoned-KQED_4-1536x1022.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">At the Marine Mammal Center’s hospital and visitor center in Sausalito, California, the veterinary team shows a side-by-side comparison of two California sea lion brains. The left brain shows a normal California sea lion brain section. The right brain depicts a California sea lion brain that has been affected by domoic acid exposure, where there is a noticeably shrunken hippocampus in the center of the brain section. (Courtesy of The Marine Mammal Center)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It’s brutal on the animals,” Rulli said. “We are seeing animals die out on the beaches. There are a fair amount of carcasses out there. We’re seeing animals pass away in transport being brought back to the hospital.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Rulli said the cases are a sign that the toxin has worked its way through the food chain in “a short-term burst,” but said the center is also seeing chronic cases where sea lions have “brain lesions and permanent heart damage.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Along the northern California coast, marine algal blooms are primarily caused by natural factors such as ocean upwelling of nutrient-rich water and warm ocean temperatures. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Polluted runoff from agriculture and other human activities also feed blooms, a factor projected to become more frequent and \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/harmful-algal-blooms/about/harmful-algal-blooms-contributing-factors-and-impacts.html\">severe\u003c/a> due to human-caused climate change.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The toxin appears in both cold and warm water, and Rulli said the resulting illness has evolved since it was first diagnosed in sea lions in 1998. It was more of a seasonal disease, and now mammals show signs of year-round exposure. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It can thrive both in cold water conditions during La Niña years with strong marine upwelling and strong offshore winds, as well as during more heated environments like this current heat wave in El Niño that’s forming in the Pacific,” Rulli said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>A massive heatwave, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1123047/the-blob-is-back-what-warm-ocean-mass-means-for-weather-wildlife\">known as The Blob,\u003c/a> wreaked havoc on the California coastline from 2013 to 2016, and an El Niño followed. Rulli said that during that time there was a “record number” of sea lions poisoned.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“There’s really no clear indication of whether what’s forming in the Pacific is a one-year blip or maybe more sustained, as we saw a decade-plus ago,” Rulli said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Beachgoers who see an affected mammal should not crowd or touch the animal, and should call The Marine Mammal Center’s hotline, 415-289-7325 or 415-289-SEAL.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Dozens of sea lions have been sickened by \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1931779/scientists-uncover-genetic-basis-for-toxic-algal-blooms\">domoic acid\u003c/a> poisoning, caused by a toxin in algae that can cause seizures and even heart failure. Signs of exposure in sea lions include lethargy, disorientation, tremors, twitching and seizures. The animals ingest the naturally occurring neurotoxin by eating fish or shellfish. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.marinemammalcenter.org/\">The Marine Mammal Center\u003c/a> in Sausalito said it has treated more than 100 sea lions — above the yearly average of 75 to 90 — with the majority of these cases occurring since the start of July. Officials with the center worry that already higher-than-normal sea surface temperatures and additional warming from \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/2001688/strong-el-nino-may-bring-record-sea-level-and-coastal-flooding-to-bay-area\">the climate pattern El Niño\u003c/a> could exponentially increase the number of infected mammals. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/SeaLionsPoisoned-KQED_1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12098090\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Two California sea lions suffering from domoic acid toxicosis are admitted to The Marine Mammal Center’s hospital and visitor center in Sausalito, California. Domoic acid is produced during certain harmful algal bloom events and accumulates in small fish, like sardines and anchovies. These small fish are a major food source for marine mammals like sea lions, which is how they can become poisoned by this toxin.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Courtesy of Giancarlo Rulli/The Marine Mammal Center)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Giancarlo Rulli, spokesperson for the center, said dispatchers are receiving up to 600 calls a day reporting sick sea lions. Over the past week, the center rescued around 30 sea lions. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“We’ve seen a major flare-up in Monterey and Santa Cruz counties,” Rulli said. “This is highly emotional, and it can be very disturbing to see an animal that’s not in control of itself out on the beach.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Additional rescues have taken place in San Mateo, San Francisco, Marin and Sonoma counties. The center has also treated a handful of northern fur seals. Treating a single mammal can require up to six trained responders and may involve repeated doses of antiseizure medication. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/SeaLionsPoisoned-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12098095\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A lethargic California sea lion with domoic acid toxicosis is transported by The Marine Mammal Center’s Morro Bay response team to be treated at the Center’s hospital and visitor center in Sausalito, California.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“It’s brutal on the animals,” Rulli said. “We are seeing animals die out on the beaches. There are a fair amount of carcasses out there. We’re seeing animals pass away in transport being brought back to the hospital.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Rulli said the cases are a sign that the toxin has worked its way through the food chain in “a short-term burst,” but said the center is also seeing chronic cases where sea lions have “brain lesions and permanent heart damage.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Along the northern California coast, marine algal blooms are primarily caused by natural factors such as ocean upwelling of nutrient-rich water and warm ocean temperatures. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Polluted runoff from agriculture and other human activities also feed blooms, a factor projected to become more frequent and \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/harmful-algal-blooms/about/harmful-algal-blooms-contributing-factors-and-impacts.html\">severe\u003c/a> due to human-caused climate change.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The toxin appears in both cold and warm water, and Rulli said the resulting illness has evolved since it was first diagnosed in sea lions in 1998. It was more of a seasonal disease, and now mammals show signs of year-round exposure. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“It can thrive both in cold water conditions during La Niña years with strong marine upwelling and strong offshore winds, as well as during more heated environments like this current heat wave in El Niño that’s forming in the Pacific,” Rulli said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>A massive heatwave, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1123047/the-blob-is-back-what-warm-ocean-mass-means-for-weather-wildlife\">known as The Blob,\u003c/a> wreaked havoc on the California coastline from 2013 to 2016, and an El Niño followed. Rulli said that during that time there was a “record number” of sea lions poisoned.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“There’s really no clear indication of whether what’s forming in the Pacific is a one-year blip or maybe more sustained, as we saw a decade-plus ago,” Rulli said. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Beachgoers who see an affected mammal should not crowd or touch the animal, and should call The Marine Mammal Center’s hotline, 415-289-7325 or 415-289-SEAL.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "A toxic algal bloom is causing a crisis for coastal mammals. El Niño could make it worse. \n",
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"title": "Why Sick Sea Lions Are Washing Up on California Beaches Right Now | KQED",
"description": "A toxic algal bloom is causing a crisis for coastal mammals. El Niño could make it worse. \n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\n\u003cp>California \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1914632/algae-poisoned-sea-lions-inundate-marine-mammal-center\">sea lions\u003c/a> are in trouble. A toxic algal bloom has caused a rash of poisonings, leaving the mammals confused, lethargic and, in some cases, dead along the California coast.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Dozens of sea lions have been sickened by \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1931779/scientists-uncover-genetic-basis-for-toxic-algal-blooms\">domoic acid\u003c/a> poisoning, caused by a toxin in algae that can cause seizures and even heart failure. Signs of exposure in sea lions include lethargy, disorientation, tremors, twitching and seizures. The animals ingest the naturally occurring neurotoxin by eating fish or shellfish. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.marinemammalcenter.org/\">The Marine Mammal Center\u003c/a> in Sausalito said it has treated more than 100 sea lions — above the yearly average of 75 to 90 — with the majority of these cases occurring since the start of July. Officials with the center worry that already higher-than-normal sea surface temperatures and additional warming from \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/2001688/strong-el-nino-may-bring-record-sea-level-and-coastal-flooding-to-bay-area\">the climate pattern El Niño\u003c/a> could exponentially increase the number of infected mammals. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1500\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/SeaLionsPoisoned-KQED_1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12098090\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/SeaLionsPoisoned-KQED_1.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/SeaLionsPoisoned-KQED_1-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/SeaLionsPoisoned-KQED_1-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Two California sea lions suffering from domoic acid toxicosis are admitted to The Marine Mammal Center’s hospital and visitor center in Sausalito, California. Domoic acid is produced during certain harmful algal bloom events and accumulates in small fish, like sardines and anchovies. These small fish are a major food source for marine mammals like sea lions, which is how they can become poisoned by this toxin. (Courtesy of Giancarlo Rulli/The Marine Mammal Center)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cp>Giancarlo Rulli, spokesperson for the center, said dispatchers are receiving up to 600 calls a day reporting sick sea lions. Over the past week, the center rescued around 30 sea lions. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We’ve seen a major flare-up in Monterey and Santa Cruz counties,” Rulli said. “This is highly emotional, and it can be very disturbing to see an animal that’s not in control of itself out on the beach.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Additional rescues have taken place in San Mateo, San Francisco, Marin and Sonoma counties. The center has also treated a handful of northern fur seals. Treating a single mammal can require up to six trained responders and may involve repeated doses of antiseizure medication. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-3 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" data-id=\"12098095\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/SeaLionsPoisoned-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12098095\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/SeaLionsPoisoned-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/SeaLionsPoisoned-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/SeaLionsPoisoned-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A lethargic California sea lion with domoic acid toxicosis is transported by The Marine Mammal Center’s Morro Bay response team to be treated at the Center’s hospital and visitor center in Sausalito, California. (Courtesy of Giancarlo Rulli/The Marine Mammal Center)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1331\" data-id=\"12098094\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/SeaLionsPoisoned-KQED_4.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12098094\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/SeaLionsPoisoned-KQED_4.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/SeaLionsPoisoned-KQED_4-160x106.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/SeaLionsPoisoned-KQED_4-1536x1022.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">At the Marine Mammal Center’s hospital and visitor center in Sausalito, California, the veterinary team shows a side-by-side comparison of two California sea lion brains. The left brain shows a normal California sea lion brain section. The right brain depicts a California sea lion brain that has been affected by domoic acid exposure, where there is a noticeably shrunken hippocampus in the center of the brain section. (Courtesy of The Marine Mammal Center)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It’s brutal on the animals,” Rulli said. “We are seeing animals die out on the beaches. There are a fair amount of carcasses out there. We’re seeing animals pass away in transport being brought back to the hospital.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Rulli said the cases are a sign that the toxin has worked its way through the food chain in “a short-term burst,” but said the center is also seeing chronic cases where sea lions have “brain lesions and permanent heart damage.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Along the northern California coast, marine algal blooms are primarily caused by natural factors such as ocean upwelling of nutrient-rich water and warm ocean temperatures. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Polluted runoff from agriculture and other human activities also feed blooms, a factor projected to become more frequent and \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/harmful-algal-blooms/about/harmful-algal-blooms-contributing-factors-and-impacts.html\">severe\u003c/a> due to human-caused climate change.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The toxin appears in both cold and warm water, and Rulli said the resulting illness has evolved since it was first diagnosed in sea lions in 1998. It was more of a seasonal disease, and now mammals show signs of year-round exposure. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It can thrive both in cold water conditions during La Niña years with strong marine upwelling and strong offshore winds, as well as during more heated environments like this current heat wave in El Niño that’s forming in the Pacific,” Rulli said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>A massive heatwave, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1123047/the-blob-is-back-what-warm-ocean-mass-means-for-weather-wildlife\">known as The Blob,\u003c/a> wreaked havoc on the California coastline from 2013 to 2016, and an El Niño followed. Rulli said that during that time there was a “record number” of sea lions poisoned.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“There’s really no clear indication of whether what’s forming in the Pacific is a one-year blip or maybe more sustained, as we saw a decade-plus ago,” Rulli said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Beachgoers who see an affected mammal should not crowd or touch the animal, and should call The Marine Mammal Center’s hotline, 415-289-7325 or 415-289-SEAL.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "after-2-canoeists-found-dead-in-tomales-bay-local-guides-advise-caution",
"title": "Pacifica Planning Commissioner Among 2 Canoeing Victims in Tomales Bay",
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"headTitle": "Pacifica Planning Commissioner Among 2 Canoeing Victims in Tomales Bay | KQED",
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"content": "\n\u003cp>Authorities have identified 36-year-old Casey Flynn Melia of San Francisco, and 37-year-old Alexander Ferguson of Pacifica as the pair of people who died while canoeing in \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/tomales-bay\">Tomales Bay\u003c/a> over the weekend. Ferguson was a member of the Pacifica Planning Commission, serving since October 2020.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The Marin County Fire Department said Melia and Ferguson launched canoes from their campsite at White Gulch Beach just before midnight to see \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1983841/where-to-see-bioluminescence-bay-area-kayak-tours\">bioluminescence\u003c/a>, a blue glow emitted by plankton that draws visitors to the bay at night.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>When they didn’t return by the next morning, the Marin County Sheriff’s Office said, their camping party alerted emergency services.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>First responders located the two canoeists in the water. According to the county fire department, both people were pronounced dead before their bodies were recovered. Melia was found near Hog Island, the sheriff’s office said. It did not specify where Ferguson’s body was located.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Both of them were wearing life jackets, authorities said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Pacifica City Manager Sean Charpentier called Ferguson “active, compassionate and thoughtful.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Alex played a leadership role in the City’s planning policies that will have a lasting positive impact on Pacifica for many years to come,” he wrote in an email to KQED. “His passing is a great loss to the Pacifica community.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Bay deaths ‘traumatic’ for guiding community\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>John Granatir and Pamalah MacNeily, co-owners of guiding company Blue Waters Kayak Adventures, said a group of their guides, alongside other guiding companies, was at Miller Boat Launch on Sunday morning when they encountered the camping party returning from their trip. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The campers, the couple said, asked the group of guides if they had seen their missing friends, but they had not. That’s when a guide from Point Reyes Adventure Co., Dallas Smith, urged the campers to alert authorities that they were missing, Granatir and MacNeily recounted. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It just breaks our hearts when this stuff happens in our bay,” MacNeily said. “It makes us sad for them, their families and the boating community. It’s traumatic for us.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Guides say bay is ‘dynamic,’ and not canoe-friendly\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>According to Granatir and MacNeily, Tomales Bay is not a particularly canoe-friendly body of water, so guiding companies like theirs don’t bring them out there. According to Granatir, the past four fatalities on Tomales Bay were all people in canoes. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We do not like canoes on Tomales Bay,” MacNeily said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In general, the pair said, due to its strong winds, currents and waves, paddling on Tomales Bay requires a sturdy boat — and typical recreational kayaks or inflatable kayaks just won’t cut it.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1500\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/Kayak-photo-for-body-of-lede.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12086604\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/Kayak-photo-for-body-of-lede.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/Kayak-photo-for-body-of-lede-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/Kayak-photo-for-body-of-lede-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Kayakers at an event as part of California State Parks Week in 2024. (Courtesy of California State Parks Week)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>For their tours, Granatir said, their company uses a closed-deck kayak because they are the most stable and has a low client-to-guide ratio, to make sure they can get people out of the water quickly if they do flip over.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Galen Licht, CEO of SeaTrek, which also runs guided trips on the bay, said people often assume incorrectly that Tomales Bay is more protected than other waters in the Bay Area.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Tomales Bay is a very dynamic environment,” he said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>His group, too, is extremely cautious when guiding trips on the bay, and said they prioritize redundancy in their systems — like extra paddles, lights, communications systems and navigation — to keep their guides and clients safe. And they will simply cancel trips in unsafe weather, especially due to high winds, he said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Any time there’s a forecast over 20 knots, without a doubt, we will just cancel the trip,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Granatir said the bay’s waves, which can get very high, aren’t usually visible from shore.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It takes a skilled person to recover a canoe midwater in Tomales Bay,” Granatir said. “You have to be trained for that, and people usually aren’t aware of that fact.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Plus, the water is paralyzingly cold: “You have about five minutes to effect a meaningful recovery action before your limbs start losing the ability to save yourself,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>And at night, all of these factors are exacerbated, Licht said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The conditions out there on the bay can change fast and at times, the visibility can go down to just a few feet when the fog comes in — and then the only way to navigate is by compass,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Still, Granatir and MacNeily said they were surprised to hear of the incident, given that there wasn’t much wind late in the night. The moon was nearly full and out all night — a bright moon, they said, makes seeing bioluminescence more difficult. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>On Saturday, their company had insisted that any renters get off the water by 1 p.m., but data from \u003ca href=\"https://www.wunderground.com/history/daily/us/ca/marshall/KDVO/date/2026-8-30\">Weather Underground\u003c/a> shows the wind had died down by the evening and around midnight was almost nonexistent.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“There wasn’t much wind that night,” MacNeily said. “That’s the thing that’s really curious.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What to know and bring if you’re going out on Tomales Bay at night\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The area of Tomales Bay is one of the most dangerous waterways imaginable on the coastlines,” Licht said. “If you’re coming out, you need to do your homework.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>MacNeily said that in the past few years, the bay has become “a circus” of visitors heading out in unsafe boats, drinking, and with very little water safety experience and equipment. She said she often gets calls from people asking about water conditions who don’t have the proper equipment, and “I will advise against it.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It’s far too many people who are just thinking that this is a Disneyland ride,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1800\" height=\"1350\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/02/tomales_big.jpg\" alt=\"A woman in a red long sleeved shirt and blue life vest sits in the fron tof a kayak paddling towards a cliff in the distance.\" class=\"wp-image-11903623\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/02/tomales_big.jpg 1800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/02/tomales_big-800x600.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/02/tomales_big-1020x765.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/02/tomales_big-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/02/tomales_big-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1800px) 100vw, 1800px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Olivia Allen-Price kayaking in Tomales Bay. (Sam Price/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The guides’ main pieces of advice are:\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\u003cli>Know your own abilities (and your limits)\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>Know the technical limits of your watercraft\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>Monitor the weather\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>Tell someone where you are going and when you expect to be back\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>Always wear a life jacket\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>Never go alone or on just one boat\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>Wear a wetsuit in case you fall in the water\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>Bring lots of lights for nighttime navigation\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>Bring a backup communications device, like a radio \u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>Bring backup navigation, especially a compass\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>Be aware that a full moon, while providing light, can sometimes be so bright on water that it becomes difficult to see and navigate\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>Be ready for thick fog\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>If you’d rather play it safe, you can take a boating course from companies like \u003ca href=\"https://www.seatrek.com/classes/\">SeaTrek\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://bluewaterskayaking.com/classes/\">Blue Waters Kayaking\u003c/a>. Or, join their regular guided trips on the bay for peace of mind.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Granatir, who was a commercial boat captain and has around 50 years of experience running boats, said that moving in a group can save your life.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Kayaking, it’s generally viewed as a sort of an individual sport, which it is,” he said. “But safety in the water is largely a function of other people out there who can help you if things go wrong.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Editor’s note: This story has been updated to reflect the guide who urged the campers to call 9\u003c/em>11.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The Marin County Fire Department said Melia and Ferguson launched canoes from their campsite at White Gulch Beach just before midnight to see \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1983841/where-to-see-bioluminescence-bay-area-kayak-tours\">bioluminescence\u003c/a>, a blue glow emitted by plankton that draws visitors to the bay at night.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>When they didn’t return by the next morning, the Marin County Sheriff’s Office said, their camping party alerted emergency services.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>First responders located the two canoeists in the water. According to the county fire department, both people were pronounced dead before their bodies were recovered. Melia was found near Hog Island, the sheriff’s office said. It did not specify where Ferguson’s body was located.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>First responders located the two canoeists in the water. According to the county fire department, both people were pronounced dead before their bodies were recovered. Melia was found near Hog Island, the sheriff’s office said. It did not specify where Ferguson’s body was located.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Both of them were wearing life jackets, authorities said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Pacifica City Manager Sean Charpentier called Ferguson “active, compassionate and thoughtful.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Alex played a leadership role in the City’s planning policies that will have a lasting positive impact on Pacifica for many years to come,” he wrote in an email to KQED. “His passing is a great loss to the Pacifica community.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“Alex played a leadership role in the City’s planning policies that will have a lasting positive impact on Pacifica for many years to come,” he wrote in an email to KQED. “His passing is a great loss to the Pacifica community.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>John Granatir and Pamalah MacNeily, co-owners of guiding company Blue Waters Kayak Adventures, said a group of their guides, alongside other guiding companies, was at Miller Boat Launch on Sunday morning when they encountered the camping party returning from their trip. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>John Granatir and Pamalah MacNeily, co-owners of guiding company Blue Waters Kayak Adventures, said a group of their guides, alongside other guiding companies, was at Miller Boat Launch on Sunday morning when they encountered the camping party returning from their trip. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The campers, the couple said, asked the group of guides if they had seen their missing friends, but they had not. That’s when a guide from Point Reyes Adventure Co., Dallas Smith, urged the campers to alert authorities that they were missing, Granatir and MacNeily recounted. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The campers, the couple said, asked the group of guides if they had seen their missing friends, but they had not. That’s when a guide from Point Reyes Adventure Co., Dallas Smith, urged the campers to alert authorities that they were missing, Granatir and MacNeily recounted. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“It just breaks our hearts when this stuff happens in our bay,” MacNeily said. “It makes us sad for them, their families and the boating community. It’s traumatic for us.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“It just breaks our hearts when this stuff happens in our bay,” MacNeily said. “It makes us sad for them, their families and the boating community. It’s traumatic for us.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"text": "Guides say bay is ‘dynamic,’ and not canoe-friendly",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>According to Granatir and MacNeily, Tomales Bay is not a particularly canoe-friendly body of water, so guiding companies like theirs don’t bring them out there. According to Granatir, the past four fatalities on Tomales Bay were all people in canoes. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>According to Granatir and MacNeily, Tomales Bay is not a particularly canoe-friendly body of water, so guiding companies like theirs don’t bring them out there. According to Granatir, the past four fatalities on Tomales Bay were all people in canoes. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“We do not like canoes on Tomales Bay,” MacNeily said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In general, the pair said, due to its strong winds, currents and waves, paddling on Tomales Bay requires a sturdy boat — and typical recreational kayaks or inflatable kayaks just won’t cut it.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>In general, the pair said, due to its strong winds, currents and waves, paddling on Tomales Bay requires a sturdy boat — and typical recreational kayaks or inflatable kayaks just won’t cut it.\u003c/p>\n"
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/Kayak-photo-for-body-of-lede.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12086604\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Kayakers at an event as part of California State Parks Week in 2024.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Courtesy of California State Parks Week)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>For their tours, Granatir said, their company uses a closed-deck kayak because they are the most stable and has a low client-to-guide ratio, to make sure they can get people out of the water quickly if they do flip over.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>For their tours, Granatir said, their company uses a closed-deck kayak because they are the most stable and has a low client-to-guide ratio, to make sure they can get people out of the water quickly if they do flip over.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Galen Licht, CEO of SeaTrek, which also runs guided trips on the bay, said people often assume incorrectly that Tomales Bay is more protected than other waters in the Bay Area.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Tomales Bay is a very dynamic environment,” he said. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>His group, too, is extremely cautious when guiding trips on the bay, and said they prioritize redundancy in their systems — like extra paddles, lights, communications systems and navigation — to keep their guides and clients safe. And they will simply cancel trips in unsafe weather, especially due to high winds, he said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>His group, too, is extremely cautious when guiding trips on the bay, and said they prioritize redundancy in their systems — like extra paddles, lights, communications systems and navigation — to keep their guides and clients safe. And they will simply cancel trips in unsafe weather, especially due to high winds, he said.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Any time there’s a forecast over 20 knots, without a doubt, we will just cancel the trip,” he said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“Any time there’s a forecast over 20 knots, without a doubt, we will just cancel the trip,” he said.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Granatir said the bay’s waves, which can get very high, aren’t usually visible from shore.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“It takes a skilled person to recover a canoe midwater in Tomales Bay,” Granatir said. “You have to be trained for that, and people usually aren’t aware of that fact.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“It takes a skilled person to recover a canoe midwater in Tomales Bay,” Granatir said. “You have to be trained for that, and people usually aren’t aware of that fact.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Plus, the water is paralyzingly cold: “You have about five minutes to effect a meaningful recovery action before your limbs start losing the ability to save yourself,” he said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Plus, the water is paralyzingly cold: “You have about five minutes to effect a meaningful recovery action before your limbs start losing the ability to save yourself,” he said.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>And at night, all of these factors are exacerbated, Licht said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“The conditions out there on the bay can change fast and at times, the visibility can go down to just a few feet when the fog comes in — and then the only way to navigate is by compass,” he said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“The conditions out there on the bay can change fast and at times, the visibility can go down to just a few feet when the fog comes in — and then the only way to navigate is by compass,” he said.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Still, Granatir and MacNeily said they were surprised to hear of the incident, given that there wasn’t much wind late in the night. The moon was nearly full and out all night — a bright moon, they said, makes seeing bioluminescence more difficult. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Still, Granatir and MacNeily said they were surprised to hear of the incident, given that there wasn’t much wind late in the night. The moon was nearly full and out all night — a bright moon, they said, makes seeing bioluminescence more difficult. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>On Saturday, their company had insisted that any renters get off the water by 1 p.m., but data from \u003ca href=\"https://www.wunderground.com/history/daily/us/ca/marshall/KDVO/date/2026-8-30\">Weather Underground\u003c/a> shows the wind had died down by the evening and around midnight was almost nonexistent.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>On Saturday, their company had insisted that any renters get off the water by 1 p.m., but data from \u003ca href=\"https://www.wunderground.com/history/daily/us/ca/marshall/KDVO/date/2026-8-30\">Weather Underground\u003c/a> shows the wind had died down by the evening and around midnight was almost nonexistent.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“There wasn’t much wind that night,” MacNeily said. “That’s the thing that’s really curious.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“There wasn’t much wind that night,” MacNeily said. “That’s the thing that’s really curious.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"blockName": "core/heading",
"attrs": {
"text": "What to know and bring if you’re going out on Tomales Bay at night",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“The area of Tomales Bay is one of the most dangerous waterways imaginable on the coastlines,” Licht said. “If you’re coming out, you need to do your homework.”\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“The area of Tomales Bay is one of the most dangerous waterways imaginable on the coastlines,” Licht said. “If you’re coming out, you need to do your homework.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>MacNeily said that in the past few years, the bay has become “a circus” of visitors heading out in unsafe boats, drinking, and with very little water safety experience and equipment. She said she often gets calls from people asking about water conditions who don’t have the proper equipment, and “I will advise against it.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>MacNeily said that in the past few years, the bay has become “a circus” of visitors heading out in unsafe boats, drinking, and with very little water safety experience and equipment. She said she often gets calls from people asking about water conditions who don’t have the proper equipment, and “I will advise against it.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“It’s far too many people who are just thinking that this is a Disneyland ride,” she said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“It’s far too many people who are just thinking that this is a Disneyland ride,” she said.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>Bring a backup communications device, like a radio \u003c/li>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>Be aware that a full moon, while providing light, can sometimes be so bright on water that it becomes difficult to see and navigate\u003c/li>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>If you’d rather play it safe, you can take a boating course from companies like \u003ca href=\"https://www.seatrek.com/classes/\">SeaTrek\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://bluewaterskayaking.com/classes/\">Blue Waters Kayaking\u003c/a>. Or, join their regular guided trips on the bay for peace of mind.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>If you’d rather play it safe, you can take a boating course from companies like \u003ca href=\"https://www.seatrek.com/classes/\">SeaTrek\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://bluewaterskayaking.com/classes/\">Blue Waters Kayaking\u003c/a>. Or, join their regular guided trips on the bay for peace of mind.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Granatir, who was a commercial boat captain and has around 50 years of experience running boats, said that moving in a group can save your life.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Kayaking, it’s generally viewed as a sort of an individual sport, which it is,” he said. “But safety in the water is largely a function of other people out there who can help you if things go wrong.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Editor’s note: This story has been updated to reflect the guide who urged the campers to call 9\u003c/em>11.\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "Local tour businesses advise caution when paddling at night on the bay.",
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"title": "Pacifica Planning Commissioner Among 2 Canoeing Victims in Tomales Bay | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\n\u003cp>Authorities have identified 36-year-old Casey Flynn Melia of San Francisco, and 37-year-old Alexander Ferguson of Pacifica as the pair of people who died while canoeing in \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/tomales-bay\">Tomales Bay\u003c/a> over the weekend. Ferguson was a member of the Pacifica Planning Commission, serving since October 2020.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The Marin County Fire Department said Melia and Ferguson launched canoes from their campsite at White Gulch Beach just before midnight to see \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1983841/where-to-see-bioluminescence-bay-area-kayak-tours\">bioluminescence\u003c/a>, a blue glow emitted by plankton that draws visitors to the bay at night.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>When they didn’t return by the next morning, the Marin County Sheriff’s Office said, their camping party alerted emergency services.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>First responders located the two canoeists in the water. According to the county fire department, both people were pronounced dead before their bodies were recovered. Melia was found near Hog Island, the sheriff’s office said. It did not specify where Ferguson’s body was located.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Both of them were wearing life jackets, authorities said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Pacifica City Manager Sean Charpentier called Ferguson “active, compassionate and thoughtful.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Alex played a leadership role in the City’s planning policies that will have a lasting positive impact on Pacifica for many years to come,” he wrote in an email to KQED. “His passing is a great loss to the Pacifica community.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Bay deaths ‘traumatic’ for guiding community\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>John Granatir and Pamalah MacNeily, co-owners of guiding company Blue Waters Kayak Adventures, said a group of their guides, alongside other guiding companies, was at Miller Boat Launch on Sunday morning when they encountered the camping party returning from their trip. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The campers, the couple said, asked the group of guides if they had seen their missing friends, but they had not. That’s when a guide from Point Reyes Adventure Co., Dallas Smith, urged the campers to alert authorities that they were missing, Granatir and MacNeily recounted. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It just breaks our hearts when this stuff happens in our bay,” MacNeily said. “It makes us sad for them, their families and the boating community. It’s traumatic for us.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Guides say bay is ‘dynamic,’ and not canoe-friendly\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>According to Granatir and MacNeily, Tomales Bay is not a particularly canoe-friendly body of water, so guiding companies like theirs don’t bring them out there. According to Granatir, the past four fatalities on Tomales Bay were all people in canoes. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We do not like canoes on Tomales Bay,” MacNeily said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In general, the pair said, due to its strong winds, currents and waves, paddling on Tomales Bay requires a sturdy boat — and typical recreational kayaks or inflatable kayaks just won’t cut it.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1500\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/Kayak-photo-for-body-of-lede.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12086604\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/Kayak-photo-for-body-of-lede.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/Kayak-photo-for-body-of-lede-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/Kayak-photo-for-body-of-lede-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Kayakers at an event as part of California State Parks Week in 2024. (Courtesy of California State Parks Week)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>For their tours, Granatir said, their company uses a closed-deck kayak because they are the most stable and has a low client-to-guide ratio, to make sure they can get people out of the water quickly if they do flip over.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Galen Licht, CEO of SeaTrek, which also runs guided trips on the bay, said people often assume incorrectly that Tomales Bay is more protected than other waters in the Bay Area.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Tomales Bay is a very dynamic environment,” he said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>His group, too, is extremely cautious when guiding trips on the bay, and said they prioritize redundancy in their systems — like extra paddles, lights, communications systems and navigation — to keep their guides and clients safe. And they will simply cancel trips in unsafe weather, especially due to high winds, he said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Any time there’s a forecast over 20 knots, without a doubt, we will just cancel the trip,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Granatir said the bay’s waves, which can get very high, aren’t usually visible from shore.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It takes a skilled person to recover a canoe midwater in Tomales Bay,” Granatir said. “You have to be trained for that, and people usually aren’t aware of that fact.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Plus, the water is paralyzingly cold: “You have about five minutes to effect a meaningful recovery action before your limbs start losing the ability to save yourself,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>And at night, all of these factors are exacerbated, Licht said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The conditions out there on the bay can change fast and at times, the visibility can go down to just a few feet when the fog comes in — and then the only way to navigate is by compass,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Still, Granatir and MacNeily said they were surprised to hear of the incident, given that there wasn’t much wind late in the night. The moon was nearly full and out all night — a bright moon, they said, makes seeing bioluminescence more difficult. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>On Saturday, their company had insisted that any renters get off the water by 1 p.m., but data from \u003ca href=\"https://www.wunderground.com/history/daily/us/ca/marshall/KDVO/date/2026-8-30\">Weather Underground\u003c/a> shows the wind had died down by the evening and around midnight was almost nonexistent.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“There wasn’t much wind that night,” MacNeily said. “That’s the thing that’s really curious.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What to know and bring if you’re going out on Tomales Bay at night\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The area of Tomales Bay is one of the most dangerous waterways imaginable on the coastlines,” Licht said. “If you’re coming out, you need to do your homework.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>MacNeily said that in the past few years, the bay has become “a circus” of visitors heading out in unsafe boats, drinking, and with very little water safety experience and equipment. She said she often gets calls from people asking about water conditions who don’t have the proper equipment, and “I will advise against it.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It’s far too many people who are just thinking that this is a Disneyland ride,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1800\" height=\"1350\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/02/tomales_big.jpg\" alt=\"A woman in a red long sleeved shirt and blue life vest sits in the fron tof a kayak paddling towards a cliff in the distance.\" class=\"wp-image-11903623\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/02/tomales_big.jpg 1800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/02/tomales_big-800x600.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/02/tomales_big-1020x765.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/02/tomales_big-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/02/tomales_big-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1800px) 100vw, 1800px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Olivia Allen-Price kayaking in Tomales Bay. (Sam Price/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The guides’ main pieces of advice are:\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\u003cli>Know your own abilities (and your limits)\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>Know the technical limits of your watercraft\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>Monitor the weather\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>Tell someone where you are going and when you expect to be back\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>Always wear a life jacket\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>Never go alone or on just one boat\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>Wear a wetsuit in case you fall in the water\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>Bring lots of lights for nighttime navigation\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>Bring a backup communications device, like a radio \u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>Bring backup navigation, especially a compass\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>Be aware that a full moon, while providing light, can sometimes be so bright on water that it becomes difficult to see and navigate\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>Be ready for thick fog\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>If you’d rather play it safe, you can take a boating course from companies like \u003ca href=\"https://www.seatrek.com/classes/\">SeaTrek\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://bluewaterskayaking.com/classes/\">Blue Waters Kayaking\u003c/a>. Or, join their regular guided trips on the bay for peace of mind.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Granatir, who was a commercial boat captain and has around 50 years of experience running boats, said that moving in a group can save your life.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Kayaking, it’s generally viewed as a sort of an individual sport, which it is,” he said. “But safety in the water is largely a function of other people out there who can help you if things go wrong.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Editor’s note: This story has been updated to reflect the guide who urged the campers to call 9\u003c/em>11.\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "el-nino-snow-weather-forecast-sierra-nevada-tahoe-california-ski-pass-winter-2026-2027",
"title": "El Niño Forecast Is ‘Off the Charts.’ What Could This Mean for Ski Season?",
"publishDate": 1788357600,
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"headTitle": "El Niño Forecast Is ‘Off the Charts.’ What Could This Mean for Ski Season? | KQED",
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"content": "\n\u003cp>With ski season right around the corner, all eyes are on \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/2001688/strong-el-nino-may-bring-record-sea-level-and-coastal-flooding-to-bay-area\">this year’s “super” El Niño\u003c/a> forecast. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>And meteorologist Alan Smith, who makes North America predictions for the ski-oriented weather service OpenSnow, has \u003ca href=\"https://opensnow.com/news/post/2026-2027-winter-forecast-preview\">called\u003c/a> the readings he’s seeing “off the charts.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>After last year’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12077367/tahoe-ski-resorts-closing-dates-2026-heavenly-palisades-homewood-closed-weather-snow-forecast-storms\">dismal ski season\u003c/a>, hope is building among skiers and snowboarders that the weather patterns typically associated with El Niño – like increased snowfall – could bless the Sierra Nevada with an abundance of storms and snow this year.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>To find out what the forecast could actually spell for winter in California, Smith agreed to answer a few of our most pressing questions. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1980\" height=\"1275\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/GettyImages-2206235654.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12074166\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/GettyImages-2206235654.jpg 1980w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/GettyImages-2206235654-160x103.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/GettyImages-2206235654-1536x989.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1980px) 100vw, 1980px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Los Angeles Times reporter Jack Dolan skis down a backcounty slope near Mammoth Rock in Mammoth Lakes, California, while exploring the growing trend of backcountry skiing on Feb. 12, 2025. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Read on to find out:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#snow-forecast\">How should I understand this current winter forecast?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#winter-snow\">How does El Niño affect snow in the mountains?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#ski-plans\">Should I already be making my ski plans based on this?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is a ‘super El Niño’?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/monitoring/dyk/el-nino\">El Niño\u003c/a> is a climate pattern that brings unusually warm ocean temperatures in the Pacific Ocean near the equator. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says fishermen off the coast of South America were the first to recognize it.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Historical data from El Niño seasons show that, as a result of these higher sea surface temperatures, storm systems can bring above-average precipitation to parts of the United States. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>This year, Smith said, his predictions for ocean temperatures are “in record territory,” which could result in a wet winter for the West Coast – hence the “super” characterization. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1224\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2016/03/ElNino.jpg\" alt=\"A downed tree in Oakland after last weekend's El Niño-fueled storms.\" class=\"wp-image-10898113\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2016/03/ElNino.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2016/03/ElNino-400x255.jpg 400w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2016/03/ElNino-800x510.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2016/03/ElNino-1180x752.jpg 1180w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2016/03/ElNino-960x612.jpg 960w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A downed tree in Oakland, California, after El Niño-fueled storms. (Andrea Kissack/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>To be clear: Meteorologists can’t predict exactly when or how much it might snow in the Sierra — or anywhere else, for that matter. And OpenSnow’s Sierra Nevada forecaster Bryan Allegretto said it’s too soon for him to be predicting what weather might shake out in the region.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>What Smith and others \u003cem>can \u003c/em>predict are sea surface temperatures, which can heavily influence the amount and timing of precipitation across the globe. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Smith said he will typically make multiple updates to the forecast throughout the end of summer and into autumn. But this year, he said, the signals are so strong that “I’m not sure that we’re going to change much.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We’re so confident that this is going to be a very strong and potentially record-setting El Niño,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"snow-forecast\">What does this mean for the Sierra snow forecast?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“With a stronger El Niño, it tends to tip the odds in favor of above-average snowfall in the Sierra,” Smith said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>He did offer caution, however.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/GettyImages-2253947921-scaled-e1769466571155.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12071091\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Professional skier Molly Armanino lands Dan’s Cliff at Kirkwood Ski Resort in Kirkwood, California, on Jan. 3, 2026. (Brontë Wittpenn/San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It doesn’t necessarily mean it’s going to be, like, a massive 2023-style winter,” Smith said, referring to the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11984385/californias-2023-snow-deluge-was-a-freak-event-study-says\">2023-24 ski season that dumped heavy snowfall\u003c/a> on the region, erasing a two-decades-long megadrought.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“But it just tips the odds more toward it being above, at least, the average levels, more so than it does a below-average season,” he explained.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How is this El Niño forecast calculated?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Smith explained that his forecasts are made based on measurements from past seasons with “similar attributes to this one.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>So he looks at factors like sea surface temperature to understand what might be coming. In this case, the “\u003ca href=\"https://www.weather.gov/mhx/ensowhat\">ENSO\u003c/a>” – the El Niño-Southern Oscillation – is a particularly powerful climate phenomena in which sea surface temperatures can directly affect precipitation. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1325\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/NationalWeatherServiceGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12037679\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/NationalWeatherServiceGetty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/NationalWeatherServiceGetty-800x530.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/NationalWeatherServiceGetty-1020x676.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/NationalWeatherServiceGetty-160x106.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/NationalWeatherServiceGetty-1536x1018.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/NationalWeatherServiceGetty-1920x1272.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">An automated National Weather Service weather station collects data on a bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean in Montara, California, on April 5, 2016. (Paul Chinn/The San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>This year’s El Niño is concentrated in the eastern area of the Pacific Ocean, Smith said, and it’s expected to peak early in the winter. “Which is, kind of, a classic strong-to-super El Niño timing,” he noted.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Smith said he also analyzes winds in the tropics, and he’s seeing conditions that could favor low-pressure patterns along the West Coast.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Historical records, he said, are making the case for a strong El Niño, but “even the seasonal models are pretty wet in their projections for California in the Sierra this year, so that gave us a little extra confidence.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"winter-snow\">Will this winter’s snow be good to ski on?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>It’s not all good news for winter-sports enthusiasts. Smith said that stronger El Niño winters like this one “tend to run a little warmer overall in terms of temperature.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It doesn’t mean it’s going to be as warm as what we saw last winter, which was abnormally warm for pretty much the entire West,” he said. “But it does mean that, when we look at the winter as a whole, we tend to see a little bit of an above-average trend.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>That means the winter could bring some particularly heavy, wet snow, like the famed “\u003ca href=\"https://asomammoth.com/what-is-sierra-cement/\">Sierra Cement\u003c/a>” that isn’t everyone’s favorite to ski on because of its heavy nature.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Likewise there could be storms where only higher elevations get snow, while lower-elevation mountains are pummeled by rain. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“So it’s not necessarily a great signal for lots of cold, powdery storms,” he said. “I certainly think we will see a mix this winter.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>As for when to expect a dumping, Smith said his readings for the Sierra Nevada range are currently showing the “strongest signal from January to March.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"ski-plans\">Should I be making my ski plans now?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>If you’re wondering whether to buy a ski pass this year, the super El Niño forecast \u003ca href=\"https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/monitoring/dyk/el-nino\">is undoubtedly already bringing a lot of hype\u003c/a> to ski resort marketing this season.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Still, Smith cautioned: “Don’t get too emotionally attached to these outlooks.” \u003cbr>\u003cbr>His reasoning? \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1980\" height=\"1284\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/GettyImages-2206235259.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12074160\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/GettyImages-2206235259.jpg 1980w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/GettyImages-2206235259-160x104.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/GettyImages-2206235259-1536x996.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1980px) 100vw, 1980px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Veteran guide Howie Schwartz, left, leads Los Angeles Times reporter Jack Dolan, right, into the popular backcountry near the Mill City site to explore the growing trend of backcountry skiing on Feb. 12, 2025, in Mammoth Lakes, California. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>There’s always some uncertainty in forecasting, and there’s bound to be some ebb and flow when it comes to the actual weather, he said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Plus, it’s way too soon to be targeting particular dates on when the actual rain or snow will fall, he added.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It can fluctuate a lot within the season,” Smith said. “We can look at the season as a whole and make a prediction if it’s going to be above or below average, but it’s not going to tell you a whole lot if you’re trying to narrow down a specific week or day.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“If you have a ski trip planned in January, it doesn’t mean it’s, like, a slam dunk,” he said.\u003c/p>\n",
"blocks": [
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>With ski season right around the corner, all eyes are on \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/2001688/strong-el-nino-may-bring-record-sea-level-and-coastal-flooding-to-bay-area\">this year’s “super” El Niño\u003c/a> forecast. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>With ski season right around the corner, all eyes are on \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/2001688/strong-el-nino-may-bring-record-sea-level-and-coastal-flooding-to-bay-area\">this year’s “super” El Niño\u003c/a> forecast. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>And meteorologist Alan Smith, who makes North America predictions for the ski-oriented weather service OpenSnow, has \u003ca href=\"https://opensnow.com/news/post/2026-2027-winter-forecast-preview\">called\u003c/a> the readings he’s seeing “off the charts.”\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>And meteorologist Alan Smith, who makes North America predictions for the ski-oriented weather service OpenSnow, has \u003ca href=\"https://opensnow.com/news/post/2026-2027-winter-forecast-preview\">called\u003c/a> the readings he’s seeing “off the charts.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>After last year’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12077367/tahoe-ski-resorts-closing-dates-2026-heavenly-palisades-homewood-closed-weather-snow-forecast-storms\">dismal ski season\u003c/a>, hope is building among skiers and snowboarders that the weather patterns typically associated with El Niño – like increased snowfall – could bless the Sierra Nevada with an abundance of storms and snow this year.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>After last year’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12077367/tahoe-ski-resorts-closing-dates-2026-heavenly-palisades-homewood-closed-weather-snow-forecast-storms\">dismal ski season\u003c/a>, hope is building among skiers and snowboarders that the weather patterns typically associated with El Niño – like increased snowfall – could bless the Sierra Nevada with an abundance of storms and snow this year.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>To find out what the forecast could actually spell for winter in California, Smith agreed to answer a few of our most pressing questions. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>To find out what the forecast could actually spell for winter in California, Smith agreed to answer a few of our most pressing questions. \u003c/p>\n"
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"sizes": "(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/GettyImages-2206235654.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12074166\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/GettyImages-2206235654.jpg 1980w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/GettyImages-2206235654-160x103.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/GettyImages-2206235654-1536x989.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Los Angeles Times reporter Jack Dolan skis down a backcounty slope near Mammoth Rock in Mammoth Lakes, California, while exploring the growing trend of backcountry skiing on Feb. 12, 2025.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/GettyImages-2206235654.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12074166\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Los Angeles Times reporter Jack Dolan skis down a backcounty slope near Mammoth Rock in Mammoth Lakes, California, while exploring the growing trend of backcountry skiing on Feb. 12, 2025.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Read on to find out:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Read on to find out:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n"
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"How should I understand this current winter forecast?",
"How does El Niño affect snow in the mountains?",
"Should I already be making my ski plans based on this?"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#snow-forecast\">How should I understand this current winter forecast?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#snow-forecast\">How should I understand this current winter forecast?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#winter-snow\">How does El Niño affect snow in the mountains?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#winter-snow\">How does El Niño affect snow in the mountains?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#ski-plans\">Should I already be making my ski plans based on this?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#ski-plans\">Should I already be making my ski plans based on this?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n"
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"attrs": {
"text": "What is a ‘super El Niño’?",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is a ‘super El Niño’?\u003c/h2>\n",
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"\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is a ‘super El Niño’?\u003c/h2>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/monitoring/dyk/el-nino\">El Niño\u003c/a> is a climate pattern that brings unusually warm ocean temperatures in the Pacific Ocean near the equator. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says fishermen off the coast of South America were the first to recognize it.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/monitoring/dyk/el-nino\">El Niño\u003c/a> is a climate pattern that brings unusually warm ocean temperatures in the Pacific Ocean near the equator. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says fishermen off the coast of South America were the first to recognize it.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Historical data from El Niño seasons show that, as a result of these higher sea surface temperatures, storm systems can bring above-average precipitation to parts of the United States. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Historical data from El Niño seasons show that, as a result of these higher sea surface temperatures, storm systems can bring above-average precipitation to parts of the United States. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>This year, Smith said, his predictions for ocean temperatures are “in record territory,” which could result in a wet winter for the West Coast – hence the “super” characterization. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>This year, Smith said, his predictions for ocean temperatures are “in record territory,” which could result in a wet winter for the West Coast – hence the “super” characterization. \u003c/p>\n"
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"alt": "A downed tree in Oakland after last weekend's El Niño-fueled storms.",
"srcset": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2016/03/ElNino.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2016/03/ElNino-400x255.jpg 400w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2016/03/ElNino-800x510.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2016/03/ElNino-1180x752.jpg 1180w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2016/03/ElNino-960x612.jpg 960w",
"sizes": "(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2016/03/ElNino.jpg\" alt=\"A downed tree in Oakland after last weekend's El Niño-fueled storms.\" class=\"wp-image-10898113\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2016/03/ElNino.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2016/03/ElNino-400x255.jpg 400w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2016/03/ElNino-800x510.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2016/03/ElNino-1180x752.jpg 1180w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2016/03/ElNino-960x612.jpg 960w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A downed tree in Oakland, California, after El Niño-fueled storms.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Andrea Kissack/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2016/03/ElNino.jpg\" alt=\"A downed tree in Oakland after last weekend's El Niño-fueled storms.\" class=\"wp-image-10898113\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A downed tree in Oakland, California, after El Niño-fueled storms.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Andrea Kissack/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>To be clear: Meteorologists can’t predict exactly when or how much it might snow in the Sierra — or anywhere else, for that matter. And OpenSnow’s Sierra Nevada forecaster Bryan Allegretto said it’s too soon for him to be predicting what weather might shake out in the region.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>To be clear: Meteorologists can’t predict exactly when or how much it might snow in the Sierra — or anywhere else, for that matter. And OpenSnow’s Sierra Nevada forecaster Bryan Allegretto said it’s too soon for him to be predicting what weather might shake out in the region.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>What Smith and others \u003cem>can \u003c/em>predict are sea surface temperatures, which can heavily influence the amount and timing of precipitation across the globe. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>What Smith and others \u003cem>can \u003c/em>predict are sea surface temperatures, which can heavily influence the amount and timing of precipitation across the globe. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Smith said he will typically make multiple updates to the forecast throughout the end of summer and into autumn. But this year, he said, the signals are so strong that “I’m not sure that we’re going to change much.” \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Smith said he will typically make multiple updates to the forecast throughout the end of summer and into autumn. But this year, he said, the signals are so strong that “I’m not sure that we’re going to change much.” \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“We’re so confident that this is going to be a very strong and potentially record-setting El Niño,” he said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“We’re so confident that this is going to be a very strong and potentially record-setting El Niño,” he said.\u003c/p>\n"
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"attrs": {
"text": "What does this mean for the Sierra snow forecast?",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"snow-forecast\">What does this mean for the Sierra snow forecast?\u003c/h2>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“With a stronger El Niño, it tends to tip the odds in favor of above-average snowfall in the Sierra,” Smith said. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“With a stronger El Niño, it tends to tip the odds in favor of above-average snowfall in the Sierra,” Smith said. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/GettyImages-2253947921-scaled-e1769466571155.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12071091\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Professional skier Molly Armanino lands Dan’s Cliff at Kirkwood Ski Resort in Kirkwood, California, on Jan. 3, 2026.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Brontë Wittpenn/San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/GettyImages-2253947921-scaled-e1769466571155.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12071091\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Professional skier Molly Armanino lands Dan’s Cliff at Kirkwood Ski Resort in Kirkwood, California, on Jan. 3, 2026.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Brontë Wittpenn/San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“It doesn’t necessarily mean it’s going to be, like, a massive 2023-style winter,” Smith said, referring to the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11984385/californias-2023-snow-deluge-was-a-freak-event-study-says\">2023-24 ski season that dumped heavy snowfall\u003c/a> on the region, erasing a two-decades-long megadrought.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“It doesn’t necessarily mean it’s going to be, like, a massive 2023-style winter,” Smith said, referring to the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11984385/californias-2023-snow-deluge-was-a-freak-event-study-says\">2023-24 ski season that dumped heavy snowfall\u003c/a> on the region, erasing a two-decades-long megadrought.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“But it just tips the odds more toward it being above, at least, the average levels, more so than it does a below-average season,” he explained.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“But it just tips the odds more toward it being above, at least, the average levels, more so than it does a below-average season,” he explained.\u003c/p>\n"
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"text": "How is this El Niño forecast calculated?",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How is this El Niño forecast calculated?\u003c/h2>\n",
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"\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How is this El Niño forecast calculated?\u003c/h2>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Smith explained that his forecasts are made based on measurements from past seasons with “similar attributes to this one.” \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Smith explained that his forecasts are made based on measurements from past seasons with “similar attributes to this one.” \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>So he looks at factors like sea surface temperature to understand what might be coming. In this case, the “\u003ca href=\"https://www.weather.gov/mhx/ensowhat\">ENSO\u003c/a>” – the El Niño-Southern Oscillation – is a particularly powerful climate phenomena in which sea surface temperatures can directly affect precipitation. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>So he looks at factors like sea surface temperature to understand what might be coming. In this case, the “\u003ca href=\"https://www.weather.gov/mhx/ensowhat\">ENSO\u003c/a>” – the El Niño-Southern Oscillation – is a particularly powerful climate phenomena in which sea surface temperatures can directly affect precipitation. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/NationalWeatherServiceGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12037679\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/NationalWeatherServiceGetty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/NationalWeatherServiceGetty-800x530.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/NationalWeatherServiceGetty-1020x676.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/NationalWeatherServiceGetty-160x106.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/NationalWeatherServiceGetty-1536x1018.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/NationalWeatherServiceGetty-1920x1272.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">An automated National Weather Service weather station collects data on a bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean in Montara, California, on April 5, 2016. \u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Paul Chinn/The San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/NationalWeatherServiceGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12037679\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">An automated National Weather Service weather station collects data on a bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean in Montara, California, on April 5, 2016. \u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Paul Chinn/The San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>This year’s El Niño is concentrated in the eastern area of the Pacific Ocean, Smith said, and it’s expected to peak early in the winter. “Which is, kind of, a classic strong-to-super El Niño timing,” he noted.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>This year’s El Niño is concentrated in the eastern area of the Pacific Ocean, Smith said, and it’s expected to peak early in the winter. “Which is, kind of, a classic strong-to-super El Niño timing,” he noted.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Smith said he also analyzes winds in the tropics, and he’s seeing conditions that could favor low-pressure patterns along the West Coast.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Smith said he also analyzes winds in the tropics, and he’s seeing conditions that could favor low-pressure patterns along the West Coast.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Historical records, he said, are making the case for a strong El Niño, but “even the seasonal models are pretty wet in their projections for California in the Sierra this year, so that gave us a little extra confidence.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Historical records, he said, are making the case for a strong El Niño, but “even the seasonal models are pretty wet in their projections for California in the Sierra this year, so that gave us a little extra confidence.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"text": "Will this winter’s snow be good to ski on?",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"winter-snow\">Will this winter’s snow be good to ski on?\u003c/h2>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>It’s not all good news for winter-sports enthusiasts. Smith said that stronger El Niño winters like this one “tend to run a little warmer overall in terms of temperature.”\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>It’s not all good news for winter-sports enthusiasts. Smith said that stronger El Niño winters like this one “tend to run a little warmer overall in terms of temperature.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“It doesn’t mean it’s going to be as warm as what we saw last winter, which was abnormally warm for pretty much the entire West,” he said. “But it does mean that, when we look at the winter as a whole, we tend to see a little bit of an above-average trend.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“It doesn’t mean it’s going to be as warm as what we saw last winter, which was abnormally warm for pretty much the entire West,” he said. “But it does mean that, when we look at the winter as a whole, we tend to see a little bit of an above-average trend.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>That means the winter could bring some particularly heavy, wet snow, like the famed “\u003ca href=\"https://asomammoth.com/what-is-sierra-cement/\">Sierra Cement\u003c/a>” that isn’t everyone’s favorite to ski on because of its heavy nature.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>That means the winter could bring some particularly heavy, wet snow, like the famed “\u003ca href=\"https://asomammoth.com/what-is-sierra-cement/\">Sierra Cement\u003c/a>” that isn’t everyone’s favorite to ski on because of its heavy nature.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Likewise there could be storms where only higher elevations get snow, while lower-elevation mountains are pummeled by rain. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Likewise there could be storms where only higher elevations get snow, while lower-elevation mountains are pummeled by rain. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“So it’s not necessarily a great signal for lots of cold, powdery storms,” he said. “I certainly think we will see a mix this winter.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“So it’s not necessarily a great signal for lots of cold, powdery storms,” he said. “I certainly think we will see a mix this winter.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>As for when to expect a dumping, Smith said his readings for the Sierra Nevada range are currently showing the “strongest signal from January to March.”\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>As for when to expect a dumping, Smith said his readings for the Sierra Nevada range are currently showing the “strongest signal from January to March.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"attrs": {
"text": "Should I be making my ski plans now?",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"ski-plans\">Should I be making my ski plans now?\u003c/h2>\n",
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"\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"ski-plans\">Should I be making my ski plans now?\u003c/h2>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>If you’re wondering whether to buy a ski pass this year, the super El Niño forecast \u003ca href=\"https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/monitoring/dyk/el-nino\">is undoubtedly already bringing a lot of hype\u003c/a> to ski resort marketing this season.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>If you’re wondering whether to buy a ski pass this year, the super El Niño forecast \u003ca href=\"https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/monitoring/dyk/el-nino\">is undoubtedly already bringing a lot of hype\u003c/a> to ski resort marketing this season.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Still, Smith cautioned: “Don’t get too emotionally attached to these outlooks.” \u003cbr>\u003cbr>His reasoning? \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Still, Smith cautioned: “Don’t get too emotionally attached to these outlooks.” \u003cbr>\u003cbr>His reasoning? \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/GettyImages-2206235259.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12074160\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/GettyImages-2206235259.jpg 1980w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/GettyImages-2206235259-160x104.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/GettyImages-2206235259-1536x996.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Veteran guide Howie Schwartz, left, leads Los Angeles Times reporter Jack Dolan, right, into the popular backcountry near the Mill City site to explore the growing trend of backcountry skiing on Feb. 12, 2025, in Mammoth Lakes, California.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/GettyImages-2206235259.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12074160\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Veteran guide Howie Schwartz, left, leads Los Angeles Times reporter Jack Dolan, right, into the popular backcountry near the Mill City site to explore the growing trend of backcountry skiing on Feb. 12, 2025, in Mammoth Lakes, California.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>There’s always some uncertainty in forecasting, and there’s bound to be some ebb and flow when it comes to the actual weather, he said. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Plus, it’s way too soon to be targeting particular dates on when the actual rain or snow will fall, he added.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“It can fluctuate a lot within the season,” Smith said. “We can look at the season as a whole and make a prediction if it’s going to be above or below average, but it’s not going to tell you a whole lot if you’re trying to narrow down a specific week or day.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“It can fluctuate a lot within the season,” Smith said. “We can look at the season as a whole and make a prediction if it’s going to be above or below average, but it’s not going to tell you a whole lot if you’re trying to narrow down a specific week or day.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“If you have a ski trip planned in January, it doesn’t mean it’s, like, a slam dunk,” he said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\n\u003cp>With ski season right around the corner, all eyes are on \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/2001688/strong-el-nino-may-bring-record-sea-level-and-coastal-flooding-to-bay-area\">this year’s “super” El Niño\u003c/a> forecast. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>And meteorologist Alan Smith, who makes North America predictions for the ski-oriented weather service OpenSnow, has \u003ca href=\"https://opensnow.com/news/post/2026-2027-winter-forecast-preview\">called\u003c/a> the readings he’s seeing “off the charts.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>After last year’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12077367/tahoe-ski-resorts-closing-dates-2026-heavenly-palisades-homewood-closed-weather-snow-forecast-storms\">dismal ski season\u003c/a>, hope is building among skiers and snowboarders that the weather patterns typically associated with El Niño – like increased snowfall – could bless the Sierra Nevada with an abundance of storms and snow this year.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>To find out what the forecast could actually spell for winter in California, Smith agreed to answer a few of our most pressing questions. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1980\" height=\"1275\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/GettyImages-2206235654.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12074166\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/GettyImages-2206235654.jpg 1980w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/GettyImages-2206235654-160x103.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/GettyImages-2206235654-1536x989.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1980px) 100vw, 1980px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Los Angeles Times reporter Jack Dolan skis down a backcounty slope near Mammoth Rock in Mammoth Lakes, California, while exploring the growing trend of backcountry skiing on Feb. 12, 2025. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Read on to find out:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#snow-forecast\">How should I understand this current winter forecast?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#winter-snow\">How does El Niño affect snow in the mountains?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#ski-plans\">Should I already be making my ski plans based on this?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is a ‘super El Niño’?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/monitoring/dyk/el-nino\">El Niño\u003c/a> is a climate pattern that brings unusually warm ocean temperatures in the Pacific Ocean near the equator. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says fishermen off the coast of South America were the first to recognize it.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Historical data from El Niño seasons show that, as a result of these higher sea surface temperatures, storm systems can bring above-average precipitation to parts of the United States. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>This year, Smith said, his predictions for ocean temperatures are “in record territory,” which could result in a wet winter for the West Coast – hence the “super” characterization. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1224\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2016/03/ElNino.jpg\" alt=\"A downed tree in Oakland after last weekend's El Niño-fueled storms.\" class=\"wp-image-10898113\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2016/03/ElNino.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2016/03/ElNino-400x255.jpg 400w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2016/03/ElNino-800x510.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2016/03/ElNino-1180x752.jpg 1180w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2016/03/ElNino-960x612.jpg 960w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A downed tree in Oakland, California, after El Niño-fueled storms. (Andrea Kissack/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>To be clear: Meteorologists can’t predict exactly when or how much it might snow in the Sierra — or anywhere else, for that matter. And OpenSnow’s Sierra Nevada forecaster Bryan Allegretto said it’s too soon for him to be predicting what weather might shake out in the region.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>What Smith and others \u003cem>can \u003c/em>predict are sea surface temperatures, which can heavily influence the amount and timing of precipitation across the globe. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Smith said he will typically make multiple updates to the forecast throughout the end of summer and into autumn. But this year, he said, the signals are so strong that “I’m not sure that we’re going to change much.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We’re so confident that this is going to be a very strong and potentially record-setting El Niño,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"snow-forecast\">What does this mean for the Sierra snow forecast?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“With a stronger El Niño, it tends to tip the odds in favor of above-average snowfall in the Sierra,” Smith said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>He did offer caution, however.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/GettyImages-2253947921-scaled-e1769466571155.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12071091\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Professional skier Molly Armanino lands Dan’s Cliff at Kirkwood Ski Resort in Kirkwood, California, on Jan. 3, 2026. (Brontë Wittpenn/San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It doesn’t necessarily mean it’s going to be, like, a massive 2023-style winter,” Smith said, referring to the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11984385/californias-2023-snow-deluge-was-a-freak-event-study-says\">2023-24 ski season that dumped heavy snowfall\u003c/a> on the region, erasing a two-decades-long megadrought.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“But it just tips the odds more toward it being above, at least, the average levels, more so than it does a below-average season,” he explained.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How is this El Niño forecast calculated?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Smith explained that his forecasts are made based on measurements from past seasons with “similar attributes to this one.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>So he looks at factors like sea surface temperature to understand what might be coming. In this case, the “\u003ca href=\"https://www.weather.gov/mhx/ensowhat\">ENSO\u003c/a>” – the El Niño-Southern Oscillation – is a particularly powerful climate phenomena in which sea surface temperatures can directly affect precipitation. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1325\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/NationalWeatherServiceGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12037679\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/NationalWeatherServiceGetty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/NationalWeatherServiceGetty-800x530.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/NationalWeatherServiceGetty-1020x676.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/NationalWeatherServiceGetty-160x106.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/NationalWeatherServiceGetty-1536x1018.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/NationalWeatherServiceGetty-1920x1272.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">An automated National Weather Service weather station collects data on a bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean in Montara, California, on April 5, 2016. (Paul Chinn/The San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>This year’s El Niño is concentrated in the eastern area of the Pacific Ocean, Smith said, and it’s expected to peak early in the winter. “Which is, kind of, a classic strong-to-super El Niño timing,” he noted.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Smith said he also analyzes winds in the tropics, and he’s seeing conditions that could favor low-pressure patterns along the West Coast.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Historical records, he said, are making the case for a strong El Niño, but “even the seasonal models are pretty wet in their projections for California in the Sierra this year, so that gave us a little extra confidence.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"winter-snow\">Will this winter’s snow be good to ski on?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>It’s not all good news for winter-sports enthusiasts. Smith said that stronger El Niño winters like this one “tend to run a little warmer overall in terms of temperature.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It doesn’t mean it’s going to be as warm as what we saw last winter, which was abnormally warm for pretty much the entire West,” he said. “But it does mean that, when we look at the winter as a whole, we tend to see a little bit of an above-average trend.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>That means the winter could bring some particularly heavy, wet snow, like the famed “\u003ca href=\"https://asomammoth.com/what-is-sierra-cement/\">Sierra Cement\u003c/a>” that isn’t everyone’s favorite to ski on because of its heavy nature.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Likewise there could be storms where only higher elevations get snow, while lower-elevation mountains are pummeled by rain. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“So it’s not necessarily a great signal for lots of cold, powdery storms,” he said. “I certainly think we will see a mix this winter.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>As for when to expect a dumping, Smith said his readings for the Sierra Nevada range are currently showing the “strongest signal from January to March.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"ski-plans\">Should I be making my ski plans now?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>If you’re wondering whether to buy a ski pass this year, the super El Niño forecast \u003ca href=\"https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/monitoring/dyk/el-nino\">is undoubtedly already bringing a lot of hype\u003c/a> to ski resort marketing this season.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Still, Smith cautioned: “Don’t get too emotionally attached to these outlooks.” \u003cbr>\u003cbr>His reasoning? \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1980\" height=\"1284\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/GettyImages-2206235259.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12074160\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/GettyImages-2206235259.jpg 1980w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/GettyImages-2206235259-160x104.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/GettyImages-2206235259-1536x996.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1980px) 100vw, 1980px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Veteran guide Howie Schwartz, left, leads Los Angeles Times reporter Jack Dolan, right, into the popular backcountry near the Mill City site to explore the growing trend of backcountry skiing on Feb. 12, 2025, in Mammoth Lakes, California. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>There’s always some uncertainty in forecasting, and there’s bound to be some ebb and flow when it comes to the actual weather, he said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Plus, it’s way too soon to be targeting particular dates on when the actual rain or snow will fall, he added.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It can fluctuate a lot within the season,” Smith said. “We can look at the season as a whole and make a prediction if it’s going to be above or below average, but it’s not going to tell you a whole lot if you’re trying to narrow down a specific week or day.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“If you have a ski trip planned in January, it doesn’t mean it’s, like, a slam dunk,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "deal-on-california-wildfire-liability-collapses-in-legislature",
"title": "Deal on California Wildfire Liability Collapses in Legislature",
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"headTitle": "Deal on California Wildfire Liability Collapses in Legislature | KQED",
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"content": "\n\u003cp>A \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12097357/newsom-lawmakers-reach-last-minute-deal-on-wildfire-fallout\">last-minute legislative deal\u003c/a> to change California’s rules governing the fallout of damaging \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/wildfires\">wildfires\u003c/a> sparked by utility equipment fell apart Tuesday, after the state Assembly ended its regular session without a vote on the plan. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/forum/2010101915096/who-should-pay-when-utilities-companies-start-a-fire\">agreement announced\u003c/a> on Saturday between Gov. \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/gavin-newsom\">Gavin Newsom\u003c/a> and legislative leaders sought to speed up payments for fire victims, limited compensation for power company executives after utility-caused fires, and prevented insurance companies from selling their right to sue utilities. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>After months of negotiations that pitted California utilities against insurance companies, supporters heralded the deal as a first step toward better aiding \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12093430/la-fire-survivors-say-newsom-is-trying-to-help-utilities-reduce-their-wildfire-costs-again\">wildfire survivors\u003c/a> and shielding utilities from expensive legal settlements that have contributed to rising electric bills. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But the leaders of PG&E and the parent company of SoCal Edison said the deal did not go far enough to ease the financial risks they face when their equipment starts a damaging blaze. Under California law, utilities are liable for damage caused by their equipment, regardless of whether they are found to have acted negligently. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GavinNewsomAP.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12084670\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GavinNewsomAP.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GavinNewsomAP-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GavinNewsomAP-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">California Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks about his state budget proposal on May 14, 2026, in Sacramento. (Jeff Chiu/AP)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Stocks for PG&E and Edison International tumbled after the compromise was announced over the weekend, and Newsom — who had initially pushed for \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12097383/newsoms-wildfire-gamble-and-two-voting-court-cases\">shifting more liability away from utilities\u003c/a> — publicly criticized the deal he had struck. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The reforms in this bill, while important, did not address the underlying structural problems driving this crisis, as the initial market reaction this week demonstrates,” the governor said in a statement Tuesday after the bill’s failure. “Simply put, this measure did not meet the gravity of this moment. The only solution is to return to fix the entire problem, not part of it.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Newsom’s office did not respond to a question about whether the governor would call a special session to continue work on the issue this fall. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The Legislature convened on Tuesday morning, a day after the regular legislative session was scheduled to end, to cast a vote on a few remaining bills.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But moments before the Assembly ended its session, Speaker Robert Rivas announced that the chamber would not be holding a vote on the wildfire agreement, \u003ca href=\"https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB492\">Senate Bill 492\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We made this decision that we’re going to go back to work this fall,” Rivas said. “We’re not going to stop until we have done everything possible for those who have lost everything.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Rivas’ announcement marked a surprising twist on a topic central to Newsom’s legacy as governor, as his final term ends in January. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Weeks after Newsom took office in 2019, PG&E declared bankruptcy in the face of tens of billions of dollars in liabilities from the deadly Camp Fire in Northern California. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In the years since, wildfire liabilities have shaken the state’s insurance and electricity markets. Home insurers have raised premiums and exited the state completely in the face of massive losses, while utility spending on settlements and wildfire prevention has driven up California’s electricity rates to the second highest in the nation. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Wildfire liability costs now account for roughly 5% of Californians’ average monthly electricity bill, according to the California Public Utilities Commission, while wildfire mitigation — such as burying power lines and trimming trees — makes up about 15%. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Newsom proposed a major shift in wildfire risk from utilities to home insurers. His initial plan would have banned insurance companies from filing lawsuits against utilities, known as subrogation claims, to recover the payments they had made to wildfire victims. It would also have placed limits on claims of noneconomic damages and the amounts that local governments can recoup from utilities for destroyed infrastructure. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1707\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/gettyimages-2192342554-scaled.jpeg\" alt=\"After the heavy toll of the Los Angeles fires, California regulators are moving ahead with rules to limit or clear vegetation within five feet of homes, a zone where flammable materials pose a\" class=\"wp-image-12068944\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/gettyimages-2192342554-scaled.jpeg 2560w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/gettyimages-2192342554-2000x1333.jpeg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/gettyimages-2192342554-160x107.jpeg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/gettyimages-2192342554-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/gettyimages-2192342554-2048x1365.jpeg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Flames from the Palisades Fire burn a home during a powerful windstorm on Jan. 8, 2025, in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles. (Apu Gomes/Getty Images North America)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But those changes met resistance from a formidable coalition of insurance companies, attorneys and wildfire-victim groups who \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12093430/la-fire-survivors-say-newsom-is-trying-to-help-utilities-reduce-their-wildfire-costs-again\">criticized the governor’s push\u003c/a> as a bailout of the utilities that would discourage the power giants from prioritizing fire safety. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The deal announced in SB 492 would have restricted insurance companies only from selling their right to file such claims to private-equity firms. The bill would have also established a fast-pay system for fire victims, prevented utility executives from receiving bonuses after a utility-caused fire, authorized the creation of a statewide plan to reduce fire risk and capped the attorney fees in insurance subrogation cases to 10% of the final settlement.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The survivor-advocacy group Every Fire Survivor’s Network took a neutral position on the legislation. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“This bill was a balanced and meaningful first step with the understanding that we would continue working on the larger structural issues next year,” said Sen. Josh Becker, D-Menlo Park, the bill’s author. “I am disappointed we could not deliver these reforms today, but I will not stop working on behalf of wildfire survivors.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/05/Camp-Fire-Aftermath.jpg\" alt=\"A man looks over his burned home, destroyed by the Camp Fire in Nov. 2018 in Paradise. The deadline for 70,000 survivors of numerous fires to vote on a multi-billion-dollar settlement deal with PG&E was May 15.\" class=\"wp-image-11820077\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/05/Camp-Fire-Aftermath.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/05/Camp-Fire-Aftermath-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/05/Camp-Fire-Aftermath-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/05/Camp-Fire-Aftermath-1020x680.jpg 1020w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A man looks over his burned home, destroyed by the Camp Fire in November 2018, in Paradise, California. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>As Democrats in the Legislature rebuffed Newsom’s proposed changes to limit utilities’ liability, PG&E’s share price dropped from over $18 on Friday to just above $13 on Monday. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“A large segment of the entities that used to own California utilities — pension funds, kind of boring investors that need safe, reliable investments — were like, ‘We’re out of here, this is too much,’ and they sold their stock, and the stock fell as a result,” said Michael Wara, director of the Climate and Energy Policy Program at Stanford University’s Woods Institute for the Environment.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The people that buy stock in that context are bargain shoppers looking for ways to make a lot of money fast — that’s called a hedge fund,” Wara added. “The thing we should worry about as Californians … is that the shareholders of the companies, the new shareholders, are going to do things to California to try to make a lot of money after they bought the stock cheap yesterday.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The conversation on where to place liability for destructive wildfires is not over, Wara said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Do we want to solve this problem ahead of time … or do we want to solve it in the context of the next utility bankruptcy?” Wara asked. “That is not a better place to solve this problem, but it may be where we have to solve it because the politics are so hard.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>A \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12097357/newsom-lawmakers-reach-last-minute-deal-on-wildfire-fallout\">last-minute legislative deal\u003c/a> to change California’s rules governing the fallout of damaging \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/wildfires\">wildfires\u003c/a> sparked by utility equipment fell apart Tuesday, after the state Assembly ended its regular session without a vote on the plan. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>A \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12097357/newsom-lawmakers-reach-last-minute-deal-on-wildfire-fallout\">last-minute legislative deal\u003c/a> to change California’s rules governing the fallout of damaging \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/wildfires\">wildfires\u003c/a> sparked by utility equipment fell apart Tuesday, after the state Assembly ended its regular session without a vote on the plan. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/forum/2010101915096/who-should-pay-when-utilities-companies-start-a-fire\">agreement announced\u003c/a> on Saturday between Gov. \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/gavin-newsom\">Gavin Newsom\u003c/a> and legislative leaders sought to speed up payments for fire victims, limited compensation for power company executives after utility-caused fires, and prevented insurance companies from selling their right to sue utilities. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/forum/2010101915096/who-should-pay-when-utilities-companies-start-a-fire\">agreement announced\u003c/a> on Saturday between Gov. \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/gavin-newsom\">Gavin Newsom\u003c/a> and legislative leaders sought to speed up payments for fire victims, limited compensation for power company executives after utility-caused fires, and prevented insurance companies from selling their right to sue utilities. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>After months of negotiations that pitted California utilities against insurance companies, supporters heralded the deal as a first step toward better aiding \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12093430/la-fire-survivors-say-newsom-is-trying-to-help-utilities-reduce-their-wildfire-costs-again\">wildfire survivors\u003c/a> and shielding utilities from expensive legal settlements that have contributed to rising electric bills. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>After months of negotiations that pitted California utilities against insurance companies, supporters heralded the deal as a first step toward better aiding \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12093430/la-fire-survivors-say-newsom-is-trying-to-help-utilities-reduce-their-wildfire-costs-again\">wildfire survivors\u003c/a> and shielding utilities from expensive legal settlements that have contributed to rising electric bills. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>But the leaders of PG&E and the parent company of SoCal Edison said the deal did not go far enough to ease the financial risks they face when their equipment starts a damaging blaze. Under California law, utilities are liable for damage caused by their equipment, regardless of whether they are found to have acted negligently. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>But the leaders of PG&E and the parent company of SoCal Edison said the deal did not go far enough to ease the financial risks they face when their equipment starts a damaging blaze. Under California law, utilities are liable for damage caused by their equipment, regardless of whether they are found to have acted negligently. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GavinNewsomAP.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12084670\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GavinNewsomAP.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GavinNewsomAP-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GavinNewsomAP-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">California Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks about his state budget proposal on May 14, 2026, in Sacramento.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Jeff Chiu/AP)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GavinNewsomAP.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12084670\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">California Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks about his state budget proposal on May 14, 2026, in Sacramento.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Jeff Chiu/AP)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Stocks for PG&E and Edison International tumbled after the compromise was announced over the weekend, and Newsom — who had initially pushed for \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12097383/newsoms-wildfire-gamble-and-two-voting-court-cases\">shifting more liability away from utilities\u003c/a> — publicly criticized the deal he had struck. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Stocks for PG&E and Edison International tumbled after the compromise was announced over the weekend, and Newsom — who had initially pushed for \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12097383/newsoms-wildfire-gamble-and-two-voting-court-cases\">shifting more liability away from utilities\u003c/a> — publicly criticized the deal he had struck. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“The reforms in this bill, while important, did not address the underlying structural problems driving this crisis, as the initial market reaction this week demonstrates,” the governor said in a statement Tuesday after the bill’s failure. “Simply put, this measure did not meet the gravity of this moment. The only solution is to return to fix the entire problem, not part of it.” \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“The reforms in this bill, while important, did not address the underlying structural problems driving this crisis, as the initial market reaction this week demonstrates,” the governor said in a statement Tuesday after the bill’s failure. “Simply put, this measure did not meet the gravity of this moment. The only solution is to return to fix the entire problem, not part of it.” \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Newsom’s office did not respond to a question about whether the governor would call a special session to continue work on the issue this fall. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Newsom’s office did not respond to a question about whether the governor would call a special session to continue work on the issue this fall. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The Legislature convened on Tuesday morning, a day after the regular legislative session was scheduled to end, to cast a vote on a few remaining bills.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The Legislature convened on Tuesday morning, a day after the regular legislative session was scheduled to end, to cast a vote on a few remaining bills.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>But moments before the Assembly ended its session, Speaker Robert Rivas announced that the chamber would not be holding a vote on the wildfire agreement, \u003ca href=\"https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB492\">Senate Bill 492\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>But moments before the Assembly ended its session, Speaker Robert Rivas announced that the chamber would not be holding a vote on the wildfire agreement, \u003ca href=\"https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB492\">Senate Bill 492\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“We made this decision that we’re going to go back to work this fall,” Rivas said. “We’re not going to stop until we have done everything possible for those who have lost everything.” \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“We made this decision that we’re going to go back to work this fall,” Rivas said. “We’re not going to stop until we have done everything possible for those who have lost everything.” \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Rivas’ announcement marked a surprising twist on a topic central to Newsom’s legacy as governor, as his final term ends in January. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Weeks after Newsom took office in 2019, PG&E declared bankruptcy in the face of tens of billions of dollars in liabilities from the deadly Camp Fire in Northern California. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Weeks after Newsom took office in 2019, PG&E declared bankruptcy in the face of tens of billions of dollars in liabilities from the deadly Camp Fire in Northern California. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In the years since, wildfire liabilities have shaken the state’s insurance and electricity markets. Home insurers have raised premiums and exited the state completely in the face of massive losses, while utility spending on settlements and wildfire prevention has driven up California’s electricity rates to the second highest in the nation. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>In the years since, wildfire liabilities have shaken the state’s insurance and electricity markets. Home insurers have raised premiums and exited the state completely in the face of massive losses, while utility spending on settlements and wildfire prevention has driven up California’s electricity rates to the second highest in the nation. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Wildfire liability costs now account for roughly 5% of Californians’ average monthly electricity bill, according to the California Public Utilities Commission, while wildfire mitigation — such as burying power lines and trimming trees — makes up about 15%. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Wildfire liability costs now account for roughly 5% of Californians’ average monthly electricity bill, according to the California Public Utilities Commission, while wildfire mitigation — such as burying power lines and trimming trees — makes up about 15%. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Newsom proposed a major shift in wildfire risk from utilities to home insurers. His initial plan would have banned insurance companies from filing lawsuits against utilities, known as subrogation claims, to recover the payments they had made to wildfire victims. It would also have placed limits on claims of noneconomic damages and the amounts that local governments can recoup from utilities for destroyed infrastructure. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Newsom proposed a major shift in wildfire risk from utilities to home insurers. His initial plan would have banned insurance companies from filing lawsuits against utilities, known as subrogation claims, to recover the payments they had made to wildfire victims. It would also have placed limits on claims of noneconomic damages and the amounts that local governments can recoup from utilities for destroyed infrastructure. \u003c/p>\n"
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"alt": "After the heavy toll of the Los Angeles fires, California regulators are moving ahead with rules to limit or clear vegetation within five feet of homes, a zone where flammable materials pose a",
"srcset": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/gettyimages-2192342554-scaled.jpeg 2560w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/gettyimages-2192342554-2000x1333.jpeg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/gettyimages-2192342554-160x107.jpeg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/gettyimages-2192342554-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/gettyimages-2192342554-2048x1365.jpeg 2048w",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/gettyimages-2192342554-scaled.jpeg\" alt=\"After the heavy toll of the Los Angeles fires, California regulators are moving ahead with rules to limit or clear vegetation within five feet of homes, a zone where flammable materials pose a\" class=\"wp-image-12068944\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/gettyimages-2192342554-scaled.jpeg 2560w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/gettyimages-2192342554-2000x1333.jpeg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/gettyimages-2192342554-160x107.jpeg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/gettyimages-2192342554-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/gettyimages-2192342554-2048x1365.jpeg 2048w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Flames from the Palisades Fire burn a home during a powerful windstorm on Jan. 8, 2025, in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Apu Gomes/Getty Images North America)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/gettyimages-2192342554-scaled.jpeg\" alt=\"After the heavy toll of the Los Angeles fires, California regulators are moving ahead with rules to limit or clear vegetation within five feet of homes, a zone where flammable materials pose a\" class=\"wp-image-12068944\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Flames from the Palisades Fire burn a home during a powerful windstorm on Jan. 8, 2025, in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Apu Gomes/Getty Images North America)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>But those changes met resistance from a formidable coalition of insurance companies, attorneys and wildfire-victim groups who \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12093430/la-fire-survivors-say-newsom-is-trying-to-help-utilities-reduce-their-wildfire-costs-again\">criticized the governor’s push\u003c/a> as a bailout of the utilities that would discourage the power giants from prioritizing fire safety. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The deal announced in SB 492 would have restricted insurance companies only from selling their right to file such claims to private-equity firms. The bill would have also established a fast-pay system for fire victims, prevented utility executives from receiving bonuses after a utility-caused fire, authorized the creation of a statewide plan to reduce fire risk and capped the attorney fees in insurance subrogation cases to 10% of the final settlement.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The deal announced in SB 492 would have restricted insurance companies only from selling their right to file such claims to private-equity firms. The bill would have also established a fast-pay system for fire victims, prevented utility executives from receiving bonuses after a utility-caused fire, authorized the creation of a statewide plan to reduce fire risk and capped the attorney fees in insurance subrogation cases to 10% of the final settlement.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The survivor-advocacy group Every Fire Survivor’s Network took a neutral position on the legislation. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The survivor-advocacy group Every Fire Survivor’s Network took a neutral position on the legislation. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“This bill was a balanced and meaningful first step with the understanding that we would continue working on the larger structural issues next year,” said Sen. Josh Becker, D-Menlo Park, the bill’s author. “I am disappointed we could not deliver these reforms today, but I will not stop working on behalf of wildfire survivors.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“This bill was a balanced and meaningful first step with the understanding that we would continue working on the larger structural issues next year,” said Sen. Josh Becker, D-Menlo Park, the bill’s author. “I am disappointed we could not deliver these reforms today, but I will not stop working on behalf of wildfire survivors.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"alt": "A man looks over his burned home, destroyed by the Camp Fire in Nov. 2018 in Paradise. The deadline for 70,000 survivors of numerous fires to vote on a multi-billion-dollar settlement deal with PG&E was May 15.",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/05/Camp-Fire-Aftermath.jpg\" alt=\"A man looks over his burned home, destroyed by the Camp Fire in Nov. 2018 in Paradise. The deadline for 70,000 survivors of numerous fires to vote on a multi-billion-dollar settlement deal with PG&E was May 15.\" class=\"wp-image-11820077\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/05/Camp-Fire-Aftermath.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/05/Camp-Fire-Aftermath-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/05/Camp-Fire-Aftermath-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/05/Camp-Fire-Aftermath-1020x680.jpg 1020w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A man looks over his burned home, destroyed by the Camp Fire in November 2018, in Paradise, California. \u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/05/Camp-Fire-Aftermath.jpg\" alt=\"A man looks over his burned home, destroyed by the Camp Fire in Nov. 2018 in Paradise. The deadline for 70,000 survivors of numerous fires to vote on a multi-billion-dollar settlement deal with PG&E was May 15.\" class=\"wp-image-11820077\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A man looks over his burned home, destroyed by the Camp Fire in November 2018, in Paradise, California. \u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>As Democrats in the Legislature rebuffed Newsom’s proposed changes to limit utilities’ liability, PG&E’s share price dropped from over $18 on Friday to just above $13 on Monday. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>As Democrats in the Legislature rebuffed Newsom’s proposed changes to limit utilities’ liability, PG&E’s share price dropped from over $18 on Friday to just above $13 on Monday. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“A large segment of the entities that used to own California utilities — pension funds, kind of boring investors that need safe, reliable investments — were like, ‘We’re out of here, this is too much,’ and they sold their stock, and the stock fell as a result,” said Michael Wara, director of the Climate and Energy Policy Program at Stanford University’s Woods Institute for the Environment.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“A large segment of the entities that used to own California utilities — pension funds, kind of boring investors that need safe, reliable investments — were like, ‘We’re out of here, this is too much,’ and they sold their stock, and the stock fell as a result,” said Michael Wara, director of the Climate and Energy Policy Program at Stanford University’s Woods Institute for the Environment.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“The people that buy stock in that context are bargain shoppers looking for ways to make a lot of money fast — that’s called a hedge fund,” Wara added. “The thing we should worry about as Californians … is that the shareholders of the companies, the new shareholders, are going to do things to California to try to make a lot of money after they bought the stock cheap yesterday.” \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“The people that buy stock in that context are bargain shoppers looking for ways to make a lot of money fast — that’s called a hedge fund,” Wara added. “The thing we should worry about as Californians … is that the shareholders of the companies, the new shareholders, are going to do things to California to try to make a lot of money after they bought the stock cheap yesterday.” \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The conversation on where to place liability for destructive wildfires is not over, Wara said. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The conversation on where to place liability for destructive wildfires is not over, Wara said. \u003c/p>\n"
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"excerpt": "Gov. Gavin Newsom criticized the deal he reached just days ago with legislative leaders, which utilities said did not go far enough to ease their financial risks. ",
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"title": "Deal on California Wildfire Liability Collapses in Legislature | KQED",
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"headline": "Deal on California Wildfire Liability Collapses in Legislature",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\n\u003cp>A \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12097357/newsom-lawmakers-reach-last-minute-deal-on-wildfire-fallout\">last-minute legislative deal\u003c/a> to change California’s rules governing the fallout of damaging \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/wildfires\">wildfires\u003c/a> sparked by utility equipment fell apart Tuesday, after the state Assembly ended its regular session without a vote on the plan. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/forum/2010101915096/who-should-pay-when-utilities-companies-start-a-fire\">agreement announced\u003c/a> on Saturday between Gov. \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/gavin-newsom\">Gavin Newsom\u003c/a> and legislative leaders sought to speed up payments for fire victims, limited compensation for power company executives after utility-caused fires, and prevented insurance companies from selling their right to sue utilities. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>After months of negotiations that pitted California utilities against insurance companies, supporters heralded the deal as a first step toward better aiding \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12093430/la-fire-survivors-say-newsom-is-trying-to-help-utilities-reduce-their-wildfire-costs-again\">wildfire survivors\u003c/a> and shielding utilities from expensive legal settlements that have contributed to rising electric bills. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But the leaders of PG&E and the parent company of SoCal Edison said the deal did not go far enough to ease the financial risks they face when their equipment starts a damaging blaze. Under California law, utilities are liable for damage caused by their equipment, regardless of whether they are found to have acted negligently. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GavinNewsomAP.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12084670\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GavinNewsomAP.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GavinNewsomAP-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GavinNewsomAP-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">California Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks about his state budget proposal on May 14, 2026, in Sacramento. (Jeff Chiu/AP)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Stocks for PG&E and Edison International tumbled after the compromise was announced over the weekend, and Newsom — who had initially pushed for \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12097383/newsoms-wildfire-gamble-and-two-voting-court-cases\">shifting more liability away from utilities\u003c/a> — publicly criticized the deal he had struck. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The reforms in this bill, while important, did not address the underlying structural problems driving this crisis, as the initial market reaction this week demonstrates,” the governor said in a statement Tuesday after the bill’s failure. “Simply put, this measure did not meet the gravity of this moment. The only solution is to return to fix the entire problem, not part of it.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Newsom’s office did not respond to a question about whether the governor would call a special session to continue work on the issue this fall. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The Legislature convened on Tuesday morning, a day after the regular legislative session was scheduled to end, to cast a vote on a few remaining bills.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But moments before the Assembly ended its session, Speaker Robert Rivas announced that the chamber would not be holding a vote on the wildfire agreement, \u003ca href=\"https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB492\">Senate Bill 492\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We made this decision that we’re going to go back to work this fall,” Rivas said. “We’re not going to stop until we have done everything possible for those who have lost everything.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Rivas’ announcement marked a surprising twist on a topic central to Newsom’s legacy as governor, as his final term ends in January. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Weeks after Newsom took office in 2019, PG&E declared bankruptcy in the face of tens of billions of dollars in liabilities from the deadly Camp Fire in Northern California. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In the years since, wildfire liabilities have shaken the state’s insurance and electricity markets. Home insurers have raised premiums and exited the state completely in the face of massive losses, while utility spending on settlements and wildfire prevention has driven up California’s electricity rates to the second highest in the nation. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Wildfire liability costs now account for roughly 5% of Californians’ average monthly electricity bill, according to the California Public Utilities Commission, while wildfire mitigation — such as burying power lines and trimming trees — makes up about 15%. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Newsom proposed a major shift in wildfire risk from utilities to home insurers. His initial plan would have banned insurance companies from filing lawsuits against utilities, known as subrogation claims, to recover the payments they had made to wildfire victims. It would also have placed limits on claims of noneconomic damages and the amounts that local governments can recoup from utilities for destroyed infrastructure. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1707\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/gettyimages-2192342554-scaled.jpeg\" alt=\"After the heavy toll of the Los Angeles fires, California regulators are moving ahead with rules to limit or clear vegetation within five feet of homes, a zone where flammable materials pose a\" class=\"wp-image-12068944\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/gettyimages-2192342554-scaled.jpeg 2560w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/gettyimages-2192342554-2000x1333.jpeg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/gettyimages-2192342554-160x107.jpeg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/gettyimages-2192342554-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/gettyimages-2192342554-2048x1365.jpeg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Flames from the Palisades Fire burn a home during a powerful windstorm on Jan. 8, 2025, in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles. (Apu Gomes/Getty Images North America)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But those changes met resistance from a formidable coalition of insurance companies, attorneys and wildfire-victim groups who \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12093430/la-fire-survivors-say-newsom-is-trying-to-help-utilities-reduce-their-wildfire-costs-again\">criticized the governor’s push\u003c/a> as a bailout of the utilities that would discourage the power giants from prioritizing fire safety. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The deal announced in SB 492 would have restricted insurance companies only from selling their right to file such claims to private-equity firms. The bill would have also established a fast-pay system for fire victims, prevented utility executives from receiving bonuses after a utility-caused fire, authorized the creation of a statewide plan to reduce fire risk and capped the attorney fees in insurance subrogation cases to 10% of the final settlement.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The survivor-advocacy group Every Fire Survivor’s Network took a neutral position on the legislation. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“This bill was a balanced and meaningful first step with the understanding that we would continue working on the larger structural issues next year,” said Sen. Josh Becker, D-Menlo Park, the bill’s author. “I am disappointed we could not deliver these reforms today, but I will not stop working on behalf of wildfire survivors.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/05/Camp-Fire-Aftermath.jpg\" alt=\"A man looks over his burned home, destroyed by the Camp Fire in Nov. 2018 in Paradise. The deadline for 70,000 survivors of numerous fires to vote on a multi-billion-dollar settlement deal with PG&E was May 15.\" class=\"wp-image-11820077\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/05/Camp-Fire-Aftermath.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/05/Camp-Fire-Aftermath-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/05/Camp-Fire-Aftermath-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/05/Camp-Fire-Aftermath-1020x680.jpg 1020w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A man looks over his burned home, destroyed by the Camp Fire in November 2018, in Paradise, California. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>As Democrats in the Legislature rebuffed Newsom’s proposed changes to limit utilities’ liability, PG&E’s share price dropped from over $18 on Friday to just above $13 on Monday. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“A large segment of the entities that used to own California utilities — pension funds, kind of boring investors that need safe, reliable investments — were like, ‘We’re out of here, this is too much,’ and they sold their stock, and the stock fell as a result,” said Michael Wara, director of the Climate and Energy Policy Program at Stanford University’s Woods Institute for the Environment.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The people that buy stock in that context are bargain shoppers looking for ways to make a lot of money fast — that’s called a hedge fund,” Wara added. “The thing we should worry about as Californians … is that the shareholders of the companies, the new shareholders, are going to do things to California to try to make a lot of money after they bought the stock cheap yesterday.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The conversation on where to place liability for destructive wildfires is not over, Wara said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Do we want to solve this problem ahead of time … or do we want to solve it in the context of the next utility bankruptcy?” Wara asked. “That is not a better place to solve this problem, but it may be where we have to solve it because the politics are so hard.”\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "california-to-buy-defunct-horse-track-and-turn-it-into-the-bay-areas-newest-public-park",
"title": "California to Buy Defunct Horse Track and Turn It Into the Bay Area’s Newest Public Park",
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"headTitle": "California to Buy Defunct Horse Track and Turn It Into the Bay Area’s Newest Public Park | KQED",
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"content": "\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Keeping up with your California representatives felt impossible before. Now you can watch them like a hawk: \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/my-legislator/\">\u003cem>Sign up for My Legislator\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem>, your weekly, personalized report that tracks what your state representatives say and do.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/california\">California\u003c/a> lawmakers will spend up to $125 million in state funds to help buy and turn Golden Gate Fields, the 161-acre former horse racing track along the East Bay shoreline, into a public park — a priority of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The funding will come from \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/politics/elections/2024/11/california-election-news-proposition-4-environment/\">Proposition 4\u003c/a>, the voter-approved $10 billion bond for climate projects such as drinking water, wildfire prevention and land conservation, despite concerns from environmental advocates and lawmakers that diverting the money would drain limited resources from those other priorities. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Golden Gate Fields, owned by Canadian company The Stronach Group, closed in 2024 after an 83-year run as \u003ca href=\"https://www.latimes.com/sports/story/2024-06-09/golden-gate-fields-closes-california-racing-struggles\">interest in horse racing dwindled\u003c/a>. In March, Trust for Public Land, a national nonprofit advocating for park access, \u003ca href=\"https://www.tpl.org/media-room/trust-for-public-land-secures-option-on-former-golden-gate-fields-site-launching-effort-in-partnership-with-east-bay-regional-park-district-to-transform-161-acre-waterfront-into-future-east\">announced its intention\u003c/a> to raise $175 million to buy the land, transfer the deed to the East Bay Regional Park District and transform it into a publicly accessible waterfront park. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The plan drew support from local officials and state lawmakers representing the area, who deemed it a valuable opportunity to restore the coastline, expand access to public amenities and revitalize surrounding disadvantaged communities.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260401-GOLDENGATEFIELDSPARK-06-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12078408\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260401-GOLDENGATEFIELDSPARK-06-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260401-GOLDENGATEFIELDSPARK-06-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260401-GOLDENGATEFIELDSPARK-06-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Golden Gate Fields, a former horse racing track along the Berkeley shoreline, on April 1, 2026. The track closed in 2024, and the Trust for Public Land is working to turn the site into a public park. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The track sits west of Interstate 80 in Berkeley with public beaches behind it; the city is on the opposite side of the highway. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“This is a major victory for our region,” said Sen. \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/legislators/jesse-arreguin-156369\">Jesse Arreguín\u003c/a>, a Berkeley Democrat, in March. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Two months later, while presenting his \u003ca href=\"https://ebudget.ca.gov/2026-27/pdf/Revised/BudgetSummary/NaturalResourcesandEnvironment.pdf\">May budget plan\u003c/a>, Newsom proposed that the state foot most of the bill. The park district pledged $20 million and the nonprofit is expected to raise $30 million to make up the rest. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“This acquisition is a once-in-a-century opportunity to repurpose a former horse racing track into an iconic shoreline park and recreational hub, which will restore nature and expand open space and Bayshore access for millions of Bay Area residents,” Newsom’s May budget proposal reads.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Newsom’s proposal is now included in \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/bills/ca_202520260ab113\">Assembly Bill/Senate Bill 113\u003c/a>, which lawmakers are poised to adopt by Tuesday. Under the legislation, if the nonprofit and the park district raise more than $50 million by the end of the year, the state could pay less than $125 million. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But Sen. \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/legislators/eloise-gomez-reyes-165418\">Eloise Gomez-Reyes\u003c/a>, a San Bernardino Democrat who chairs the Senate budget subcommittee on resources, said she’s concerned the sizable investment would delay other funding priorities. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The problem is, $125 million out of Prop. 4 is a lot of money,” she told CalMatters earlier this month. “Trying to find the best way to take care of the needs of Californians is not always the easiest thing.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Annie Burke, executive director of conservationist coalition TOGETHER Bay Area, \u003ca href=\"https://www.berkeleyside.org/2026/06/05/golden-gate-fields-gavin-newsom-berkeley-prop-4\">told lawmakers\u003c/a> earlier this year that the “transformative” investment could “take funding away from the competitive grant-making program that those funds were originally allocated to.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It’s critical that we invest in smaller projects which are capably led by Native American Tribes, Native-led organizations, community-based organizations, and many others,” she wrote in a letter to lawmakers.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Golden Gate Fields, owned by Canadian company The Stronach Group, closed in 2024 after an 83-year run as \u003ca href=\"https://www.latimes.com/sports/story/2024-06-09/golden-gate-fields-closes-california-racing-struggles\">interest in horse racing dwindled\u003c/a>. In March, Trust for Public Land, a national nonprofit advocating for park access, \u003ca href=\"https://www.tpl.org/media-room/trust-for-public-land-secures-option-on-former-golden-gate-fields-site-launching-effort-in-partnership-with-east-bay-regional-park-district-to-transform-161-acre-waterfront-into-future-east\">announced its intention\u003c/a> to raise $175 million to buy the land, transfer the deed to the East Bay Regional Park District and transform it into a publicly accessible waterfront park. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260401-GOLDENGATEFIELDSPARK-06-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12078408\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260401-GOLDENGATEFIELDSPARK-06-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260401-GOLDENGATEFIELDSPARK-06-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260401-GOLDENGATEFIELDSPARK-06-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Golden Gate Fields, a former horse racing track along the Berkeley shoreline, on April 1, 2026. The track closed in 2024, and the Trust for Public Land is working to turn the site into a public park.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260401-GOLDENGATEFIELDSPARK-06-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12078408\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Golden Gate Fields, a former horse racing track along the Berkeley shoreline, on April 1, 2026. The track closed in 2024, and the Trust for Public Land is working to turn the site into a public park.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The track sits west of Interstate 80 in Berkeley with public beaches behind it; the city is on the opposite side of the highway. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“This is a major victory for our region,” said Sen. \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/legislators/jesse-arreguin-156369\">Jesse Arreguín\u003c/a>, a Berkeley Democrat, in March. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“This is a major victory for our region,” said Sen. \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/legislators/jesse-arreguin-156369\">Jesse Arreguín\u003c/a>, a Berkeley Democrat, in March. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Two months later, while presenting his \u003ca href=\"https://ebudget.ca.gov/2026-27/pdf/Revised/BudgetSummary/NaturalResourcesandEnvironment.pdf\">May budget plan\u003c/a>, Newsom proposed that the state foot most of the bill. The park district pledged $20 million and the nonprofit is expected to raise $30 million to make up the rest. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Two months later, while presenting his \u003ca href=\"https://ebudget.ca.gov/2026-27/pdf/Revised/BudgetSummary/NaturalResourcesandEnvironment.pdf\">May budget plan\u003c/a>, Newsom proposed that the state foot most of the bill. The park district pledged $20 million and the nonprofit is expected to raise $30 million to make up the rest. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“This acquisition is a once-in-a-century opportunity to repurpose a former horse racing track into an iconic shoreline park and recreational hub, which will restore nature and expand open space and Bayshore access for millions of Bay Area residents,” Newsom’s May budget proposal reads.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Newsom’s proposal is now included in \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/bills/ca_202520260ab113\">Assembly Bill/Senate Bill 113\u003c/a>, which lawmakers are poised to adopt by Tuesday. Under the legislation, if the nonprofit and the park district raise more than $50 million by the end of the year, the state could pay less than $125 million. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Newsom’s proposal is now included in \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/bills/ca_202520260ab113\">Assembly Bill/Senate Bill 113\u003c/a>, which lawmakers are poised to adopt by Tuesday. Under the legislation, if the nonprofit and the park district raise more than $50 million by the end of the year, the state could pay less than $125 million. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>But Sen. \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/legislators/eloise-gomez-reyes-165418\">Eloise Gomez-Reyes\u003c/a>, a San Bernardino Democrat who chairs the Senate budget subcommittee on resources, said she’s concerned the sizable investment would delay other funding priorities. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“The problem is, $125 million out of Prop. 4 is a lot of money,” she told CalMatters earlier this month. “Trying to find the best way to take care of the needs of Californians is not always the easiest thing.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“The problem is, $125 million out of Prop. 4 is a lot of money,” she told CalMatters earlier this month. “Trying to find the best way to take care of the needs of Californians is not always the easiest thing.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Annie Burke, executive director of conservationist coalition TOGETHER Bay Area, \u003ca href=\"https://www.berkeleyside.org/2026/06/05/golden-gate-fields-gavin-newsom-berkeley-prop-4\">told lawmakers\u003c/a> earlier this year that the “transformative” investment could “take funding away from the competitive grant-making program that those funds were originally allocated to.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“It’s critical that we invest in smaller projects which are capably led by Native American Tribes, Native-led organizations, community-based organizations, and many others,” she wrote in a letter to lawmakers.\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "California lawmakers struck a deal to divert $125 million in climate funding to buy the former Golden Gate Fields track and turn it into a park. Gov. Gavin Newsom supports the project.\n\n",
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"title": "California to Buy Defunct Horse Track and Turn It Into the Bay Area’s Newest Public Park | KQED",
"description": "California lawmakers struck a deal to divert $125 million in climate funding to buy the former Golden Gate Fields track and turn it into a park. Gov. Gavin Newsom supports the project.\n\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Keeping up with your California representatives felt impossible before. Now you can watch them like a hawk: \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/my-legislator/\">\u003cem>Sign up for My Legislator\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem>, your weekly, personalized report that tracks what your state representatives say and do.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/california\">California\u003c/a> lawmakers will spend up to $125 million in state funds to help buy and turn Golden Gate Fields, the 161-acre former horse racing track along the East Bay shoreline, into a public park — a priority of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The funding will come from \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/politics/elections/2024/11/california-election-news-proposition-4-environment/\">Proposition 4\u003c/a>, the voter-approved $10 billion bond for climate projects such as drinking water, wildfire prevention and land conservation, despite concerns from environmental advocates and lawmakers that diverting the money would drain limited resources from those other priorities. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Golden Gate Fields, owned by Canadian company The Stronach Group, closed in 2024 after an 83-year run as \u003ca href=\"https://www.latimes.com/sports/story/2024-06-09/golden-gate-fields-closes-california-racing-struggles\">interest in horse racing dwindled\u003c/a>. In March, Trust for Public Land, a national nonprofit advocating for park access, \u003ca href=\"https://www.tpl.org/media-room/trust-for-public-land-secures-option-on-former-golden-gate-fields-site-launching-effort-in-partnership-with-east-bay-regional-park-district-to-transform-161-acre-waterfront-into-future-east\">announced its intention\u003c/a> to raise $175 million to buy the land, transfer the deed to the East Bay Regional Park District and transform it into a publicly accessible waterfront park. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The plan drew support from local officials and state lawmakers representing the area, who deemed it a valuable opportunity to restore the coastline, expand access to public amenities and revitalize surrounding disadvantaged communities.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260401-GOLDENGATEFIELDSPARK-06-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12078408\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260401-GOLDENGATEFIELDSPARK-06-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260401-GOLDENGATEFIELDSPARK-06-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260401-GOLDENGATEFIELDSPARK-06-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Golden Gate Fields, a former horse racing track along the Berkeley shoreline, on April 1, 2026. The track closed in 2024, and the Trust for Public Land is working to turn the site into a public park. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The track sits west of Interstate 80 in Berkeley with public beaches behind it; the city is on the opposite side of the highway. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“This is a major victory for our region,” said Sen. \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/legislators/jesse-arreguin-156369\">Jesse Arreguín\u003c/a>, a Berkeley Democrat, in March. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Two months later, while presenting his \u003ca href=\"https://ebudget.ca.gov/2026-27/pdf/Revised/BudgetSummary/NaturalResourcesandEnvironment.pdf\">May budget plan\u003c/a>, Newsom proposed that the state foot most of the bill. The park district pledged $20 million and the nonprofit is expected to raise $30 million to make up the rest. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“This acquisition is a once-in-a-century opportunity to repurpose a former horse racing track into an iconic shoreline park and recreational hub, which will restore nature and expand open space and Bayshore access for millions of Bay Area residents,” Newsom’s May budget proposal reads.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Newsom’s proposal is now included in \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/bills/ca_202520260ab113\">Assembly Bill/Senate Bill 113\u003c/a>, which lawmakers are poised to adopt by Tuesday. Under the legislation, if the nonprofit and the park district raise more than $50 million by the end of the year, the state could pay less than $125 million. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But Sen. \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/legislators/eloise-gomez-reyes-165418\">Eloise Gomez-Reyes\u003c/a>, a San Bernardino Democrat who chairs the Senate budget subcommittee on resources, said she’s concerned the sizable investment would delay other funding priorities. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The problem is, $125 million out of Prop. 4 is a lot of money,” she told CalMatters earlier this month. “Trying to find the best way to take care of the needs of Californians is not always the easiest thing.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Annie Burke, executive director of conservationist coalition TOGETHER Bay Area, \u003ca href=\"https://www.berkeleyside.org/2026/06/05/golden-gate-fields-gavin-newsom-berkeley-prop-4\">told lawmakers\u003c/a> earlier this year that the “transformative” investment could “take funding away from the competitive grant-making program that those funds were originally allocated to.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It’s critical that we invest in smaller projects which are capably led by Native American Tribes, Native-led organizations, community-based organizations, and many others,” she wrote in a letter to lawmakers.\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "oakland-jury-awards-5-million-to-sonoma-county-man-for-wrongful-arrest",
"title": "Oakland Jury Awards $5 Million to Sonoma County Man for Wrongful Arrest",
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"headTitle": "Oakland Jury Awards $5 Million to Sonoma County Man for Wrongful Arrest | KQED",
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"content": "\n\u003cp>A \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/california-highway-patrol\">California Highway Patrol\u003c/a> officer and sergeant must pay $5 million to a Sonoma County man for violating his constitutional rights in an unlawful arrest, an \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12097290/oakland-jury-to-decide-if-california-highway-patrol-officers-committed-unlawful-arrest\">Oakland federal jury \u003c/a>decided Monday. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The jury found that CHP Officer Jayce Ray and Sgt. John Snider acted with “malice, recklessness, oppression or a conscious or reckless disregard” for the rights of Nicholas La Motte when they arrested him without probable cause in April 2023 for driving under the influence.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>La Motte testified last week that around 1:30 a.m. on April 25, 2023, he was driving home from visiting his grandmother in San Francisco. While driving northbound on U.S. 101, he noticed he was being followed by a car — it was Ray in his cruiser. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Ray pulled him over, and La Motte began filming the encounter, footage that proved to key in his case against CHP. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Ray impounded La Motte’s Mercedes and arrested him, claiming he showed signs of intoxication, including red eyes. He then took La Motte to a nearby hospital to have his blood drawn. La Motte argued in his lawsuit that this violated his constitutional rights against unnecessary search and seizure because Ray lacked probable cause for the arrest.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2329\" height=\"1308\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/CHPVerdict_horizontal-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12097803\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/CHPVerdict_horizontal-1.jpg 2329w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/CHPVerdict_horizontal-1-2000x1123.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/CHPVerdict_horizontal-1-160x90.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/CHPVerdict_horizontal-1-1536x863.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/CHPVerdict_horizontal-1-2048x1150.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/CHPVerdict_horizontal-1-1200x675.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2329px) 100vw, 2329px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Sonoma County resident Nicholas La Motte (left) poses for a photo with his attorney, Izaak Schwaiger. A jury found LaMotte’s Fourth Amendment rights were violated during a 2023 unlawful arrest by two California Highway Patrol officers. (Courtesy of Nicholas La Motte)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>CHP further justified La Motte’s arrest with a set of field sobriety tests that Snider administered at the Santa Rosa station. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Six months later, the Sonoma County District Attorney’s Office formally dropped charges against La Motte.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The jury’s verdict is significant because law enforcement and other government officials are generally protected from liability while on the job, under a legal framework known as qualified immunity. They lose that protection, however, if they violate someone’s rights while performing their duties. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>That’s what the jury found happened here. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Izaak Schwaiger, La Motte’s attorney, said that, had his client not recorded the incident, there wouldn’t have been any evidence to combat the police’s version of events because CHP doesn’t require its officers to wear body cameras. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I would say this is probably the 20th case that we received calls about, the CHP in and around the Sonoma County area making false arrests, but there was never any evidence,” Schwaiger said. “And what can you do when it’s the word of the individual against the word of the cops?”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Schwaiger said he took La Motte’s case because he was “waiting for the right one to come, where somebody had done something to preserve some kind of evidence, so that we could prove that this was going on, because it happens a lot.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“But without proof,” the lawyer continued, “what can you do? Nick had that video, and the video showed that these cops were lying, and that’s what carried the case.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Schwaiger said La Motte’s case was unique because it was simply about a wrongful arrest. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The DA rejected this case because there wasn’t enough evidence that he had committed a crime,” Schwaiger said, adding that La Motte wasn’t prosecuted, nor held in jail for a significant time, nor physically beaten by the officers. “None of those things.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It was super important to Nick what happened. It profoundly affected his life, and he did a really good job of explaining that to the jury, such that when it came time to ask the jury for a verdict, we just said, ‘Do what you feel is right,’” Schwaiger said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The jury’s verdict awarded La Motte $3 million in punitive damages — an amount for which Snider and Ray will not likely be personally liable, Schwaiger said — and $2 million in compensatory damages.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"alignleft size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1380\" height=\"2000\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/CHPVerdict_2-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12097799\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/CHPVerdict_2-KQED.jpg 1380w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/CHPVerdict_2-KQED-160x232.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/CHPVerdict_2-KQED-1060x1536.jpg 1060w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1380px) 100vw, 1380px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Sonoma County resident Nicholas La Motte (right) poses for a photo with his daughter. A jury found LaMotte’s Fourth Amendment rights were violated during a 2023 unlawful arrest by two California Highway Patrol officers. (Courtesy of Nicholas La Motte)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cp>“The law says California doesn’t have to cover them,” Schwaiger said. “In practice, it’s highly likely that the state will cover them because there will be a lot of pressure from the police unions and whatnot to do that. And the police unions are quite powerful.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>CHP and the California Department of Justice did not respond to a request for comment. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://law.stanford.edu/robert-weisberg/\">Robert Weisberg\u003c/a>, a Stanford law professor, said a case like La Motte’s doesn’t usually unfold with a jury award because an unlawful arrest is usually challenged in the middle of criminal proceedings, not in a civil case. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It’s rare that people have the legal resources or the incentive to challenge an arrest in a civil suit like this, and they are very hard to win,” Weisberg said. “Because the most obvious fact is an arrest isn’t illegal simply because it turns out that, in retrospect, there wasn’t probable cause.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The plaintiff has to prove that, in effect, no reasonable officer in that situation could have surmised that there was probable cause,” Weisberg continued. “And that’s a hard standard to meet.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In defending the officers, the state called Capt. Lorenzo Glenn of the Anaheim Police Department, who testified that he reviewed the case file and found the officer’s actions to be reasonable. But when questioned by Schwaiger, Glenn admitted he wasn’t an expert in DUI or drug recognition.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I find it just bizarre that they put on a so-called expert witness who acknowledged that he wasn’t an expert,” Weisberg said. “It’s not that hard to find experts who will testify for the government in this regard.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The government lawyering in this case was less than impressive, let’s put it that way,” he added.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Weisberg said the case was unusual because the government’s evidence supporting the arrest was weak, La Motte recorded his arrest, and the police weren’t afforded qualified immunity. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“This is like the perfect case for a plaintiff,” he said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Earlier this year, the California Justice Department, in defense of Ray and Snider, moved to have the case thrown out on the basis of qualified immunity. It lost its appeal of a district judge’s ruling at the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, which found the state’s petition to be frivolous. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>District Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín denied a similar motion last week after La Motte’s attorneys rested their case, saying the DOJ further failed to bring up qualified immunity earlier in the proceedings.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Schwaiger said La Motte called him Tuesday morning and said that he hoped people would hear about the verdict and take similar action, namely by safely filming interactions with police. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“This was the result of a yearslong process where a man, against all odds, decided to stand up for himself and refused to say that what happened was OK,” Schwaiger said. “There’s an important lesson there, and I think if more people do stand up for themselves, that’s how we really affect change.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The jury found that CHP Officer Jayce Ray and Sgt. John Snider acted with “malice, recklessness, oppression or a conscious or reckless disregard” for the rights of Nicholas La Motte when they arrested him without probable cause in April 2023 for driving under the influence.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The jury found that CHP Officer Jayce Ray and Sgt. John Snider acted with “malice, recklessness, oppression or a conscious or reckless disregard” for the rights of Nicholas La Motte when they arrested him without probable cause in April 2023 for driving under the influence.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>La Motte testified last week that around 1:30 a.m. on April 25, 2023, he was driving home from visiting his grandmother in San Francisco. While driving northbound on U.S. 101, he noticed he was being followed by a car — it was Ray in his cruiser. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>La Motte testified last week that around 1:30 a.m. on April 25, 2023, he was driving home from visiting his grandmother in San Francisco. While driving northbound on U.S. 101, he noticed he was being followed by a car — it was Ray in his cruiser. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Ray pulled him over, and La Motte began filming the encounter, footage that proved to key in his case against CHP. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Ray impounded La Motte’s Mercedes and arrested him, claiming he showed signs of intoxication, including red eyes. He then took La Motte to a nearby hospital to have his blood drawn. La Motte argued in his lawsuit that this violated his constitutional rights against unnecessary search and seizure because Ray lacked probable cause for the arrest.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Ray impounded La Motte’s Mercedes and arrested him, claiming he showed signs of intoxication, including red eyes. He then took La Motte to a nearby hospital to have his blood drawn. La Motte argued in his lawsuit that this violated his constitutional rights against unnecessary search and seizure because Ray lacked probable cause for the arrest.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/CHPVerdict_horizontal-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12097803\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/CHPVerdict_horizontal-1.jpg 2329w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/CHPVerdict_horizontal-1-2000x1123.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/CHPVerdict_horizontal-1-160x90.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/CHPVerdict_horizontal-1-1536x863.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/CHPVerdict_horizontal-1-2048x1150.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/CHPVerdict_horizontal-1-1200x675.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Sonoma County resident Nicholas La Motte (left) poses for a photo with his attorney, Izaak Schwaiger. A jury found LaMotte’s Fourth Amendment rights were violated during a 2023 unlawful arrest by two California Highway Patrol officers. \u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Courtesy of Nicholas La Motte)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>CHP further justified La Motte’s arrest with a set of field sobriety tests that Snider administered at the Santa Rosa station. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>CHP further justified La Motte’s arrest with a set of field sobriety tests that Snider administered at the Santa Rosa station. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Six months later, the Sonoma County District Attorney’s Office formally dropped charges against La Motte.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The jury’s verdict is significant because law enforcement and other government officials are generally protected from liability while on the job, under a legal framework known as qualified immunity. They lose that protection, however, if they violate someone’s rights while performing their duties. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The jury’s verdict is significant because law enforcement and other government officials are generally protected from liability while on the job, under a legal framework known as qualified immunity. They lose that protection, however, if they violate someone’s rights while performing their duties. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Izaak Schwaiger, La Motte’s attorney, said that, had his client not recorded the incident, there wouldn’t have been any evidence to combat the police’s version of events because CHP doesn’t require its officers to wear body cameras. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Izaak Schwaiger, La Motte’s attorney, said that, had his client not recorded the incident, there wouldn’t have been any evidence to combat the police’s version of events because CHP doesn’t require its officers to wear body cameras. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“I would say this is probably the 20th case that we received calls about, the CHP in and around the Sonoma County area making false arrests, but there was never any evidence,” Schwaiger said. “And what can you do when it’s the word of the individual against the word of the cops?”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Schwaiger said he took La Motte’s case because he was “waiting for the right one to come, where somebody had done something to preserve some kind of evidence, so that we could prove that this was going on, because it happens a lot.” \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Schwaiger said he took La Motte’s case because he was “waiting for the right one to come, where somebody had done something to preserve some kind of evidence, so that we could prove that this was going on, because it happens a lot.” \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“But without proof,” the lawyer continued, “what can you do? Nick had that video, and the video showed that these cops were lying, and that’s what carried the case.” \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Schwaiger said La Motte’s case was unique because it was simply about a wrongful arrest. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“The DA rejected this case because there wasn’t enough evidence that he had committed a crime,” Schwaiger said, adding that La Motte wasn’t prosecuted, nor held in jail for a significant time, nor physically beaten by the officers. “None of those things.” \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“The DA rejected this case because there wasn’t enough evidence that he had committed a crime,” Schwaiger said, adding that La Motte wasn’t prosecuted, nor held in jail for a significant time, nor physically beaten by the officers. “None of those things.” \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“It was super important to Nick what happened. It profoundly affected his life, and he did a really good job of explaining that to the jury, such that when it came time to ask the jury for a verdict, we just said, ‘Do what you feel is right,’” Schwaiger said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“It was super important to Nick what happened. It profoundly affected his life, and he did a really good job of explaining that to the jury, such that when it came time to ask the jury for a verdict, we just said, ‘Do what you feel is right,’” Schwaiger said.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The jury’s verdict awarded La Motte $3 million in punitive damages — an amount for which Snider and Ray will not likely be personally liable, Schwaiger said — and $2 million in compensatory damages.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The jury’s verdict awarded La Motte $3 million in punitive damages — an amount for which Snider and Ray will not likely be personally liable, Schwaiger said — and $2 million in compensatory damages.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image alignleft size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/CHPVerdict_2-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12097799\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/CHPVerdict_2-KQED.jpg 1380w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/CHPVerdict_2-KQED-160x232.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/CHPVerdict_2-KQED-1060x1536.jpg 1060w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Sonoma County resident Nicholas La Motte (right) poses for a photo with his daughter. A jury found LaMotte’s Fourth Amendment rights were violated during a 2023 unlawful arrest by two California Highway Patrol officers. \u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Courtesy of Nicholas La Motte)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image alignleft size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/CHPVerdict_2-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12097799\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Sonoma County resident Nicholas La Motte (right) poses for a photo with his daughter. A jury found LaMotte’s Fourth Amendment rights were violated during a 2023 unlawful arrest by two California Highway Patrol officers. \u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Courtesy of Nicholas La Motte)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“The law says California doesn’t have to cover them,” Schwaiger said. “In practice, it’s highly likely that the state will cover them because there will be a lot of pressure from the police unions and whatnot to do that. And the police unions are quite powerful.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>CHP and the California Department of Justice did not respond to a request for comment. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://law.stanford.edu/robert-weisberg/\">Robert Weisberg\u003c/a>, a Stanford law professor, said a case like La Motte’s doesn’t usually unfold with a jury award because an unlawful arrest is usually challenged in the middle of criminal proceedings, not in a civil case. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://law.stanford.edu/robert-weisberg/\">Robert Weisberg\u003c/a>, a Stanford law professor, said a case like La Motte’s doesn’t usually unfold with a jury award because an unlawful arrest is usually challenged in the middle of criminal proceedings, not in a civil case. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“It’s rare that people have the legal resources or the incentive to challenge an arrest in a civil suit like this, and they are very hard to win,” Weisberg said. “Because the most obvious fact is an arrest isn’t illegal simply because it turns out that, in retrospect, there wasn’t probable cause.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“It’s rare that people have the legal resources or the incentive to challenge an arrest in a civil suit like this, and they are very hard to win,” Weisberg said. “Because the most obvious fact is an arrest isn’t illegal simply because it turns out that, in retrospect, there wasn’t probable cause.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“The plaintiff has to prove that, in effect, no reasonable officer in that situation could have surmised that there was probable cause,” Weisberg continued. “And that’s a hard standard to meet.” \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In defending the officers, the state called Capt. Lorenzo Glenn of the Anaheim Police Department, who testified that he reviewed the case file and found the officer’s actions to be reasonable. But when questioned by Schwaiger, Glenn admitted he wasn’t an expert in DUI or drug recognition.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>In defending the officers, the state called Capt. Lorenzo Glenn of the Anaheim Police Department, who testified that he reviewed the case file and found the officer’s actions to be reasonable. But when questioned by Schwaiger, Glenn admitted he wasn’t an expert in DUI or drug recognition.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“I find it just bizarre that they put on a so-called expert witness who acknowledged that he wasn’t an expert,” Weisberg said. “It’s not that hard to find experts who will testify for the government in this regard.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“I find it just bizarre that they put on a so-called expert witness who acknowledged that he wasn’t an expert,” Weisberg said. “It’s not that hard to find experts who will testify for the government in this regard.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“The government lawyering in this case was less than impressive, let’s put it that way,” he added.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Weisberg said the case was unusual because the government’s evidence supporting the arrest was weak, La Motte recorded his arrest, and the police weren’t afforded qualified immunity. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Earlier this year, the California Justice Department, in defense of Ray and Snider, moved to have the case thrown out on the basis of qualified immunity. It lost its appeal of a district judge’s ruling at the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, which found the state’s petition to be frivolous. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Earlier this year, the California Justice Department, in defense of Ray and Snider, moved to have the case thrown out on the basis of qualified immunity. It lost its appeal of a district judge’s ruling at the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, which found the state’s petition to be frivolous. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>District Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín denied a similar motion last week after La Motte’s attorneys rested their case, saying the DOJ further failed to bring up qualified immunity earlier in the proceedings.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>District Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín denied a similar motion last week after La Motte’s attorneys rested their case, saying the DOJ further failed to bring up qualified immunity earlier in the proceedings.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Schwaiger said La Motte called him Tuesday morning and said that he hoped people would hear about the verdict and take similar action, namely by safely filming interactions with police. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“This was the result of a yearslong process where a man, against all odds, decided to stand up for himself and refused to say that what happened was OK,” Schwaiger said. “There’s an important lesson there, and I think if more people do stand up for themselves, that’s how we really affect change.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "Nicholas La Motte had claimed in a federal civil rights lawsuit that California Highway Patrol arrested him without cause.\n",
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"title": "Oakland Jury Awards $5 Million to Sonoma County Man for Wrongful Arrest | KQED",
"description": "Nicholas La Motte had claimed in a federal civil rights lawsuit that California Highway Patrol arrested him without cause.\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\n\u003cp>A \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/california-highway-patrol\">California Highway Patrol\u003c/a> officer and sergeant must pay $5 million to a Sonoma County man for violating his constitutional rights in an unlawful arrest, an \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12097290/oakland-jury-to-decide-if-california-highway-patrol-officers-committed-unlawful-arrest\">Oakland federal jury \u003c/a>decided Monday. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The jury found that CHP Officer Jayce Ray and Sgt. John Snider acted with “malice, recklessness, oppression or a conscious or reckless disregard” for the rights of Nicholas La Motte when they arrested him without probable cause in April 2023 for driving under the influence.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>La Motte testified last week that around 1:30 a.m. on April 25, 2023, he was driving home from visiting his grandmother in San Francisco. While driving northbound on U.S. 101, he noticed he was being followed by a car — it was Ray in his cruiser. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Ray pulled him over, and La Motte began filming the encounter, footage that proved to key in his case against CHP. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Ray impounded La Motte’s Mercedes and arrested him, claiming he showed signs of intoxication, including red eyes. He then took La Motte to a nearby hospital to have his blood drawn. La Motte argued in his lawsuit that this violated his constitutional rights against unnecessary search and seizure because Ray lacked probable cause for the arrest.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2329\" height=\"1308\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/CHPVerdict_horizontal-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12097803\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/CHPVerdict_horizontal-1.jpg 2329w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/CHPVerdict_horizontal-1-2000x1123.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/CHPVerdict_horizontal-1-160x90.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/CHPVerdict_horizontal-1-1536x863.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/CHPVerdict_horizontal-1-2048x1150.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/CHPVerdict_horizontal-1-1200x675.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2329px) 100vw, 2329px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Sonoma County resident Nicholas La Motte (left) poses for a photo with his attorney, Izaak Schwaiger. A jury found LaMotte’s Fourth Amendment rights were violated during a 2023 unlawful arrest by two California Highway Patrol officers. (Courtesy of Nicholas La Motte)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>CHP further justified La Motte’s arrest with a set of field sobriety tests that Snider administered at the Santa Rosa station. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Six months later, the Sonoma County District Attorney’s Office formally dropped charges against La Motte.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The jury’s verdict is significant because law enforcement and other government officials are generally protected from liability while on the job, under a legal framework known as qualified immunity. They lose that protection, however, if they violate someone’s rights while performing their duties. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>That’s what the jury found happened here. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Izaak Schwaiger, La Motte’s attorney, said that, had his client not recorded the incident, there wouldn’t have been any evidence to combat the police’s version of events because CHP doesn’t require its officers to wear body cameras. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I would say this is probably the 20th case that we received calls about, the CHP in and around the Sonoma County area making false arrests, but there was never any evidence,” Schwaiger said. “And what can you do when it’s the word of the individual against the word of the cops?”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Schwaiger said he took La Motte’s case because he was “waiting for the right one to come, where somebody had done something to preserve some kind of evidence, so that we could prove that this was going on, because it happens a lot.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“But without proof,” the lawyer continued, “what can you do? Nick had that video, and the video showed that these cops were lying, and that’s what carried the case.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Schwaiger said La Motte’s case was unique because it was simply about a wrongful arrest. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The DA rejected this case because there wasn’t enough evidence that he had committed a crime,” Schwaiger said, adding that La Motte wasn’t prosecuted, nor held in jail for a significant time, nor physically beaten by the officers. “None of those things.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It was super important to Nick what happened. It profoundly affected his life, and he did a really good job of explaining that to the jury, such that when it came time to ask the jury for a verdict, we just said, ‘Do what you feel is right,’” Schwaiger said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The jury’s verdict awarded La Motte $3 million in punitive damages — an amount for which Snider and Ray will not likely be personally liable, Schwaiger said — and $2 million in compensatory damages.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"alignleft size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1380\" height=\"2000\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/CHPVerdict_2-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12097799\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/CHPVerdict_2-KQED.jpg 1380w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/CHPVerdict_2-KQED-160x232.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/CHPVerdict_2-KQED-1060x1536.jpg 1060w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1380px) 100vw, 1380px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Sonoma County resident Nicholas La Motte (right) poses for a photo with his daughter. A jury found LaMotte’s Fourth Amendment rights were violated during a 2023 unlawful arrest by two California Highway Patrol officers. (Courtesy of Nicholas La Motte)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cp>“The law says California doesn’t have to cover them,” Schwaiger said. “In practice, it’s highly likely that the state will cover them because there will be a lot of pressure from the police unions and whatnot to do that. And the police unions are quite powerful.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>CHP and the California Department of Justice did not respond to a request for comment. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://law.stanford.edu/robert-weisberg/\">Robert Weisberg\u003c/a>, a Stanford law professor, said a case like La Motte’s doesn’t usually unfold with a jury award because an unlawful arrest is usually challenged in the middle of criminal proceedings, not in a civil case. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It’s rare that people have the legal resources or the incentive to challenge an arrest in a civil suit like this, and they are very hard to win,” Weisberg said. “Because the most obvious fact is an arrest isn’t illegal simply because it turns out that, in retrospect, there wasn’t probable cause.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The plaintiff has to prove that, in effect, no reasonable officer in that situation could have surmised that there was probable cause,” Weisberg continued. “And that’s a hard standard to meet.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In defending the officers, the state called Capt. Lorenzo Glenn of the Anaheim Police Department, who testified that he reviewed the case file and found the officer’s actions to be reasonable. But when questioned by Schwaiger, Glenn admitted he wasn’t an expert in DUI or drug recognition.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I find it just bizarre that they put on a so-called expert witness who acknowledged that he wasn’t an expert,” Weisberg said. “It’s not that hard to find experts who will testify for the government in this regard.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The government lawyering in this case was less than impressive, let’s put it that way,” he added.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Weisberg said the case was unusual because the government’s evidence supporting the arrest was weak, La Motte recorded his arrest, and the police weren’t afforded qualified immunity. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“This is like the perfect case for a plaintiff,” he said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Earlier this year, the California Justice Department, in defense of Ray and Snider, moved to have the case thrown out on the basis of qualified immunity. It lost its appeal of a district judge’s ruling at the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, which found the state’s petition to be frivolous. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>District Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín denied a similar motion last week after La Motte’s attorneys rested their case, saying the DOJ further failed to bring up qualified immunity earlier in the proceedings.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Schwaiger said La Motte called him Tuesday morning and said that he hoped people would hear about the verdict and take similar action, namely by safely filming interactions with police. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“This was the result of a yearslong process where a man, against all odds, decided to stand up for himself and refused to say that what happened was OK,” Schwaiger said. “There’s an important lesson there, and I think if more people do stand up for themselves, that’s how we really affect change.”\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "chatbots-data-centers-and-surveillance-5-silicon-valley-bills-land-on-newsoms-desk",
"title": "Chatbots, Data Centers and Surveillance: 5 Silicon Valley Bills Land on Newsom’s Desk",
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"headTitle": "Chatbots, Data Centers and Surveillance: 5 Silicon Valley Bills Land on Newsom’s Desk | KQED",
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"content": "\n\u003cp>California’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/politics\">legislative session\u003c/a> ended at midnight on Monday, and numerous bills ranging from housing to health care to technology cleared both the Senate and the Assembly.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Gov. Gavin Newsom has until Sept. 30 to decide whether he’ll veto or sign the measures. Here’s where some of the most closely watched \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/technology\">tech\u003c/a> bills landed.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Companion chatbots and children’s safety\u003cstrong> \u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>California lawmakers on Monday approved a sweeping set of safety requirements for artificial intelligence chatbots used by children and teens. The bill, known as \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/bills/ca_202520260sb1119\">Adam’s Law\u003c/a>, builds on last year’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12052617/newsoms-tightrope-walk-between-ai-regulation-and-silicon-valley-cash\">SB 243\u003c/a>, which required chatbot operators to disclose when users were interacting with AI companions and to maintain protocols for detecting self-harm content. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Co-authored by San Diego Democrat Sen. Steve Padilla and Assemblymembers Rebecca Bauer-Kahan (D-Orinda) and Buffy Wicks (D-Oakland), the bill adds requirements for user age checks, safety-risk assessments before new or substantially modified companion chatbots are released, independent audits and crisis-support resources. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/GettyImages-2159671948-scaled-e1781542152687.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12058035\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Close-up of a phone screen in Lafayette, California, on June 27, 2024, displaying Claude, a generative artificial intelligence chatbot from Anthropic powered by large language model (or LLM). (Smith Collection/Gado via Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The bill also requires default protections for young users, including limits on notifications, usage and persistent conversational memory. It restricts targeted advertising to children and imposes additional privacy protections. Chatbot operators could face liability for failing to take reasonable measures to prevent certain harmful outputs, including content involving self-harm, sexually explicit material, romantic role-playing and emotionally manipulative behavior. Families would have a private right of redress for certain violations. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The legislation is named for \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12080610/california-mom-who-lost-her-son-to-an-ai-chatbot-is-now-fighting-to-regulate-them\">Adam Raine\u003c/a>, a California teenager who died by suicide in 2025. Raine’s parents have said that Adam spent months discussing his loneliness and plans to harm himself with ChatGPT before his death. In a joint statement released after the bill successfully passed through the Legislature, Maria Raine called it “a serious and much-needed step forward for AI companion chatbot safety.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>This year, lawmakers also passed another bill by Padilla that enacts a four-year moratorium on the sale and manufacturing of AI-chatbot-powered toys over concerns that the technology can harm children.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The technology industry has not been uniformly opposed. OpenAI supports SB 1119 and has urged Newsom to sign it, saying the legislation establishes meaningful safeguards while preserving young people’s ability to use AI for learning, creativity and other purposes. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Teens are the first generation growing up with AI,” OpenAI said in a \u003ca href=\"https://openai.com/index/supporting-california-bill-advance-ai-youth-safety/\">statement\u003c/a>. “Nearly nine in ten teens who use ChatGPT turn to it for learning, information, skill-building, or productivity in a given week.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“That opportunity comes with a clear responsibility: teens should have experiences designed around their distinct developmental needs, with strong default protections and appropriate opportunities to learn, create, and explore.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Opponents of the legislation include the California Chamber of Commerce, the Software Information Industry Association and TechNet.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Newsom vetoed a \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12059714/newsom-vetoes-most-watched-childrens-ai-bill-signs-16-others-targeting-tech\">stronger child-safety bill\u003c/a> last year after raising concerns that its restrictions could effectively prevent teenagers from accessing conversational AI. Though his office has not indicated whether Newsom will sign, the version now on his desk was negotiated with those concerns in mind. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003cstrong>Data centers and ratepayer protections \u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>California lawmakers on Monday approved two linked bills that would require the state to establish special rules for how large data centers pay for electricity and the infrastructure needed to serve them.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/bills/ca_202520260sb886\">SB 886\u003c/a>, also authored by Padilla, and \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/bills/ca_202520260ab2383\">AB 2383\u003c/a>, by Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur (D-Los Angeles), would require the California Public Utilities Commission to create separate electricity rates and updated interconnection rules for data centers. The measures are designed to prevent electricity customers from bearing the costs of new power generation and grid upgrades needed to serve the facilities. AB 2383 is contingent on SB 886 becoming law. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Big Tech keeps promising to be good neighbors, and these bills will make those promises legally enforceable,” Padilla said in a press release celebrating the passage of SB 886 and a related bill, \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/bills/ca_202520260sb887\">887\u003c/a>. “No more saying one thing in the White House and doing the opposite in our local communities.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1980\" height=\"1231\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/GettyImages-2267080472.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12094084\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/GettyImages-2267080472.jpg 1980w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/GettyImages-2267080472-160x99.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/GettyImages-2267080472-1536x955.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1980px) 100vw, 1980px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">San Diego Democrat Sen. Steve Padilla. (Nelvin C. Cepeda/The San Diego Union-Tribune via Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The legislation follows a year of intensifying political pressure over the expansion of data centers, which are being built to meet the enormous computing demands of AI. California has fewer giant data centers than Virginia and Texas, but the state still has \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/forum/2010101912379/californias-ai-data-centers-taking-growing-environmental-toll\">one of the largest counts overall\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The facilities have \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12028158/crackdown-on-power-guzzling-data-centers-may-soon-come-online-in-california\">generated growing concern\u003c/a> over their electricity and water use, as well as the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12064265/new-report-reveals-strain-of-data-centers-on-californias-grid\">lack of transparency\u003c/a> about their potential effect on utility bills. A Public Policy Institute of California poll released in July found that \u003ca href=\"https://www.ppic.org/publication/ppic-statewide-survey-californians-and-the-environment-july-2026/\">73%\u003c/a> of Californians opposed building data centers in their communities. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In March 2026, the Little Hoover Commission released \u003ca href=\"https://lhc.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/LHC-Report-292-Data-Centers-California-Electricity-Policy-FINAL-PUBLIC-3.3.26.pdf\">\u003cem>Data Centers and California Electricity Policy\u003c/em>\u003c/a>, a report that explicitly recommends making tech companies and data center developers cover their own grid-integration costs rather than shifting the burden to everyday ratepayers. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“California’s electricity rates are among the highest in the nation, and affordability remains a top concern for residents,” the report states.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Supporters — including The Utility Reform Network, the Union of Concerned Scientists, the Natural Resources Defense Council and utility-worker unions — argued that companies building the facilities should pay for the infrastructure their electricity demand requires. Bill sponsor TURN pointed to a California grid-planning estimate that increased demand from data centers in PG&E’s service territory, where most of the state’s projects are concentrated, could generate as much as $1.8 billion in transmission-upgrade costs. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260829-oakdatacentermeeting-TV00394_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12097519\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260829-oakdatacentermeeting-TV00394_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260829-oakdatacentermeeting-TV00394_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260829-oakdatacentermeeting-TV00394_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A flyer that says, “No Data Center,” is posted at the Church of All Faiths in Oakland, California, on Aug. 29, 2026. (Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The Data Center Coalition, which represents companies including Google and Microsoft, opposed the legislation, arguing that it unfairly singled out one type of electricity customer. PG&E also opposed the original approach, warning that it could increase costs for customers and delay infrastructure needed to meet the state’s broader energy demand. Business groups argued that California’s high energy costs, limited land and additional regulation could make the state less attractive for data-center development. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The bills were substantially worked over in the final weeks of the session. Earlier drafts were far more prescriptive, including provisions for mandatory on-site batteries and 100% carbon-free power for data centers by 2030. Both were stripped out in favor of giving the CPUC until July 1, 2027, to establish special tariffs and rules. Newsom and regulators in turn secured more control over how the new rate structure will work. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The final compromise drew criticism from some environmental and consumer advocates. They say data centers could find loopholes to avoid paying some grid costs and wriggle out of clean-energy requirements for facilities that generate their own electricity. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Newsom’s position has shifted noticeably during the course of the debate. Last year, he \u003ca href=\"https://www.gov.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/AB-93-Veto.pdf\">vetoed \u003c/a>legislation requiring data centers to disclose their water consumption, writing: “I am reluctant to impose rigid reporting requirements about operational details on this sector without understanding the full impact on businesses and the consumers of their technology.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1337\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GavinJenniferNewsomGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12087658\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GavinJenniferNewsomGetty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GavinJenniferNewsomGetty-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GavinJenniferNewsomGetty-1536x1027.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks as his wife, Jennifer Siebel Newsom (left), looks on during an election night gathering at California Democratic headquarters in Sacramento, California, on Nov. 4, 2025. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>This year, however, Newsom became directly involved in negotiations over both bills. On Monday in the state Capitol, he said his administration had been working with lawmakers on several data-center bills, and that the final versions “landed fairly well,” \u003ca href=\"https://www.politico.com/news/2026/09/01/california-lawmakers-big-swing-newsom-data-centers-01058848\">\u003cem>Politico \u003c/em>reported\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“You’re seeing states all across this country leaning in,” Newsom said. “We’ll be leaning in.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>He also said last month that companies, rather than other electricity customers, should bear the costs associated with their data-center investments. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We believe that all of these investments, the costs, should be borne by the companies,” Newsom said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>That makes a Newsom signature more likely here than it appeared earlier in the year, although the governor has not formally committed to signing either bill.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Social media’s addictive features\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The California Senate \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/bills/ca_202520260ab1709\">voted\u003c/a> to bar social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok from offering certain addictive features to users younger than 16. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The measure, authored by Assemblymember Josh Lowenthal (D-Long Beach), targets features on so-called “covered platforms” — which predominantly share user-generated content — designed to keep people engaged, including algorithmically driven feeds and other mechanisms that can encourage prolonged use. It also would establish an e-Safety Advisory Commission within the California Department of Justice to advise state officials on online safety and report annually to the governor and Legislature.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Common Sense Media, which sponsored the bill, is among its major supporters, along with Mothers Against Media Addiction and the American Academy of Pediatrics. The bill was amended as it moved through the Legislature, narrowing some of its provisions and changing how the state would oversee online safety. For supporters, the changes don’t go nearly far enough. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/AIGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12092171\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/AIGetty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/AIGetty-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/AIGetty-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A 14-year-old boy looks at an iPhone screen displaying various social media and messaging apps on March 29, 2026. (Anna Barclay/Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Jim Steyer, founder and CEO of Common Sense Media, \u003ca href=\"https://www.commonsensemedia.org/press-releases/common-sense-media-statement-on-passage-of-ab-1709\">wrote Monday\u003c/a> that \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12096647/why-metas-landmark-settlement-could-be-social-medias-big-tobacco-moment\">recent litigation\u003c/a> against major technology companies has exposed how deliberately social media platforms have been designed to keep children engaged.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Social media companies have engineered their products to hook children, and their own researchers proved it worked,” Steyer said in a statement. “Parents cannot out-parent an algorithm built in a lab to keep kids scrolling.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The Electronic Frontier Foundation, Civil Justice Association of California and trade group NetChoice, which represents major technology companies including Google, Meta and Snap, oppose the measure. Civil liberties advocates, in particular, have raised First Amendment and privacy concerns, particularly around how platforms would determine which users are under 16 and which features should be considered addictive.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“This well-intentioned, but deeply flawed piece of legislation, cuts young people off from essential information and experiences, particularly harming vulnerable youth and marginalized groups who often find safety in supportive online communities they can’t access offline,” the EFF \u003ca href=\"https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2026/08/eff-gov-newsom-veto-californias-ab-1709\">wrote\u003c/a> in a statement.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Newsom has already signed several California laws aimed at \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12005803/newsom-signs-law-to-protect-children-from-social-media-addiction\">protecting children online\u003c/a>, including legislation requiring warning labels on social media platforms. But AB 1709 could face the same free-speech and age-verification challenges that have complicated the state’s broader effort to regulate social media. A federal judge has already blocked portions of California’s existing law restricting addictive social media feeds while a legal challenge proceeds.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Newsom has not publicly indicated whether he will sign the bill, but he called on lawmakers to explore stricter youth online safety guardrails during his \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12069094/in-final-state-of-state-speech-gov-newsom-says-california-offers-model-for-the-nation\">final State of the State\u003c/a> address. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Workplace surveillance\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>California employers could face new limits on the use of AI to monitor workers. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/bills/ca_202520260ab1883\">AB 1883\u003c/a>, authored by Assemblymember Isaac Bryan (D-Los Angeles), would prohibit employers from using AI-powered workplace-surveillance tools to collect \u003ca href=\"https://law.stanford.edu/2024/12/02/what-are-neural-data-an-invitation-to-flexible-regulatory-implementation/\">neural data\u003c/a> — sensitive personal information from a user’s nervous system — or recognize an employee’s emotional state, with some exceptions. It also covers certain other AI-based inferences about workers and allows civil penalties of up to $500 per violation.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The measure is part of a small but growing effort by states to regulate how employers use AI to monitor and manage their workers. California’s bill is unusually focused on technologies that attempt to infer what is happening inside an employee’s body or mind. There is a narrower approach in Illinois, which regulates AI-analyzed video interviews in hiring, and in Maryland, which restricts the use of facial-recognition technology.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/12/RS46155_GettyImages-1139953504-qut.jpg\" alt=\"""\" class=\"wp-image-11849216\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/12/RS46155_GettyImages-1139953504-qut.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/12/RS46155_GettyImages-1139953504-qut-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/12/RS46155_GettyImages-1139953504-qut-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/12/RS46155_GettyImages-1139953504-qut-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/12/RS46155_GettyImages-1139953504-qut-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A view of Slack headquarters on April 2, 2019, in San Francisco, California. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>AB 1883 was sponsored by major state labor unions and Privacy Rights Clearinghouse. Business groups representing various employers opposed the bill, ranging from the American Petroleum and Convenience Store Association to the Wine Institute.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The legislation’s ambitions were softened in committees. The latest version exempts certain workplace-surveillance uses required by federal law, regulation or binding federal contracts involving aircraft, national security, military, space or defense work. Senate amendments also modified the bill’s enforcement provisions.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Still, the core prohibition survived.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Workers should have a general expectation of privacy in certain areas,” said Lorena Gonzalez, who heads up the powerful California Federation of Labor Unions, to KQED’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12097046/california-labor-leader-on-ai-bills-and-billionaire-tax-measure-splitting-unions\">Political Breakdown\u003c/a> last week. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Employers, Gonzalez said, are able to take advantage of outdated laws that don’t account for changes in technology. Labor interests have been at the forefront of legislation addressing \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12076608/what-do-san-franciscos-ai-vs-humans-billboards-say-about-our-working-futures\">AI anxieties\u003c/a> this session. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“You don’t want the boss reading your mind,” Gonzalez added.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The measure comes a year after Newsom vetoed the “No Robo Bosses Act,” which would have required employers to notify workers when AI was used in disciplinary or termination decisions and let employees challenge certain AI-generated decisions. In his \u003ca href=\"https://www.gov.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/SB-7-Veto.pdf\">veto message\u003c/a> last year, Newsom wrote the bill “imposes unfocused notification requirements on any business using even the most innocuous tools.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>AB 1883 is narrower in scope. Rather than governing how AI makes decisions about workers, it bans a single, especially invasive use. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Newsom has not said whether he will sign it. With a widely expected presidential run ahead, his decision will signal whether he’s willing to side with workers over employers and draw a hard line against AI that tries to read a worker’s mind.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>California’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/politics\">legislative session\u003c/a> ended at midnight on Monday, and numerous bills ranging from housing to health care to technology cleared both the Senate and the Assembly.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>California’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/politics\">legislative session\u003c/a> ended at midnight on Monday, and numerous bills ranging from housing to health care to technology cleared both the Senate and the Assembly.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Gov. Gavin Newsom has until Sept. 30 to decide whether he’ll veto or sign the measures. Here’s where some of the most closely watched \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/technology\">tech\u003c/a> bills landed.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Gov. Gavin Newsom has until Sept. 30 to decide whether he’ll veto or sign the measures. Here’s where some of the most closely watched \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/technology\">tech\u003c/a> bills landed.\u003c/p>\n"
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"text": "Companion chatbots and children’s safety ",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Companion chatbots and children’s safety\u003cstrong> \u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n",
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"\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Companion chatbots and children’s safety\u003cstrong> \u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>California lawmakers on Monday approved a sweeping set of safety requirements for artificial intelligence chatbots used by children and teens. The bill, known as \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/bills/ca_202520260sb1119\">Adam’s Law\u003c/a>, builds on last year’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12052617/newsoms-tightrope-walk-between-ai-regulation-and-silicon-valley-cash\">SB 243\u003c/a>, which required chatbot operators to disclose when users were interacting with AI companions and to maintain protocols for detecting self-harm content. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>California lawmakers on Monday approved a sweeping set of safety requirements for artificial intelligence chatbots used by children and teens. The bill, known as \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/bills/ca_202520260sb1119\">Adam’s Law\u003c/a>, builds on last year’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12052617/newsoms-tightrope-walk-between-ai-regulation-and-silicon-valley-cash\">SB 243\u003c/a>, which required chatbot operators to disclose when users were interacting with AI companions and to maintain protocols for detecting self-harm content. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Co-authored by San Diego Democrat Sen. Steve Padilla and Assemblymembers Rebecca Bauer-Kahan (D-Orinda) and Buffy Wicks (D-Oakland), the bill adds requirements for user age checks, safety-risk assessments before new or substantially modified companion chatbots are released, independent audits and crisis-support resources. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Co-authored by San Diego Democrat Sen. Steve Padilla and Assemblymembers Rebecca Bauer-Kahan (D-Orinda) and Buffy Wicks (D-Oakland), the bill adds requirements for user age checks, safety-risk assessments before new or substantially modified companion chatbots are released, independent audits and crisis-support resources. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/GettyImages-2159671948-scaled-e1781542152687.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12058035\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Close-up of a phone screen in Lafayette, California, on June 27, 2024, displaying Claude, a generative artificial intelligence chatbot from Anthropic powered by large language model (or LLM).\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Smith Collection/Gado via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/GettyImages-2159671948-scaled-e1781542152687.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12058035\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Close-up of a phone screen in Lafayette, California, on June 27, 2024, displaying Claude, a generative artificial intelligence chatbot from Anthropic powered by large language model (or LLM).\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Smith Collection/Gado via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The bill also requires default protections for young users, including limits on notifications, usage and persistent conversational memory. It restricts targeted advertising to children and imposes additional privacy protections. Chatbot operators could face liability for failing to take reasonable measures to prevent certain harmful outputs, including content involving self-harm, sexually explicit material, romantic role-playing and emotionally manipulative behavior. Families would have a private right of redress for certain violations. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The bill also requires default protections for young users, including limits on notifications, usage and persistent conversational memory. It restricts targeted advertising to children and imposes additional privacy protections. Chatbot operators could face liability for failing to take reasonable measures to prevent certain harmful outputs, including content involving self-harm, sexually explicit material, romantic role-playing and emotionally manipulative behavior. Families would have a private right of redress for certain violations. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The legislation is named for \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12080610/california-mom-who-lost-her-son-to-an-ai-chatbot-is-now-fighting-to-regulate-them\">Adam Raine\u003c/a>, a California teenager who died by suicide in 2025. Raine’s parents have said that Adam spent months discussing his loneliness and plans to harm himself with ChatGPT before his death. In a joint statement released after the bill successfully passed through the Legislature, Maria Raine called it “a serious and much-needed step forward for AI companion chatbot safety.” \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The legislation is named for \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12080610/california-mom-who-lost-her-son-to-an-ai-chatbot-is-now-fighting-to-regulate-them\">Adam Raine\u003c/a>, a California teenager who died by suicide in 2025. Raine’s parents have said that Adam spent months discussing his loneliness and plans to harm himself with ChatGPT before his death. In a joint statement released after the bill successfully passed through the Legislature, Maria Raine called it “a serious and much-needed step forward for AI companion chatbot safety.” \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>This year, lawmakers also passed another bill by Padilla that enacts a four-year moratorium on the sale and manufacturing of AI-chatbot-powered toys over concerns that the technology can harm children.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>This year, lawmakers also passed another bill by Padilla that enacts a four-year moratorium on the sale and manufacturing of AI-chatbot-powered toys over concerns that the technology can harm children.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The technology industry has not been uniformly opposed. OpenAI supports SB 1119 and has urged Newsom to sign it, saying the legislation establishes meaningful safeguards while preserving young people’s ability to use AI for learning, creativity and other purposes. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The technology industry has not been uniformly opposed. OpenAI supports SB 1119 and has urged Newsom to sign it, saying the legislation establishes meaningful safeguards while preserving young people’s ability to use AI for learning, creativity and other purposes. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Teens are the first generation growing up with AI,” OpenAI said in a \u003ca href=\"https://openai.com/index/supporting-california-bill-advance-ai-youth-safety/\">statement\u003c/a>. “Nearly nine in ten teens who use ChatGPT turn to it for learning, information, skill-building, or productivity in a given week.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“Teens are the first generation growing up with AI,” OpenAI said in a \u003ca href=\"https://openai.com/index/supporting-california-bill-advance-ai-youth-safety/\">statement\u003c/a>. “Nearly nine in ten teens who use ChatGPT turn to it for learning, information, skill-building, or productivity in a given week.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“That opportunity comes with a clear responsibility: teens should have experiences designed around their distinct developmental needs, with strong default protections and appropriate opportunities to learn, create, and explore.” \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“That opportunity comes with a clear responsibility: teens should have experiences designed around their distinct developmental needs, with strong default protections and appropriate opportunities to learn, create, and explore.” \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Opponents of the legislation include the California Chamber of Commerce, the Software Information Industry Association and TechNet.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Opponents of the legislation include the California Chamber of Commerce, the Software Information Industry Association and TechNet.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Newsom vetoed a \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12059714/newsom-vetoes-most-watched-childrens-ai-bill-signs-16-others-targeting-tech\">stronger child-safety bill\u003c/a> last year after raising concerns that its restrictions could effectively prevent teenagers from accessing conversational AI. Though his office has not indicated whether Newsom will sign, the version now on his desk was negotiated with those concerns in mind. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Newsom vetoed a \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12059714/newsom-vetoes-most-watched-childrens-ai-bill-signs-16-others-targeting-tech\">stronger child-safety bill\u003c/a> last year after raising concerns that its restrictions could effectively prevent teenagers from accessing conversational AI. Though his office has not indicated whether Newsom will sign, the version now on his desk was negotiated with those concerns in mind. \u003c/p>\n"
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"text": "Data centers and ratepayer protections ",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003cstrong>Data centers and ratepayer protections \u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n",
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"\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003cstrong>Data centers and ratepayer protections \u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>California lawmakers on Monday approved two linked bills that would require the state to establish special rules for how large data centers pay for electricity and the infrastructure needed to serve them.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>California lawmakers on Monday approved two linked bills that would require the state to establish special rules for how large data centers pay for electricity and the infrastructure needed to serve them.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/bills/ca_202520260sb886\">SB 886\u003c/a>, also authored by Padilla, and \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/bills/ca_202520260ab2383\">AB 2383\u003c/a>, by Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur (D-Los Angeles), would require the California Public Utilities Commission to create separate electricity rates and updated interconnection rules for data centers. The measures are designed to prevent electricity customers from bearing the costs of new power generation and grid upgrades needed to serve the facilities. AB 2383 is contingent on SB 886 becoming law. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/bills/ca_202520260sb886\">SB 886\u003c/a>, also authored by Padilla, and \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/bills/ca_202520260ab2383\">AB 2383\u003c/a>, by Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur (D-Los Angeles), would require the California Public Utilities Commission to create separate electricity rates and updated interconnection rules for data centers. The measures are designed to prevent electricity customers from bearing the costs of new power generation and grid upgrades needed to serve the facilities. AB 2383 is contingent on SB 886 becoming law. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Big Tech keeps promising to be good neighbors, and these bills will make those promises legally enforceable,” Padilla said in a press release celebrating the passage of SB 886 and a related bill, \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/bills/ca_202520260sb887\">887\u003c/a>. “No more saying one thing in the White House and doing the opposite in our local communities.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“Big Tech keeps promising to be good neighbors, and these bills will make those promises legally enforceable,” Padilla said in a press release celebrating the passage of SB 886 and a related bill, \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/bills/ca_202520260sb887\">887\u003c/a>. “No more saying one thing in the White House and doing the opposite in our local communities.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/GettyImages-2267080472.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12094084\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/GettyImages-2267080472.jpg 1980w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/GettyImages-2267080472-160x99.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/GettyImages-2267080472-1536x955.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">San Diego Democrat Sen. Steve Padilla.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Nelvin C. Cepeda/The San Diego Union-Tribune via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/GettyImages-2267080472.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12094084\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">San Diego Democrat Sen. Steve Padilla.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Nelvin C. Cepeda/The San Diego Union-Tribune via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The legislation follows a year of intensifying political pressure over the expansion of data centers, which are being built to meet the enormous computing demands of AI. California has fewer giant data centers than Virginia and Texas, but the state still has \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/forum/2010101912379/californias-ai-data-centers-taking-growing-environmental-toll\">one of the largest counts overall\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The legislation follows a year of intensifying political pressure over the expansion of data centers, which are being built to meet the enormous computing demands of AI. California has fewer giant data centers than Virginia and Texas, but the state still has \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/forum/2010101912379/californias-ai-data-centers-taking-growing-environmental-toll\">one of the largest counts overall\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The facilities have \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12028158/crackdown-on-power-guzzling-data-centers-may-soon-come-online-in-california\">generated growing concern\u003c/a> over their electricity and water use, as well as the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12064265/new-report-reveals-strain-of-data-centers-on-californias-grid\">lack of transparency\u003c/a> about their potential effect on utility bills. A Public Policy Institute of California poll released in July found that \u003ca href=\"https://www.ppic.org/publication/ppic-statewide-survey-californians-and-the-environment-july-2026/\">73%\u003c/a> of Californians opposed building data centers in their communities. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The facilities have \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12028158/crackdown-on-power-guzzling-data-centers-may-soon-come-online-in-california\">generated growing concern\u003c/a> over their electricity and water use, as well as the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12064265/new-report-reveals-strain-of-data-centers-on-californias-grid\">lack of transparency\u003c/a> about their potential effect on utility bills. A Public Policy Institute of California poll released in July found that \u003ca href=\"https://www.ppic.org/publication/ppic-statewide-survey-californians-and-the-environment-july-2026/\">73%\u003c/a> of Californians opposed building data centers in their communities. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In March 2026, the Little Hoover Commission released \u003ca href=\"https://lhc.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/LHC-Report-292-Data-Centers-California-Electricity-Policy-FINAL-PUBLIC-3.3.26.pdf\">\u003cem>Data Centers and California Electricity Policy\u003c/em>\u003c/a>, a report that explicitly recommends making tech companies and data center developers cover their own grid-integration costs rather than shifting the burden to everyday ratepayers. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>In March 2026, the Little Hoover Commission released \u003ca href=\"https://lhc.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/LHC-Report-292-Data-Centers-California-Electricity-Policy-FINAL-PUBLIC-3.3.26.pdf\">\u003cem>Data Centers and California Electricity Policy\u003c/em>\u003c/a>, a report that explicitly recommends making tech companies and data center developers cover their own grid-integration costs rather than shifting the burden to everyday ratepayers. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“California’s electricity rates are among the highest in the nation, and affordability remains a top concern for residents,” the report states.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“California’s electricity rates are among the highest in the nation, and affordability remains a top concern for residents,” the report states.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Supporters — including The Utility Reform Network, the Union of Concerned Scientists, the Natural Resources Defense Council and utility-worker unions — argued that companies building the facilities should pay for the infrastructure their electricity demand requires. Bill sponsor TURN pointed to a California grid-planning estimate that increased demand from data centers in PG&E’s service territory, where most of the state’s projects are concentrated, could generate as much as $1.8 billion in transmission-upgrade costs. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Supporters — including The Utility Reform Network, the Union of Concerned Scientists, the Natural Resources Defense Council and utility-worker unions — argued that companies building the facilities should pay for the infrastructure their electricity demand requires. Bill sponsor TURN pointed to a California grid-planning estimate that increased demand from data centers in PG&E’s service territory, where most of the state’s projects are concentrated, could generate as much as $1.8 billion in transmission-upgrade costs. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260829-oakdatacentermeeting-TV00394_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12097519\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260829-oakdatacentermeeting-TV00394_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260829-oakdatacentermeeting-TV00394_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260829-oakdatacentermeeting-TV00394_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A flyer that says, “No Data Center,” is posted at the Church of All Faiths in Oakland, California, on Aug. 29, 2026.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260829-oakdatacentermeeting-TV00394_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12097519\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A flyer that says, “No Data Center,” is posted at the Church of All Faiths in Oakland, California, on Aug. 29, 2026.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The Data Center Coalition, which represents companies including Google and Microsoft, opposed the legislation, arguing that it unfairly singled out one type of electricity customer. PG&E also opposed the original approach, warning that it could increase costs for customers and delay infrastructure needed to meet the state’s broader energy demand. Business groups argued that California’s high energy costs, limited land and additional regulation could make the state less attractive for data-center development. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The Data Center Coalition, which represents companies including Google and Microsoft, opposed the legislation, arguing that it unfairly singled out one type of electricity customer. PG&E also opposed the original approach, warning that it could increase costs for customers and delay infrastructure needed to meet the state’s broader energy demand. Business groups argued that California’s high energy costs, limited land and additional regulation could make the state less attractive for data-center development. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The bills were substantially worked over in the final weeks of the session. Earlier drafts were far more prescriptive, including provisions for mandatory on-site batteries and 100% carbon-free power for data centers by 2030. Both were stripped out in favor of giving the CPUC until July 1, 2027, to establish special tariffs and rules. Newsom and regulators in turn secured more control over how the new rate structure will work. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The bills were substantially worked over in the final weeks of the session. Earlier drafts were far more prescriptive, including provisions for mandatory on-site batteries and 100% carbon-free power for data centers by 2030. Both were stripped out in favor of giving the CPUC until July 1, 2027, to establish special tariffs and rules. Newsom and regulators in turn secured more control over how the new rate structure will work. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The final compromise drew criticism from some environmental and consumer advocates. They say data centers could find loopholes to avoid paying some grid costs and wriggle out of clean-energy requirements for facilities that generate their own electricity. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The final compromise drew criticism from some environmental and consumer advocates. They say data centers could find loopholes to avoid paying some grid costs and wriggle out of clean-energy requirements for facilities that generate their own electricity. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Newsom’s position has shifted noticeably during the course of the debate. Last year, he \u003ca href=\"https://www.gov.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/AB-93-Veto.pdf\">vetoed \u003c/a>legislation requiring data centers to disclose their water consumption, writing: “I am reluctant to impose rigid reporting requirements about operational details on this sector without understanding the full impact on businesses and the consumers of their technology.” \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Newsom’s position has shifted noticeably during the course of the debate. Last year, he \u003ca href=\"https://www.gov.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/AB-93-Veto.pdf\">vetoed \u003c/a>legislation requiring data centers to disclose their water consumption, writing: “I am reluctant to impose rigid reporting requirements about operational details on this sector without understanding the full impact on businesses and the consumers of their technology.” \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GavinJenniferNewsomGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12087658\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GavinJenniferNewsomGetty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GavinJenniferNewsomGetty-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GavinJenniferNewsomGetty-1536x1027.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks as his wife, Jennifer Siebel Newsom (left), looks on during an election night gathering at California Democratic headquarters in Sacramento, California, on Nov. 4, 2025.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>This year, however, Newsom became directly involved in negotiations over both bills. On Monday in the state Capitol, he said his administration had been working with lawmakers on several data-center bills, and that the final versions “landed fairly well,” \u003ca href=\"https://www.politico.com/news/2026/09/01/california-lawmakers-big-swing-newsom-data-centers-01058848\">\u003cem>Politico \u003c/em>reported\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>This year, however, Newsom became directly involved in negotiations over both bills. On Monday in the state Capitol, he said his administration had been working with lawmakers on several data-center bills, and that the final versions “landed fairly well,” \u003ca href=\"https://www.politico.com/news/2026/09/01/california-lawmakers-big-swing-newsom-data-centers-01058848\">\u003cem>Politico \u003c/em>reported\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“You’re seeing states all across this country leaning in,” Newsom said. “We’ll be leaning in.” \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“You’re seeing states all across this country leaning in,” Newsom said. “We’ll be leaning in.” \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>He also said last month that companies, rather than other electricity customers, should bear the costs associated with their data-center investments. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>He also said last month that companies, rather than other electricity customers, should bear the costs associated with their data-center investments. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“We believe that all of these investments, the costs, should be borne by the companies,” Newsom said. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“We believe that all of these investments, the costs, should be borne by the companies,” Newsom said. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>That makes a Newsom signature more likely here than it appeared earlier in the year, although the governor has not formally committed to signing either bill.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The California Senate \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/bills/ca_202520260ab1709\">voted\u003c/a> to bar social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok from offering certain addictive features to users younger than 16. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The measure, authored by Assemblymember Josh Lowenthal (D-Long Beach), targets features on so-called “covered platforms” — which predominantly share user-generated content — designed to keep people engaged, including algorithmically driven feeds and other mechanisms that can encourage prolonged use. It also would establish an e-Safety Advisory Commission within the California Department of Justice to advise state officials on online safety and report annually to the governor and Legislature.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The measure, authored by Assemblymember Josh Lowenthal (D-Long Beach), targets features on so-called “covered platforms” — which predominantly share user-generated content — designed to keep people engaged, including algorithmically driven feeds and other mechanisms that can encourage prolonged use. It also would establish an e-Safety Advisory Commission within the California Department of Justice to advise state officials on online safety and report annually to the governor and Legislature.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Common Sense Media, which sponsored the bill, is among its major supporters, along with Mothers Against Media Addiction and the American Academy of Pediatrics. The bill was amended as it moved through the Legislature, narrowing some of its provisions and changing how the state would oversee online safety. For supporters, the changes don’t go nearly far enough. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Common Sense Media, which sponsored the bill, is among its major supporters, along with Mothers Against Media Addiction and the American Academy of Pediatrics. The bill was amended as it moved through the Legislature, narrowing some of its provisions and changing how the state would oversee online safety. For supporters, the changes don’t go nearly far enough. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/AIGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12092171\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/AIGetty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/AIGetty-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/AIGetty-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A 14-year-old boy looks at an iPhone screen displaying various social media and messaging apps on March 29, 2026.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Anna Barclay/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/AIGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12092171\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A 14-year-old boy looks at an iPhone screen displaying various social media and messaging apps on March 29, 2026.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Anna Barclay/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Jim Steyer, founder and CEO of Common Sense Media, \u003ca href=\"https://www.commonsensemedia.org/press-releases/common-sense-media-statement-on-passage-of-ab-1709\">wrote Monday\u003c/a> that \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12096647/why-metas-landmark-settlement-could-be-social-medias-big-tobacco-moment\">recent litigation\u003c/a> against major technology companies has exposed how deliberately social media platforms have been designed to keep children engaged.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Jim Steyer, founder and CEO of Common Sense Media, \u003ca href=\"https://www.commonsensemedia.org/press-releases/common-sense-media-statement-on-passage-of-ab-1709\">wrote Monday\u003c/a> that \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12096647/why-metas-landmark-settlement-could-be-social-medias-big-tobacco-moment\">recent litigation\u003c/a> against major technology companies has exposed how deliberately social media platforms have been designed to keep children engaged.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Social media companies have engineered their products to hook children, and their own researchers proved it worked,” Steyer said in a statement. “Parents cannot out-parent an algorithm built in a lab to keep kids scrolling.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“Social media companies have engineered their products to hook children, and their own researchers proved it worked,” Steyer said in a statement. “Parents cannot out-parent an algorithm built in a lab to keep kids scrolling.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The Electronic Frontier Foundation, Civil Justice Association of California and trade group NetChoice, which represents major technology companies including Google, Meta and Snap, oppose the measure. Civil liberties advocates, in particular, have raised First Amendment and privacy concerns, particularly around how platforms would determine which users are under 16 and which features should be considered addictive.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The Electronic Frontier Foundation, Civil Justice Association of California and trade group NetChoice, which represents major technology companies including Google, Meta and Snap, oppose the measure. Civil liberties advocates, in particular, have raised First Amendment and privacy concerns, particularly around how platforms would determine which users are under 16 and which features should be considered addictive.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“This well-intentioned, but deeply flawed piece of legislation, cuts young people off from essential information and experiences, particularly harming vulnerable youth and marginalized groups who often find safety in supportive online communities they can’t access offline,” the EFF \u003ca href=\"https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2026/08/eff-gov-newsom-veto-californias-ab-1709\">wrote\u003c/a> in a statement.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“This well-intentioned, but deeply flawed piece of legislation, cuts young people off from essential information and experiences, particularly harming vulnerable youth and marginalized groups who often find safety in supportive online communities they can’t access offline,” the EFF \u003ca href=\"https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2026/08/eff-gov-newsom-veto-californias-ab-1709\">wrote\u003c/a> in a statement.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Newsom has already signed several California laws aimed at \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12005803/newsom-signs-law-to-protect-children-from-social-media-addiction\">protecting children online\u003c/a>, including legislation requiring warning labels on social media platforms. But AB 1709 could face the same free-speech and age-verification challenges that have complicated the state’s broader effort to regulate social media. A federal judge has already blocked portions of California’s existing law restricting addictive social media feeds while a legal challenge proceeds.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Newsom has already signed several California laws aimed at \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12005803/newsom-signs-law-to-protect-children-from-social-media-addiction\">protecting children online\u003c/a>, including legislation requiring warning labels on social media platforms. But AB 1709 could face the same free-speech and age-verification challenges that have complicated the state’s broader effort to regulate social media. A federal judge has already blocked portions of California’s existing law restricting addictive social media feeds while a legal challenge proceeds.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Newsom has not publicly indicated whether he will sign the bill, but he called on lawmakers to explore stricter youth online safety guardrails during his \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12069094/in-final-state-of-state-speech-gov-newsom-says-california-offers-model-for-the-nation\">final State of the State\u003c/a> address. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Newsom has not publicly indicated whether he will sign the bill, but he called on lawmakers to explore stricter youth online safety guardrails during his \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12069094/in-final-state-of-state-speech-gov-newsom-says-california-offers-model-for-the-nation\">final State of the State\u003c/a> address. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>California employers could face new limits on the use of AI to monitor workers. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/bills/ca_202520260ab1883\">AB 1883\u003c/a>, authored by Assemblymember Isaac Bryan (D-Los Angeles), would prohibit employers from using AI-powered workplace-surveillance tools to collect \u003ca href=\"https://law.stanford.edu/2024/12/02/what-are-neural-data-an-invitation-to-flexible-regulatory-implementation/\">neural data\u003c/a> — sensitive personal information from a user’s nervous system — or recognize an employee’s emotional state, with some exceptions. It also covers certain other AI-based inferences about workers and allows civil penalties of up to $500 per violation.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/bills/ca_202520260ab1883\">AB 1883\u003c/a>, authored by Assemblymember Isaac Bryan (D-Los Angeles), would prohibit employers from using AI-powered workplace-surveillance tools to collect \u003ca href=\"https://law.stanford.edu/2024/12/02/what-are-neural-data-an-invitation-to-flexible-regulatory-implementation/\">neural data\u003c/a> — sensitive personal information from a user’s nervous system — or recognize an employee’s emotional state, with some exceptions. It also covers certain other AI-based inferences about workers and allows civil penalties of up to $500 per violation.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The measure is part of a small but growing effort by states to regulate how employers use AI to monitor and manage their workers. California’s bill is unusually focused on technologies that attempt to infer what is happening inside an employee’s body or mind. There is a narrower approach in Illinois, which regulates AI-analyzed video interviews in hiring, and in Maryland, which restricts the use of facial-recognition technology.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The measure is part of a small but growing effort by states to regulate how employers use AI to monitor and manage their workers. California’s bill is unusually focused on technologies that attempt to infer what is happening inside an employee’s body or mind. There is a narrower approach in Illinois, which regulates AI-analyzed video interviews in hiring, and in Maryland, which restricts the use of facial-recognition technology.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/12/RS46155_GettyImages-1139953504-qut.jpg\" alt=\"""\" class=\"wp-image-11849216\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/12/RS46155_GettyImages-1139953504-qut.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/12/RS46155_GettyImages-1139953504-qut-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/12/RS46155_GettyImages-1139953504-qut-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/12/RS46155_GettyImages-1139953504-qut-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/12/RS46155_GettyImages-1139953504-qut-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A view of Slack headquarters on April 2, 2019, in San Francisco, California. \u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>AB 1883 was sponsored by major state labor unions and Privacy Rights Clearinghouse. Business groups representing various employers opposed the bill, ranging from the American Petroleum and Convenience Store Association to the Wine Institute.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>AB 1883 was sponsored by major state labor unions and Privacy Rights Clearinghouse. Business groups representing various employers opposed the bill, ranging from the American Petroleum and Convenience Store Association to the Wine Institute.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The legislation’s ambitions were softened in committees. The latest version exempts certain workplace-surveillance uses required by federal law, regulation or binding federal contracts involving aircraft, national security, military, space or defense work. Senate amendments also modified the bill’s enforcement provisions.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The legislation’s ambitions were softened in committees. The latest version exempts certain workplace-surveillance uses required by federal law, regulation or binding federal contracts involving aircraft, national security, military, space or defense work. Senate amendments also modified the bill’s enforcement provisions.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Still, the core prohibition survived.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Workers should have a general expectation of privacy in certain areas,” said Lorena Gonzalez, who heads up the powerful California Federation of Labor Unions, to KQED’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12097046/california-labor-leader-on-ai-bills-and-billionaire-tax-measure-splitting-unions\">Political Breakdown\u003c/a> last week. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“Workers should have a general expectation of privacy in certain areas,” said Lorena Gonzalez, who heads up the powerful California Federation of Labor Unions, to KQED’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12097046/california-labor-leader-on-ai-bills-and-billionaire-tax-measure-splitting-unions\">Political Breakdown\u003c/a> last week. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Employers, Gonzalez said, are able to take advantage of outdated laws that don’t account for changes in technology. Labor interests have been at the forefront of legislation addressing \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12076608/what-do-san-franciscos-ai-vs-humans-billboards-say-about-our-working-futures\">AI anxieties\u003c/a> this session. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“You don’t want the boss reading your mind,” Gonzalez added.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“You don’t want the boss reading your mind,” Gonzalez added.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The measure comes a year after Newsom vetoed the “No Robo Bosses Act,” which would have required employers to notify workers when AI was used in disciplinary or termination decisions and let employees challenge certain AI-generated decisions. In his \u003ca href=\"https://www.gov.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/SB-7-Veto.pdf\">veto message\u003c/a> last year, Newsom wrote the bill “imposes unfocused notification requirements on any business using even the most innocuous tools.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The measure comes a year after Newsom vetoed the “No Robo Bosses Act,” which would have required employers to notify workers when AI was used in disciplinary or termination decisions and let employees challenge certain AI-generated decisions. In his \u003ca href=\"https://www.gov.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/SB-7-Veto.pdf\">veto message\u003c/a> last year, Newsom wrote the bill “imposes unfocused notification requirements on any business using even the most innocuous tools.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>AB 1883 is narrower in scope. Rather than governing how AI makes decisions about workers, it bans a single, especially invasive use. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>AB 1883 is narrower in scope. Rather than governing how AI makes decisions about workers, it bans a single, especially invasive use. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Newsom has not said whether he will sign it. With a widely expected presidential run ahead, his decision will signal whether he’s willing to side with workers over employers and draw a hard line against AI that tries to read a worker’s mind.\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "California lawmakers took on data centers, addictive social media features and AI-powered workplace monitoring with this legislative session’s bills. Which will Newsom sign into law?",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\n\u003cp>California’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/politics\">legislative session\u003c/a> ended at midnight on Monday, and numerous bills ranging from housing to health care to technology cleared both the Senate and the Assembly.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Gov. Gavin Newsom has until Sept. 30 to decide whether he’ll veto or sign the measures. Here’s where some of the most closely watched \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/technology\">tech\u003c/a> bills landed.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Companion chatbots and children’s safety\u003cstrong> \u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>California lawmakers on Monday approved a sweeping set of safety requirements for artificial intelligence chatbots used by children and teens. The bill, known as \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/bills/ca_202520260sb1119\">Adam’s Law\u003c/a>, builds on last year’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12052617/newsoms-tightrope-walk-between-ai-regulation-and-silicon-valley-cash\">SB 243\u003c/a>, which required chatbot operators to disclose when users were interacting with AI companions and to maintain protocols for detecting self-harm content. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Co-authored by San Diego Democrat Sen. Steve Padilla and Assemblymembers Rebecca Bauer-Kahan (D-Orinda) and Buffy Wicks (D-Oakland), the bill adds requirements for user age checks, safety-risk assessments before new or substantially modified companion chatbots are released, independent audits and crisis-support resources. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/GettyImages-2159671948-scaled-e1781542152687.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12058035\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Close-up of a phone screen in Lafayette, California, on June 27, 2024, displaying Claude, a generative artificial intelligence chatbot from Anthropic powered by large language model (or LLM). (Smith Collection/Gado via Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The bill also requires default protections for young users, including limits on notifications, usage and persistent conversational memory. It restricts targeted advertising to children and imposes additional privacy protections. Chatbot operators could face liability for failing to take reasonable measures to prevent certain harmful outputs, including content involving self-harm, sexually explicit material, romantic role-playing and emotionally manipulative behavior. Families would have a private right of redress for certain violations. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The legislation is named for \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12080610/california-mom-who-lost-her-son-to-an-ai-chatbot-is-now-fighting-to-regulate-them\">Adam Raine\u003c/a>, a California teenager who died by suicide in 2025. Raine’s parents have said that Adam spent months discussing his loneliness and plans to harm himself with ChatGPT before his death. In a joint statement released after the bill successfully passed through the Legislature, Maria Raine called it “a serious and much-needed step forward for AI companion chatbot safety.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>This year, lawmakers also passed another bill by Padilla that enacts a four-year moratorium on the sale and manufacturing of AI-chatbot-powered toys over concerns that the technology can harm children.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The technology industry has not been uniformly opposed. OpenAI supports SB 1119 and has urged Newsom to sign it, saying the legislation establishes meaningful safeguards while preserving young people’s ability to use AI for learning, creativity and other purposes. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Teens are the first generation growing up with AI,” OpenAI said in a \u003ca href=\"https://openai.com/index/supporting-california-bill-advance-ai-youth-safety/\">statement\u003c/a>. “Nearly nine in ten teens who use ChatGPT turn to it for learning, information, skill-building, or productivity in a given week.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“That opportunity comes with a clear responsibility: teens should have experiences designed around their distinct developmental needs, with strong default protections and appropriate opportunities to learn, create, and explore.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Opponents of the legislation include the California Chamber of Commerce, the Software Information Industry Association and TechNet.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Newsom vetoed a \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12059714/newsom-vetoes-most-watched-childrens-ai-bill-signs-16-others-targeting-tech\">stronger child-safety bill\u003c/a> last year after raising concerns that its restrictions could effectively prevent teenagers from accessing conversational AI. Though his office has not indicated whether Newsom will sign, the version now on his desk was negotiated with those concerns in mind. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003cstrong>Data centers and ratepayer protections \u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>California lawmakers on Monday approved two linked bills that would require the state to establish special rules for how large data centers pay for electricity and the infrastructure needed to serve them.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/bills/ca_202520260sb886\">SB 886\u003c/a>, also authored by Padilla, and \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/bills/ca_202520260ab2383\">AB 2383\u003c/a>, by Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur (D-Los Angeles), would require the California Public Utilities Commission to create separate electricity rates and updated interconnection rules for data centers. The measures are designed to prevent electricity customers from bearing the costs of new power generation and grid upgrades needed to serve the facilities. AB 2383 is contingent on SB 886 becoming law. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Big Tech keeps promising to be good neighbors, and these bills will make those promises legally enforceable,” Padilla said in a press release celebrating the passage of SB 886 and a related bill, \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/bills/ca_202520260sb887\">887\u003c/a>. “No more saying one thing in the White House and doing the opposite in our local communities.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1980\" height=\"1231\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/GettyImages-2267080472.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12094084\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/GettyImages-2267080472.jpg 1980w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/GettyImages-2267080472-160x99.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/GettyImages-2267080472-1536x955.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1980px) 100vw, 1980px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">San Diego Democrat Sen. Steve Padilla. (Nelvin C. Cepeda/The San Diego Union-Tribune via Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The legislation follows a year of intensifying political pressure over the expansion of data centers, which are being built to meet the enormous computing demands of AI. California has fewer giant data centers than Virginia and Texas, but the state still has \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/forum/2010101912379/californias-ai-data-centers-taking-growing-environmental-toll\">one of the largest counts overall\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The facilities have \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12028158/crackdown-on-power-guzzling-data-centers-may-soon-come-online-in-california\">generated growing concern\u003c/a> over their electricity and water use, as well as the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12064265/new-report-reveals-strain-of-data-centers-on-californias-grid\">lack of transparency\u003c/a> about their potential effect on utility bills. A Public Policy Institute of California poll released in July found that \u003ca href=\"https://www.ppic.org/publication/ppic-statewide-survey-californians-and-the-environment-july-2026/\">73%\u003c/a> of Californians opposed building data centers in their communities. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In March 2026, the Little Hoover Commission released \u003ca href=\"https://lhc.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/LHC-Report-292-Data-Centers-California-Electricity-Policy-FINAL-PUBLIC-3.3.26.pdf\">\u003cem>Data Centers and California Electricity Policy\u003c/em>\u003c/a>, a report that explicitly recommends making tech companies and data center developers cover their own grid-integration costs rather than shifting the burden to everyday ratepayers. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“California’s electricity rates are among the highest in the nation, and affordability remains a top concern for residents,” the report states.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Supporters — including The Utility Reform Network, the Union of Concerned Scientists, the Natural Resources Defense Council and utility-worker unions — argued that companies building the facilities should pay for the infrastructure their electricity demand requires. Bill sponsor TURN pointed to a California grid-planning estimate that increased demand from data centers in PG&E’s service territory, where most of the state’s projects are concentrated, could generate as much as $1.8 billion in transmission-upgrade costs. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260829-oakdatacentermeeting-TV00394_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12097519\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260829-oakdatacentermeeting-TV00394_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260829-oakdatacentermeeting-TV00394_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260829-oakdatacentermeeting-TV00394_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A flyer that says, “No Data Center,” is posted at the Church of All Faiths in Oakland, California, on Aug. 29, 2026. (Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The Data Center Coalition, which represents companies including Google and Microsoft, opposed the legislation, arguing that it unfairly singled out one type of electricity customer. PG&E also opposed the original approach, warning that it could increase costs for customers and delay infrastructure needed to meet the state’s broader energy demand. Business groups argued that California’s high energy costs, limited land and additional regulation could make the state less attractive for data-center development. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The bills were substantially worked over in the final weeks of the session. Earlier drafts were far more prescriptive, including provisions for mandatory on-site batteries and 100% carbon-free power for data centers by 2030. Both were stripped out in favor of giving the CPUC until July 1, 2027, to establish special tariffs and rules. Newsom and regulators in turn secured more control over how the new rate structure will work. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The final compromise drew criticism from some environmental and consumer advocates. They say data centers could find loopholes to avoid paying some grid costs and wriggle out of clean-energy requirements for facilities that generate their own electricity. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Newsom’s position has shifted noticeably during the course of the debate. Last year, he \u003ca href=\"https://www.gov.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/AB-93-Veto.pdf\">vetoed \u003c/a>legislation requiring data centers to disclose their water consumption, writing: “I am reluctant to impose rigid reporting requirements about operational details on this sector without understanding the full impact on businesses and the consumers of their technology.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1337\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GavinJenniferNewsomGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12087658\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GavinJenniferNewsomGetty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GavinJenniferNewsomGetty-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GavinJenniferNewsomGetty-1536x1027.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks as his wife, Jennifer Siebel Newsom (left), looks on during an election night gathering at California Democratic headquarters in Sacramento, California, on Nov. 4, 2025. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>This year, however, Newsom became directly involved in negotiations over both bills. On Monday in the state Capitol, he said his administration had been working with lawmakers on several data-center bills, and that the final versions “landed fairly well,” \u003ca href=\"https://www.politico.com/news/2026/09/01/california-lawmakers-big-swing-newsom-data-centers-01058848\">\u003cem>Politico \u003c/em>reported\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“You’re seeing states all across this country leaning in,” Newsom said. “We’ll be leaning in.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>He also said last month that companies, rather than other electricity customers, should bear the costs associated with their data-center investments. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We believe that all of these investments, the costs, should be borne by the companies,” Newsom said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>That makes a Newsom signature more likely here than it appeared earlier in the year, although the governor has not formally committed to signing either bill.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Social media’s addictive features\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The California Senate \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/bills/ca_202520260ab1709\">voted\u003c/a> to bar social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok from offering certain addictive features to users younger than 16. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The measure, authored by Assemblymember Josh Lowenthal (D-Long Beach), targets features on so-called “covered platforms” — which predominantly share user-generated content — designed to keep people engaged, including algorithmically driven feeds and other mechanisms that can encourage prolonged use. It also would establish an e-Safety Advisory Commission within the California Department of Justice to advise state officials on online safety and report annually to the governor and Legislature.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Common Sense Media, which sponsored the bill, is among its major supporters, along with Mothers Against Media Addiction and the American Academy of Pediatrics. The bill was amended as it moved through the Legislature, narrowing some of its provisions and changing how the state would oversee online safety. For supporters, the changes don’t go nearly far enough. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/AIGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12092171\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/AIGetty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/AIGetty-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/AIGetty-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A 14-year-old boy looks at an iPhone screen displaying various social media and messaging apps on March 29, 2026. (Anna Barclay/Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Jim Steyer, founder and CEO of Common Sense Media, \u003ca href=\"https://www.commonsensemedia.org/press-releases/common-sense-media-statement-on-passage-of-ab-1709\">wrote Monday\u003c/a> that \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12096647/why-metas-landmark-settlement-could-be-social-medias-big-tobacco-moment\">recent litigation\u003c/a> against major technology companies has exposed how deliberately social media platforms have been designed to keep children engaged.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Social media companies have engineered their products to hook children, and their own researchers proved it worked,” Steyer said in a statement. “Parents cannot out-parent an algorithm built in a lab to keep kids scrolling.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The Electronic Frontier Foundation, Civil Justice Association of California and trade group NetChoice, which represents major technology companies including Google, Meta and Snap, oppose the measure. Civil liberties advocates, in particular, have raised First Amendment and privacy concerns, particularly around how platforms would determine which users are under 16 and which features should be considered addictive.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“This well-intentioned, but deeply flawed piece of legislation, cuts young people off from essential information and experiences, particularly harming vulnerable youth and marginalized groups who often find safety in supportive online communities they can’t access offline,” the EFF \u003ca href=\"https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2026/08/eff-gov-newsom-veto-californias-ab-1709\">wrote\u003c/a> in a statement.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Newsom has already signed several California laws aimed at \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12005803/newsom-signs-law-to-protect-children-from-social-media-addiction\">protecting children online\u003c/a>, including legislation requiring warning labels on social media platforms. But AB 1709 could face the same free-speech and age-verification challenges that have complicated the state’s broader effort to regulate social media. A federal judge has already blocked portions of California’s existing law restricting addictive social media feeds while a legal challenge proceeds.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Newsom has not publicly indicated whether he will sign the bill, but he called on lawmakers to explore stricter youth online safety guardrails during his \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12069094/in-final-state-of-state-speech-gov-newsom-says-california-offers-model-for-the-nation\">final State of the State\u003c/a> address. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Workplace surveillance\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>California employers could face new limits on the use of AI to monitor workers. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/bills/ca_202520260ab1883\">AB 1883\u003c/a>, authored by Assemblymember Isaac Bryan (D-Los Angeles), would prohibit employers from using AI-powered workplace-surveillance tools to collect \u003ca href=\"https://law.stanford.edu/2024/12/02/what-are-neural-data-an-invitation-to-flexible-regulatory-implementation/\">neural data\u003c/a> — sensitive personal information from a user’s nervous system — or recognize an employee’s emotional state, with some exceptions. It also covers certain other AI-based inferences about workers and allows civil penalties of up to $500 per violation.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The measure is part of a small but growing effort by states to regulate how employers use AI to monitor and manage their workers. California’s bill is unusually focused on technologies that attempt to infer what is happening inside an employee’s body or mind. There is a narrower approach in Illinois, which regulates AI-analyzed video interviews in hiring, and in Maryland, which restricts the use of facial-recognition technology.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/12/RS46155_GettyImages-1139953504-qut.jpg\" alt=\"""\" class=\"wp-image-11849216\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/12/RS46155_GettyImages-1139953504-qut.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/12/RS46155_GettyImages-1139953504-qut-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/12/RS46155_GettyImages-1139953504-qut-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/12/RS46155_GettyImages-1139953504-qut-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/12/RS46155_GettyImages-1139953504-qut-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A view of Slack headquarters on April 2, 2019, in San Francisco, California. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>AB 1883 was sponsored by major state labor unions and Privacy Rights Clearinghouse. Business groups representing various employers opposed the bill, ranging from the American Petroleum and Convenience Store Association to the Wine Institute.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The legislation’s ambitions were softened in committees. The latest version exempts certain workplace-surveillance uses required by federal law, regulation or binding federal contracts involving aircraft, national security, military, space or defense work. Senate amendments also modified the bill’s enforcement provisions.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Still, the core prohibition survived.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Workers should have a general expectation of privacy in certain areas,” said Lorena Gonzalez, who heads up the powerful California Federation of Labor Unions, to KQED’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12097046/california-labor-leader-on-ai-bills-and-billionaire-tax-measure-splitting-unions\">Political Breakdown\u003c/a> last week. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Employers, Gonzalez said, are able to take advantage of outdated laws that don’t account for changes in technology. Labor interests have been at the forefront of legislation addressing \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12076608/what-do-san-franciscos-ai-vs-humans-billboards-say-about-our-working-futures\">AI anxieties\u003c/a> this session. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“You don’t want the boss reading your mind,” Gonzalez added.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The measure comes a year after Newsom vetoed the “No Robo Bosses Act,” which would have required employers to notify workers when AI was used in disciplinary or termination decisions and let employees challenge certain AI-generated decisions. In his \u003ca href=\"https://www.gov.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/SB-7-Veto.pdf\">veto message\u003c/a> last year, Newsom wrote the bill “imposes unfocused notification requirements on any business using even the most innocuous tools.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>AB 1883 is narrower in scope. Rather than governing how AI makes decisions about workers, it bans a single, especially invasive use. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Newsom has not said whether he will sign it. With a widely expected presidential run ahead, his decision will signal whether he’s willing to side with workers over employers and draw a hard line against AI that tries to read a worker’s mind.\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "el-nino-could-bring-a-wet-wild-winter-how-can-you-and-your-home-be-ready",
"title": "El Niño Could Bring a Wet, Wild Winter. How Can You — and Your Home — Be Ready?",
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"headTitle": "El Niño Could Bring a Wet, Wild Winter. How Can You — and Your Home — Be Ready? | KQED",
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},
"content": "\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/2001688/strong-el-nino-may-bring-record-sea-level-and-coastal-flooding-to-bay-area\">Higher seas\u003c/a>. Back-to-back storms. Mudslides. Flooded homes and highways. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The mere mention of El Niño — and the headlines you’re seeing — can be anxiety-provoking. But how real should your worry be? And what can you do to protect your home, business, or property in advance?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>First, the outlook: Federal forecasters report there’s a \u003ca href=\"https://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/analysis_monitoring/enso_advisory/ensodisc.html\">90% chance of a “very strong” El Niño\u003c/a> this fall and winter, and a nearly 70% chance that the strength of El Niño could exceed the strength of any similar event seen since 1950.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Bay Area cities and counties prone to flooding from the sky and the bay, like San Francisco and Marin, are already taking the El Niño threat seriously and preparing for the worst: deluges that could combine with high tides and temporarily elevated sea levels to potentially swamp whole neighborhoods and roadways, including Highway 101.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We’ve had situations in the past where we’ve had to evacuate blocks,” said Mary Ellen Carroll, executive director of San Francisco’s Department of Emergency Management. “We’re having much more severe weather situations, and we’re seeing things that we haven’t seen in the past.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/061526Flooding_GH_001-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12087662\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/061526Flooding_GH_001-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/061526Flooding_GH_001-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/061526Flooding_GH_001-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A puddle left behind by receding king tides reflects homes along Golden Hind Passage in Corte Madera on June 15, 2026. (Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Marin County officials are paying close attention to the confluence of El Niño-driven elevated sea levels, seasonal king tides, and the potential for frequent storms that could hammer the region. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We don’t know if it’s going to rain, but we are going to \u003cem>plan \u003c/em>for it to rain a significant amount,” said Steven Torrence, director of emergency management for Marin County. “Water has to go somewhere, and if it can’t go to the bay, we want to be able to push it to locations where it actually will not impact our residents or people’s infrastructure.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Counties and cities are preparing by investing in temporary pumps, cleaning storm drains, working with partner agencies to ensure people aren’t on Bay Area roads during flooding and sending emergency alerts out swiftly when danger arises.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“If you want to know about significant traffic incidents, upcoming floods or significant storms, we will send out notifications once thresholds are hit,” Torrence said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Here’s what to know about how El Niño could affect your home and your safety this winter — not to panic you, but so you’re prepared for what might happen in a few months.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">First off, what is El Niño — and what kind of weather could it bring exactly?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>El Niño forms when tropical \u003ca href=\"https://www.nesdis.noaa.gov/about/k-12-education/atmosphere/what-are-trade-winds\">trade winds\u003c/a> weaken or reverse, allowing warm ocean water near Asia to slosh toward the Pacific Coast. That warming can reshape the jet stream and bring stormier weather across California while disrupting the ocean’s nutrient-rich \u003ca href=\"https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/upwelling.html\">upwelling\u003c/a>, heating coastal waters, raising sea levels and stressing marine life.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Exactly what the weather will look like this fall and winter is — quite literally — still up in the air. But similar events in past El Niño years have brought torrential downpours, coastal flooding, mudslides, power outages and giant waves.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The Climate Prediction Center suggests that much of California will experience \u003ca href=\"https://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/analysis_monitoring/enso_advisory/ensodisc.html\">above-normal temperatures this fall \u003cem>and \u003c/em>precipitation\u003c/a> this winter. Earlier in the fall, forecasters expect warm and wet weather in Southern California, the Central Coast, and in the South and East Bays. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/FloodingMarinCountyAP.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12068729\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/FloodingMarinCountyAP.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/FloodingMarinCountyAP-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/FloodingMarinCountyAP-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Cars drive on Highway 101 flooded by the “King Tides” on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026, near Corte Madera in Marin County, California. (Ethan Swope/AP Photo)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>And come December, there’s potential for above-normal precipitation throughout Northern California. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Rachel Kennedy, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service’s Bay Area office, said the Bay Area sits in this interesting transition zone with “drier conditions to the north and wetter conditions to the south.” As a result, the Bay Area could “go either way.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Kennedy said, “It is getting more likely that we will see a rainy winter, but we will need to keep an eye on it. Exactly how much it’s going to be above normal, we don’t really know.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“But the fact that the CPC has started indicating leaning above normal for precipitation is a good sign that we are trending towards a wetter winter,” she said\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Could where I live be at risk of flooding from El Niño?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The effects of El Niño — \u003ca href=\"https://www.sf.gov/severe-storms\">severe rainstorms\u003c/a> that flood homes and roadways, strong winds toppling trees, temporarily higher seas and giant waves eroding bluffs — have the potential to directly affect Bay Area homes from Pacifica to San Francisco to San Rafael.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Kennedy said most of the flooding would likely come from \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1935067/rivers-in-the-sky-what-you-need-to-know-about-atmospheric-river-storms\">atmospheric rivers\u003c/a> that can fuel storms, but also from rising seas, which will be even higher during extra-high \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1955598/king-tides-are-here-why-they-happen-and-what-they-teach-us\">king tides\u003c/a> right around Thanksgiving and Christmas.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“If you live in an area close to a river or just a more flood-prone area, make sure you are staying up to date on the forecast,” Kennedy said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Carroll said it’s important to take stock of where you live and the flood potential of your home. Are you on a hill? Near a river or the bay? Near a highway that floods? Are there big trees near your home that could fall over in or after a storm? \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>She suggests looking up flood maps of your home and neighborhood as a starting place to understand your home and family’s flood risk, like this \u003ca href=\"https://www.arcgis.com/apps/dashboards/9b14420bdefc427981b1c244f0113328#\">map of San Francisco’s storm and flood hazards\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">All this is making me worried about my home during El Niño. Should I be doing any preparation?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Prevention is the number one thing emergency preparedness experts say homeowners should act on in the months before the rainy season. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>This includes everything from clearing out gutters, patching up roofs and trimming trees to ensure low-lying areas, such as creeks or roads, are free of debris — so they don’t get backed up during a storm or high tide.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Make sure those are cleared out, because the moment there’s a tree that’s in the wrong location, water starts flowing everywhere,” Torrence said. “We really wanna make sure that everyone is looking at preventative maintenance as something that they can do today, long before it starts raining\u003cem>.”\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/061526Flooding_GH_011-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12087668\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/061526Flooding_GH_011-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/061526Flooding_GH_011-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/061526Flooding_GH_011-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Plastic sheeting and sandbags are placed outside a home along Golden Hind Passage, as residents prepare for potential king tide flooding, in Corte Madera, on June 15, 2026. (Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Torrence said homeowners in areas that can or routinely flood should also invest in sandbags or flood barriers to protect their assets. Your county may be making these tools available: The County of Marin has \u003ca href=\"https://emergency.marincounty.gov/find-emergency-sandbags\">32 sites\u003c/a> already offering sandbags, and the San Francisco Department of Public Works offers \u003ca href=\"https://sfpublicworks.org/services/sandbags\">10 free sandbags\u003c/a> per household.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Carroll, in \u003ca href=\"https://www.sf.gov/severe-storms\">San Francisco\u003c/a>, also said residents should be \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11778663/how-to-prepare-for-potential-pge-power-shutoffs\">ready for power outages \u003c/a>by purchasing backup batteries, flashlights, and nonperishable food. It’s also important to develop a plan — “on a good day,” she stressed — with your family and neighbors in case disaster strikes. As part of this, you should make sure all your important documentation — passports, birth certificates, etc. — is in a safe place, ideally even in a container you can easily grab when evacuating.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Anyone who gets evacuated will tell you they have no idea why they grabbed the things they did,” Carroll said. “I have a list on my refrigerator to remind me of what to take if I had to get out quickly.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>When it comes to your neighborhood, residents should also make sure storm drains are clear of debris to reduce the risk of a water backup that could flood your street. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>San Francisco has an \u003ca href=\"https://adoptadrain.sfwater.org/\">Adopt-A-Drain\u003c/a> program where people can name their drain and are responsible for helping the city clear leaves, trash, and other debris from it. Around KQED’s offices, for example, \u003ca href=\"https://adoptadrain.sfwater.org/#scl\">named drains\u003c/a> include ‘Drain Me Baby One More Time,’ Singin’ in the Drain and ‘No Pain No Drain’.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Since storms can occur during holidays, Torrence said it is important to build relationships with neighbors who can check on your home or alert you if damage occurs. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">I’m a renter. Do I have any responsibility for El Niño preparations — or liability if the worst happens? \u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Carroll said yes, renters should follow a similar plan to prepare for the potential consequences of downpours, power outages, flooding, and falling trees (see above). \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But, she said, landlords are usually responsible for the upkeep of their property. And renters should ask questions like: Should we be worried about this area that ponds water? What if the power goes out? Or it flooded last year in my apartment or the basement; has that been mitigated?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Torrence, with the County of Marin, said renters should review their lease agreement to understand their burden here versus their landlord’s, because not all leases are the same. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/MarinCountyFloodingAP.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12068651\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/MarinCountyFloodingAP.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/MarinCountyFloodingAP-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/MarinCountyFloodingAP-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">People paddle through a street flooded by the “King Tides,” occurring when the sun, moon and Earth align, causing a stronger gravitational pull on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026, near Corte Madera in Marin County, California. (Ethan Swope/AP Photo)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“If there are things that are on the property owner, please let them know, things like looking at trees and landscaping,” Torrence said. “We definitely encourage people to have those conversations with property owners \u003cem>early\u003c/em>.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Bringing up issues with landlords before the storm season starts is important, Torrence said, because property owners often travel for the winter or are on holiday during the period with the greatest impacts. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Make sure you bring issues up to your property owners’ attention by saying what’s happened when it’s windy and rainy,” Torrence said. “That way they can advance those mitigation measures.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Torrence also said it’s important to check what is covered in your renters insurance. If you live in a flood-prone area, purchasing a plan could prove beneficial if the worst happens. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Double-check what [your] renters insurance policy is and have a conversation with your property owner to figure out what they cover?” Torrence said. “Because when we have these incidents, that is too late to be looking at your insurance policy.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How could El Niño affect my travel plans this winter?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Two other areas to pay attention to when the skies darken and the sea rises: travel on highways and flights from local airports.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“If you are traveling either on the road or flying during a storm, the roadways are going to be wet, and you’re likely going to encounter difficulties in visibility, particularly if you experience moderate to heavy rainfall,” Kennedy said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/GettyImages-2252559644-scaled-e1766441297618.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12068282\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Heavy rains cause flooding in the streets of San Francisco, California, on Dec. 22, 2025, as a storm system pummels Northern California. (Jessica Christian/San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>She also said to expect flooded roadways at times and gusty winds. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“If you feel unsafe while driving, make sure to pull off the road, or if you feel safe enough to continue, make sure you are driving slowly and leaving extra time to reach your destination,” Kennedy said. \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11936674/how-to-prepare-for-this-weeks-atmospheric-river-storm-sandbags-emergency-kits-and-more#driving\">Read our guide to driving during very wet weather.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>And if you’re on a flight during a storm, be prepared for travel delays due to turbulence, she said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How can I make sure I’m aware of El Niño-related emergencies and extreme weather in my area? \u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The first stop experts suggest Bay Area residents should check for information during a flood event or storm is the \u003ca href=\"https://www.weather.gov/mtr/\">National Weather Service\u003c/a>. Check out the service’s website to find out where and when the storm will hit your area. Forecasters regularly update the site with warnings and provide a detailed daily \u003ca href=\"https://forecast.weather.gov/product.php?site=mtr&issuedby=MTR&product=AFD\">forecast discussion\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Secondly, Bay Area residents can sign up for emergency alerts from their city or county. Marin County runs a \u003ca href=\"http://emergency.marincounty.gov\">public emergency portal\u003c/a> 24/7, as does \u003ca href=\"https://member.everbridge.net/453003085612609/login\">San Francisco\u003c/a>. Often, city, county, or fire department Facebook or X (formerly Twitter) pages post evacuation orders, flood updates, or virtual town halls. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1999\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/SeaLevel_005_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12017037\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/SeaLevel_005_qed.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/SeaLevel_005_qed-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/SeaLevel_005_qed-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/SeaLevel_005_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/SeaLevel_005_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/SeaLevel_005_qed-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A sign stating “slippery when wet subject to flooding and water surge” at the Embarcadero’s seawall between the bustling city and water in San Francisco, California, on May 1, 2018. (Lauren Hanussak/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Don’t necessarily expect your phone’s maps app to have the latest information during extreme weather. “We encourage people to look at that website, especially during major flooding incidents because oftentimes we have the information before it shows up on Google Maps or Apple Maps,” Torrence said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Marin County residents can also sign up for emergency alerts through \u003ca href=\"https://emergency.marincounty.gov/sign-alertmarin\">Alert Marin\u003c/a>. The county will send out alerts once two inches of rain fall in an hour or three inches in 24 hours.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Where to sign up for Bay Area emergency alerts to be ready for El Niño \u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Bay Area county alerts\u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003cul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\u003cli>Alameda County: \u003ca href=\"https://member.everbridge.net/453003085612570/notif\">ACAlerts\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>Contra Costa County: \u003ca href=\"https://cwsalerts.com/\">Community Warning System\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>Marin County: \u003ca href=\"https://emergency.marincounty.gov/sign-alertmarin\">Alert Marin\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>Napa County: \u003ca href=\"https://www.readynapacounty.gov/214/ALERT-Napa-County\">Alert Napa County\u003c/a> \u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>San Francisco: \u003ca href=\"https://www.sf.gov/information--be-know-official-emergency-alerts\">Alert SF\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://www.sf.gov/readysf\">Ready SF \u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>San Mateo County: \u003ca href=\"https://www.smcgov.org/dem/smc-alert\">SMC Alert\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>Santa Clara County: \u003ca href=\"https://oem.santaclaracounty.gov/sign-up-for-alerts\">Alert SCC\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>Solano County: \u003ca href=\"https://www.solanocounty.gov/government/office-emergency-services/alert-solano\">Alert Solano\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>Sonoma County: \u003ca href=\"https://sonomacounty.gov/administrative-support-and-fiscal-services/emergency-management/resources/soco-alert\">SoCo Alert\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1999\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/07/240313-BART-CRISIS-INTERVENTION-UNIT-MD-16_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-11993195\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/07/240313-BART-CRISIS-INTERVENTION-UNIT-MD-16_qed.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/07/240313-BART-CRISIS-INTERVENTION-UNIT-MD-16_qed-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/07/240313-BART-CRISIS-INTERVENTION-UNIT-MD-16_qed-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/07/240313-BART-CRISIS-INTERVENTION-UNIT-MD-16_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/07/240313-BART-CRISIS-INTERVENTION-UNIT-MD-16_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/07/240313-BART-CRISIS-INTERVENTION-UNIT-MD-16_qed-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A train approaches the San Leandro BART station on March 13, 2024. (Martin do Nascimento/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Bay Area transit alerts\u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003cul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\u003cli>Bay Area Highways: \u003ca href=\"https://511.org/realtime/emergencies\">511Alert\u003c/a> (text 511Alert to 888-777)\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.bart.gov/schedules/advisories?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">BART Service Alerts\u003c/a> \u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.caltrain.com/alerts?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">Caltrain Alerts\u003c/a> \u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.vta.gov/go/service-alerts?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">VTA Service Alerts / VTAlerts\u003c/a> \u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.sfmta.com/getting-around/muni/muni-alerts\">SFMTA/Muni Alerts\u003c/a> \u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.actransit.org/service-alerts\">AC Transit Alerts\u003c/a>: Bus delays, detours, cancellations and service disruptions in the East Bay\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"http://b\">SamTrans Alerts\u003c/a>: Bus disruptions and service changes in San Mateo County\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.goldengate.org/alert_signup/\">Golden Gate Transit/Ferry Alerts\u003c/a>: Bus and ferry cancellations, delays, and service changes affecting Marin, Sonoma and San Francisco\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://sanfranciscobayferry.com/real-time-text-and-email-alerts-now-available-for-san-francisco-bay-ferry-riders/\">San Francisco Bay Ferry Alerts\u003c/a>: Ferry cancellations, delays and service changes\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"http://sonomamarintrain.org/transitapp\">SMART Alerts\u003c/a>: Train disruptions and service changes in Marin and Sonoma counties\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://countyconnection.com/alerts/\">County Connection Alerts\u003c/a>: Contra Costa bus service\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://trideltatransit.com/e-alerts/\">Tri Delta Transit Alerts\u003c/a>: Eastern Contra Costa County\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.westcat.org/textalerts\">WestCAT Alerts\u003c/a>: Western Contra Costa County\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.wheelsbus.com/alerts/\">Wheels Alerts\u003c/a>: Tri-Valley/Alameda County\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.soltrans.org/alerts\">SolTrans Alerts\u003c/a>: Solano County\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://fasttransit.org/\">FAST Alerts\u003c/a>: Fairfield/Suisun Transit\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://vinetransit.com/\">Napa VINE Alerts\u003c/a>: Napa County transit\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/2001688/strong-el-nino-may-bring-record-sea-level-and-coastal-flooding-to-bay-area\">Higher seas\u003c/a>. Back-to-back storms. Mudslides. Flooded homes and highways. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/2001688/strong-el-nino-may-bring-record-sea-level-and-coastal-flooding-to-bay-area\">Higher seas\u003c/a>. Back-to-back storms. Mudslides. Flooded homes and highways. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The mere mention of El Niño — and the headlines you’re seeing — can be anxiety-provoking. But how real should your worry be? And what can you do to protect your home, business, or property in advance?\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>The mere mention of El Niño — and the headlines you’re seeing — can be anxiety-provoking. But how real should your worry be? And what can you do to protect your home, business, or property in advance?\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>First, the outlook: Federal forecasters report there’s a \u003ca href=\"https://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/analysis_monitoring/enso_advisory/ensodisc.html\">90% chance of a “very strong” El Niño\u003c/a> this fall and winter, and a nearly 70% chance that the strength of El Niño could exceed the strength of any similar event seen since 1950.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>First, the outlook: Federal forecasters report there’s a \u003ca href=\"https://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/analysis_monitoring/enso_advisory/ensodisc.html\">90% chance of a “very strong” El Niño\u003c/a> this fall and winter, and a nearly 70% chance that the strength of El Niño could exceed the strength of any similar event seen since 1950.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Bay Area cities and counties prone to flooding from the sky and the bay, like San Francisco and Marin, are already taking the El Niño threat seriously and preparing for the worst: deluges that could combine with high tides and temporarily elevated sea levels to potentially swamp whole neighborhoods and roadways, including Highway 101.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Bay Area cities and counties prone to flooding from the sky and the bay, like San Francisco and Marin, are already taking the El Niño threat seriously and preparing for the worst: deluges that could combine with high tides and temporarily elevated sea levels to potentially swamp whole neighborhoods and roadways, including Highway 101.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“We’ve had situations in the past where we’ve had to evacuate blocks,” said Mary Ellen Carroll, executive director of San Francisco’s Department of Emergency Management. “We’re having much more severe weather situations, and we’re seeing things that we haven’t seen in the past.”\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“We’ve had situations in the past where we’ve had to evacuate blocks,” said Mary Ellen Carroll, executive director of San Francisco’s Department of Emergency Management. “We’re having much more severe weather situations, and we’re seeing things that we haven’t seen in the past.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/061526Flooding_GH_001-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12087662\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/061526Flooding_GH_001-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/061526Flooding_GH_001-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/061526Flooding_GH_001-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A puddle left behind by receding king tides reflects homes along Golden Hind Passage in Corte Madera on June 15, 2026.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/061526Flooding_GH_001-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12087662\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A puddle left behind by receding king tides reflects homes along Golden Hind Passage in Corte Madera on June 15, 2026.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Marin County officials are paying close attention to the confluence of El Niño-driven elevated sea levels, seasonal king tides, and the potential for frequent storms that could hammer the region. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Marin County officials are paying close attention to the confluence of El Niño-driven elevated sea levels, seasonal king tides, and the potential for frequent storms that could hammer the region. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“We don’t know if it’s going to rain, but we are going to \u003cem>plan \u003c/em>for it to rain a significant amount,” said Steven Torrence, director of emergency management for Marin County. “Water has to go somewhere, and if it can’t go to the bay, we want to be able to push it to locations where it actually will not impact our residents or people’s infrastructure.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“We don’t know if it’s going to rain, but we are going to \u003cem>plan \u003c/em>for it to rain a significant amount,” said Steven Torrence, director of emergency management for Marin County. “Water has to go somewhere, and if it can’t go to the bay, we want to be able to push it to locations where it actually will not impact our residents or people’s infrastructure.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Counties and cities are preparing by investing in temporary pumps, cleaning storm drains, working with partner agencies to ensure people aren’t on Bay Area roads during flooding and sending emergency alerts out swiftly when danger arises.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Counties and cities are preparing by investing in temporary pumps, cleaning storm drains, working with partner agencies to ensure people aren’t on Bay Area roads during flooding and sending emergency alerts out swiftly when danger arises.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“If you want to know about significant traffic incidents, upcoming floods or significant storms, we will send out notifications once thresholds are hit,” Torrence said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“If you want to know about significant traffic incidents, upcoming floods or significant storms, we will send out notifications once thresholds are hit,” Torrence said.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Here’s what to know about how El Niño could affect your home and your safety this winter — not to panic you, but so you’re prepared for what might happen in a few months.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Here’s what to know about how El Niño could affect your home and your safety this winter — not to panic you, but so you’re prepared for what might happen in a few months.\u003c/p>\n"
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"blockName": "core/heading",
"attrs": {
"text": "First off, what is El Niño — and what kind of weather could it bring exactly?",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">First off, what is El Niño — and what kind of weather could it bring exactly?\u003c/h2>\n",
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"\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">First off, what is El Niño — and what kind of weather could it bring exactly?\u003c/h2>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>El Niño forms when tropical \u003ca href=\"https://www.nesdis.noaa.gov/about/k-12-education/atmosphere/what-are-trade-winds\">trade winds\u003c/a> weaken or reverse, allowing warm ocean water near Asia to slosh toward the Pacific Coast. That warming can reshape the jet stream and bring stormier weather across California while disrupting the ocean’s nutrient-rich \u003ca href=\"https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/upwelling.html\">upwelling\u003c/a>, heating coastal waters, raising sea levels and stressing marine life.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>El Niño forms when tropical \u003ca href=\"https://www.nesdis.noaa.gov/about/k-12-education/atmosphere/what-are-trade-winds\">trade winds\u003c/a> weaken or reverse, allowing warm ocean water near Asia to slosh toward the Pacific Coast. That warming can reshape the jet stream and bring stormier weather across California while disrupting the ocean’s nutrient-rich \u003ca href=\"https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/upwelling.html\">upwelling\u003c/a>, heating coastal waters, raising sea levels and stressing marine life.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Exactly what the weather will look like this fall and winter is — quite literally — still up in the air. But similar events in past El Niño years have brought torrential downpours, coastal flooding, mudslides, power outages and giant waves.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Exactly what the weather will look like this fall and winter is — quite literally — still up in the air. But similar events in past El Niño years have brought torrential downpours, coastal flooding, mudslides, power outages and giant waves.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The Climate Prediction Center suggests that much of California will experience \u003ca href=\"https://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/analysis_monitoring/enso_advisory/ensodisc.html\">above-normal temperatures this fall \u003cem>and \u003c/em>precipitation\u003c/a> this winter. Earlier in the fall, forecasters expect warm and wet weather in Southern California, the Central Coast, and in the South and East Bays. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>The Climate Prediction Center suggests that much of California will experience \u003ca href=\"https://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/analysis_monitoring/enso_advisory/ensodisc.html\">above-normal temperatures this fall \u003cem>and \u003c/em>precipitation\u003c/a> this winter. Earlier in the fall, forecasters expect warm and wet weather in Southern California, the Central Coast, and in the South and East Bays. \u003c/p>\n"
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"srcset": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/FloodingMarinCountyAP.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/FloodingMarinCountyAP-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/FloodingMarinCountyAP-1536x1024.jpg 1536w",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/FloodingMarinCountyAP.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12068729\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/FloodingMarinCountyAP.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/FloodingMarinCountyAP-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/FloodingMarinCountyAP-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Cars drive on Highway 101 flooded by the “King Tides” on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026, near Corte Madera in Marin County, California.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Ethan Swope/AP Photo)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/FloodingMarinCountyAP.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12068729\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Cars drive on Highway 101 flooded by the “King Tides” on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026, near Corte Madera in Marin County, California.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Ethan Swope/AP Photo)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>And come December, there’s potential for above-normal precipitation throughout Northern California. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>And come December, there’s potential for above-normal precipitation throughout Northern California. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Rachel Kennedy, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service’s Bay Area office, said the Bay Area sits in this interesting transition zone with “drier conditions to the north and wetter conditions to the south.” As a result, the Bay Area could “go either way.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Rachel Kennedy, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service’s Bay Area office, said the Bay Area sits in this interesting transition zone with “drier conditions to the north and wetter conditions to the south.” As a result, the Bay Area could “go either way.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Kennedy said, “It is getting more likely that we will see a rainy winter, but we will need to keep an eye on it. Exactly how much it’s going to be above normal, we don’t really know.” \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Kennedy said, “It is getting more likely that we will see a rainy winter, but we will need to keep an eye on it. Exactly how much it’s going to be above normal, we don’t really know.” \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“But the fact that the CPC has started indicating leaning above normal for precipitation is a good sign that we are trending towards a wetter winter,” she said\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“But the fact that the CPC has started indicating leaning above normal for precipitation is a good sign that we are trending towards a wetter winter,” she said\u003c/p>\n"
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"blockName": "core/heading",
"attrs": {
"text": "Could where I live be at risk of flooding from El Niño?",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Could where I live be at risk of flooding from El Niño?\u003c/h2>\n",
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"\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Could where I live be at risk of flooding from El Niño?\u003c/h2>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The effects of El Niño — \u003ca href=\"https://www.sf.gov/severe-storms\">severe rainstorms\u003c/a> that flood homes and roadways, strong winds toppling trees, temporarily higher seas and giant waves eroding bluffs — have the potential to directly affect Bay Area homes from Pacifica to San Francisco to San Rafael.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The effects of El Niño — \u003ca href=\"https://www.sf.gov/severe-storms\">severe rainstorms\u003c/a> that flood homes and roadways, strong winds toppling trees, temporarily higher seas and giant waves eroding bluffs — have the potential to directly affect Bay Area homes from Pacifica to San Francisco to San Rafael.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Kennedy said most of the flooding would likely come from \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1935067/rivers-in-the-sky-what-you-need-to-know-about-atmospheric-river-storms\">atmospheric rivers\u003c/a> that can fuel storms, but also from rising seas, which will be even higher during extra-high \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1955598/king-tides-are-here-why-they-happen-and-what-they-teach-us\">king tides\u003c/a> right around Thanksgiving and Christmas.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Kennedy said most of the flooding would likely come from \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1935067/rivers-in-the-sky-what-you-need-to-know-about-atmospheric-river-storms\">atmospheric rivers\u003c/a> that can fuel storms, but also from rising seas, which will be even higher during extra-high \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1955598/king-tides-are-here-why-they-happen-and-what-they-teach-us\">king tides\u003c/a> right around Thanksgiving and Christmas.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“If you live in an area close to a river or just a more flood-prone area, make sure you are staying up to date on the forecast,” Kennedy said. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“If you live in an area close to a river or just a more flood-prone area, make sure you are staying up to date on the forecast,” Kennedy said. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Carroll said it’s important to take stock of where you live and the flood potential of your home. Are you on a hill? Near a river or the bay? Near a highway that floods? Are there big trees near your home that could fall over in or after a storm? \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Carroll said it’s important to take stock of where you live and the flood potential of your home. Are you on a hill? Near a river or the bay? Near a highway that floods? Are there big trees near your home that could fall over in or after a storm? \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>She suggests looking up flood maps of your home and neighborhood as a starting place to understand your home and family’s flood risk, like this \u003ca href=\"https://www.arcgis.com/apps/dashboards/9b14420bdefc427981b1c244f0113328#\">map of San Francisco’s storm and flood hazards\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>She suggests looking up flood maps of your home and neighborhood as a starting place to understand your home and family’s flood risk, like this \u003ca href=\"https://www.arcgis.com/apps/dashboards/9b14420bdefc427981b1c244f0113328#\">map of San Francisco’s storm and flood hazards\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n"
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"text": "All this is making me worried about my home during El Niño. Should I be doing any preparation?",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">All this is making me worried about my home during El Niño. Should I be doing any preparation?\u003c/h2>\n",
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"\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">All this is making me worried about my home during El Niño. Should I be doing any preparation?\u003c/h2>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Prevention is the number one thing emergency preparedness experts say homeowners should act on in the months before the rainy season. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Prevention is the number one thing emergency preparedness experts say homeowners should act on in the months before the rainy season. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>This includes everything from clearing out gutters, patching up roofs and trimming trees to ensure low-lying areas, such as creeks or roads, are free of debris — so they don’t get backed up during a storm or high tide.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>This includes everything from clearing out gutters, patching up roofs and trimming trees to ensure low-lying areas, such as creeks or roads, are free of debris — so they don’t get backed up during a storm or high tide.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Make sure those are cleared out, because the moment there’s a tree that’s in the wrong location, water starts flowing everywhere,” Torrence said. “We really wanna make sure that everyone is looking at preventative maintenance as something that they can do today, long before it starts raining\u003cem>.”\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“Make sure those are cleared out, because the moment there’s a tree that’s in the wrong location, water starts flowing everywhere,” Torrence said. “We really wanna make sure that everyone is looking at preventative maintenance as something that they can do today, long before it starts raining\u003cem>.”\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n"
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"srcset": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/061526Flooding_GH_011-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/061526Flooding_GH_011-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/061526Flooding_GH_011-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/061526Flooding_GH_011-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12087668\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/061526Flooding_GH_011-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/061526Flooding_GH_011-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/061526Flooding_GH_011-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Plastic sheeting and sandbags are placed outside a home along Golden Hind Passage, as residents prepare for potential king tide flooding, in Corte Madera, on June 15, 2026.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/061526Flooding_GH_011-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12087668\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Plastic sheeting and sandbags are placed outside a home along Golden Hind Passage, as residents prepare for potential king tide flooding, in Corte Madera, on June 15, 2026.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Torrence said homeowners in areas that can or routinely flood should also invest in sandbags or flood barriers to protect their assets. Your county may be making these tools available: The County of Marin has \u003ca href=\"https://emergency.marincounty.gov/find-emergency-sandbags\">32 sites\u003c/a> already offering sandbags, and the San Francisco Department of Public Works offers \u003ca href=\"https://sfpublicworks.org/services/sandbags\">10 free sandbags\u003c/a> per household.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Torrence said homeowners in areas that can or routinely flood should also invest in sandbags or flood barriers to protect their assets. Your county may be making these tools available: The County of Marin has \u003ca href=\"https://emergency.marincounty.gov/find-emergency-sandbags\">32 sites\u003c/a> already offering sandbags, and the San Francisco Department of Public Works offers \u003ca href=\"https://sfpublicworks.org/services/sandbags\">10 free sandbags\u003c/a> per household.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Carroll, in \u003ca href=\"https://www.sf.gov/severe-storms\">San Francisco\u003c/a>, also said residents should be \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11778663/how-to-prepare-for-potential-pge-power-shutoffs\">ready for power outages \u003c/a>by purchasing backup batteries, flashlights, and nonperishable food. It’s also important to develop a plan — “on a good day,” she stressed — with your family and neighbors in case disaster strikes. As part of this, you should make sure all your important documentation — passports, birth certificates, etc. — is in a safe place, ideally even in a container you can easily grab when evacuating.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Carroll, in \u003ca href=\"https://www.sf.gov/severe-storms\">San Francisco\u003c/a>, also said residents should be \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11778663/how-to-prepare-for-potential-pge-power-shutoffs\">ready for power outages \u003c/a>by purchasing backup batteries, flashlights, and nonperishable food. It’s also important to develop a plan — “on a good day,” she stressed — with your family and neighbors in case disaster strikes. As part of this, you should make sure all your important documentation — passports, birth certificates, etc. — is in a safe place, ideally even in a container you can easily grab when evacuating.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Anyone who gets evacuated will tell you they have no idea why they grabbed the things they did,” Carroll said. “I have a list on my refrigerator to remind me of what to take if I had to get out quickly.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“Anyone who gets evacuated will tell you they have no idea why they grabbed the things they did,” Carroll said. “I have a list on my refrigerator to remind me of what to take if I had to get out quickly.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>When it comes to your neighborhood, residents should also make sure storm drains are clear of debris to reduce the risk of a water backup that could flood your street. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>When it comes to your neighborhood, residents should also make sure storm drains are clear of debris to reduce the risk of a water backup that could flood your street. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>San Francisco has an \u003ca href=\"https://adoptadrain.sfwater.org/\">Adopt-A-Drain\u003c/a> program where people can name their drain and are responsible for helping the city clear leaves, trash, and other debris from it. Around KQED’s offices, for example, \u003ca href=\"https://adoptadrain.sfwater.org/#scl\">named drains\u003c/a> include ‘Drain Me Baby One More Time,’ Singin’ in the Drain and ‘No Pain No Drain’.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>San Francisco has an \u003ca href=\"https://adoptadrain.sfwater.org/\">Adopt-A-Drain\u003c/a> program where people can name their drain and are responsible for helping the city clear leaves, trash, and other debris from it. Around KQED’s offices, for example, \u003ca href=\"https://adoptadrain.sfwater.org/#scl\">named drains\u003c/a> include ‘Drain Me Baby One More Time,’ Singin’ in the Drain and ‘No Pain No Drain’.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Since storms can occur during holidays, Torrence said it is important to build relationships with neighbors who can check on your home or alert you if damage occurs. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Since storms can occur during holidays, Torrence said it is important to build relationships with neighbors who can check on your home or alert you if damage occurs. \u003c/p>\n"
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"blockName": "core/heading",
"attrs": {
"text": "I’m a renter. Do I have any responsibility for El Niño preparations — or liability if the worst happens? ",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">I’m a renter. Do I have any responsibility for El Niño preparations — or liability if the worst happens? \u003c/h2>\n",
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"\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">I’m a renter. Do I have any responsibility for El Niño preparations — or liability if the worst happens? \u003c/h2>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Carroll said yes, renters should follow a similar plan to prepare for the potential consequences of downpours, power outages, flooding, and falling trees (see above). \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Carroll said yes, renters should follow a similar plan to prepare for the potential consequences of downpours, power outages, flooding, and falling trees (see above). \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>But, she said, landlords are usually responsible for the upkeep of their property. And renters should ask questions like: Should we be worried about this area that ponds water? What if the power goes out? Or it flooded last year in my apartment or the basement; has that been mitigated?\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>But, she said, landlords are usually responsible for the upkeep of their property. And renters should ask questions like: Should we be worried about this area that ponds water? What if the power goes out? Or it flooded last year in my apartment or the basement; has that been mitigated?\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Torrence, with the County of Marin, said renters should review their lease agreement to understand their burden here versus their landlord’s, because not all leases are the same. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Torrence, with the County of Marin, said renters should review their lease agreement to understand their burden here versus their landlord’s, because not all leases are the same. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/MarinCountyFloodingAP.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12068651\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/MarinCountyFloodingAP.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/MarinCountyFloodingAP-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/MarinCountyFloodingAP-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">People paddle through a street flooded by the “King Tides,” occurring when the sun, moon and Earth align, causing a stronger gravitational pull on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026, near Corte Madera in Marin County, California.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Ethan Swope/AP Photo)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/MarinCountyFloodingAP.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12068651\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">People paddle through a street flooded by the “King Tides,” occurring when the sun, moon and Earth align, causing a stronger gravitational pull on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026, near Corte Madera in Marin County, California.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Ethan Swope/AP Photo)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“If there are things that are on the property owner, please let them know, things like looking at trees and landscaping,” Torrence said. “We definitely encourage people to have those conversations with property owners \u003cem>early\u003c/em>.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“If there are things that are on the property owner, please let them know, things like looking at trees and landscaping,” Torrence said. “We definitely encourage people to have those conversations with property owners \u003cem>early\u003c/em>.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Bringing up issues with landlords before the storm season starts is important, Torrence said, because property owners often travel for the winter or are on holiday during the period with the greatest impacts. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Bringing up issues with landlords before the storm season starts is important, Torrence said, because property owners often travel for the winter or are on holiday during the period with the greatest impacts. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Make sure you bring issues up to your property owners’ attention by saying what’s happened when it’s windy and rainy,” Torrence said. “That way they can advance those mitigation measures.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“Make sure you bring issues up to your property owners’ attention by saying what’s happened when it’s windy and rainy,” Torrence said. “That way they can advance those mitigation measures.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Torrence also said it’s important to check what is covered in your renters insurance. If you live in a flood-prone area, purchasing a plan could prove beneficial if the worst happens. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Torrence also said it’s important to check what is covered in your renters insurance. If you live in a flood-prone area, purchasing a plan could prove beneficial if the worst happens. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Double-check what [your] renters insurance policy is and have a conversation with your property owner to figure out what they cover?” Torrence said. “Because when we have these incidents, that is too late to be looking at your insurance policy.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“Double-check what [your] renters insurance policy is and have a conversation with your property owner to figure out what they cover?” Torrence said. “Because when we have these incidents, that is too late to be looking at your insurance policy.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"attrs": {
"text": "How could El Niño affect my travel plans this winter?",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How could El Niño affect my travel plans this winter?\u003c/h2>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Two other areas to pay attention to when the skies darken and the sea rises: travel on highways and flights from local airports.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Two other areas to pay attention to when the skies darken and the sea rises: travel on highways and flights from local airports.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“If you are traveling either on the road or flying during a storm, the roadways are going to be wet, and you’re likely going to encounter difficulties in visibility, particularly if you experience moderate to heavy rainfall,” Kennedy said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“If you are traveling either on the road or flying during a storm, the roadways are going to be wet, and you’re likely going to encounter difficulties in visibility, particularly if you experience moderate to heavy rainfall,” Kennedy said.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/GettyImages-2252559644-scaled-e1766441297618.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12068282\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Heavy rains cause flooding in the streets of San Francisco, California, on Dec. 22, 2025, as a storm system pummels Northern California. \u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Jessica Christian/San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/GettyImages-2252559644-scaled-e1766441297618.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12068282\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Heavy rains cause flooding in the streets of San Francisco, California, on Dec. 22, 2025, as a storm system pummels Northern California. \u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Jessica Christian/San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>She also said to expect flooded roadways at times and gusty winds. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>She also said to expect flooded roadways at times and gusty winds. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“If you feel unsafe while driving, make sure to pull off the road, or if you feel safe enough to continue, make sure you are driving slowly and leaving extra time to reach your destination,” Kennedy said. \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11936674/how-to-prepare-for-this-weeks-atmospheric-river-storm-sandbags-emergency-kits-and-more#driving\">Read our guide to driving during very wet weather.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“If you feel unsafe while driving, make sure to pull off the road, or if you feel safe enough to continue, make sure you are driving slowly and leaving extra time to reach your destination,” Kennedy said. \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11936674/how-to-prepare-for-this-weeks-atmospheric-river-storm-sandbags-emergency-kits-and-more#driving\">Read our guide to driving during very wet weather.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>And if you’re on a flight during a storm, be prepared for travel delays due to turbulence, she said.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>And if you’re on a flight during a storm, be prepared for travel delays due to turbulence, she said.\u003c/p>\n"
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"attrs": {
"text": "How can I make sure I’m aware of El Niño-related emergencies and extreme weather in my area? ",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How can I make sure I’m aware of El Niño-related emergencies and extreme weather in my area? \u003c/h2>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The first stop experts suggest Bay Area residents should check for information during a flood event or storm is the \u003ca href=\"https://www.weather.gov/mtr/\">National Weather Service\u003c/a>. Check out the service’s website to find out where and when the storm will hit your area. Forecasters regularly update the site with warnings and provide a detailed daily \u003ca href=\"https://forecast.weather.gov/product.php?site=mtr&issuedby=MTR&product=AFD\">forecast discussion\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The first stop experts suggest Bay Area residents should check for information during a flood event or storm is the \u003ca href=\"https://www.weather.gov/mtr/\">National Weather Service\u003c/a>. Check out the service’s website to find out where and when the storm will hit your area. Forecasters regularly update the site with warnings and provide a detailed daily \u003ca href=\"https://forecast.weather.gov/product.php?site=mtr&issuedby=MTR&product=AFD\">forecast discussion\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Secondly, Bay Area residents can sign up for emergency alerts from their city or county. Marin County runs a \u003ca href=\"http://emergency.marincounty.gov\">public emergency portal\u003c/a> 24/7, as does \u003ca href=\"https://member.everbridge.net/453003085612609/login\">San Francisco\u003c/a>. Often, city, county, or fire department Facebook or X (formerly Twitter) pages post evacuation orders, flood updates, or virtual town halls. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Secondly, Bay Area residents can sign up for emergency alerts from their city or county. Marin County runs a \u003ca href=\"http://emergency.marincounty.gov\">public emergency portal\u003c/a> 24/7, as does \u003ca href=\"https://member.everbridge.net/453003085612609/login\">San Francisco\u003c/a>. Often, city, county, or fire department Facebook or X (formerly Twitter) pages post evacuation orders, flood updates, or virtual town halls. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/SeaLevel_005_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12017037\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/SeaLevel_005_qed.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/SeaLevel_005_qed-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/SeaLevel_005_qed-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/SeaLevel_005_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/SeaLevel_005_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/SeaLevel_005_qed-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A sign stating “slippery when wet subject to flooding and water surge” at the Embarcadero’s seawall between the bustling city and water in San Francisco, California, on May 1, 2018.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Lauren Hanussak/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/SeaLevel_005_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12017037\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A sign stating “slippery when wet subject to flooding and water surge” at the Embarcadero’s seawall between the bustling city and water in San Francisco, California, on May 1, 2018.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Lauren Hanussak/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Don’t necessarily expect your phone’s maps app to have the latest information during extreme weather. “We encourage people to look at that website, especially during major flooding incidents because oftentimes we have the information before it shows up on Google Maps or Apple Maps,” Torrence said. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Don’t necessarily expect your phone’s maps app to have the latest information during extreme weather. “We encourage people to look at that website, especially during major flooding incidents because oftentimes we have the information before it shows up on Google Maps or Apple Maps,” Torrence said. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Marin County residents can also sign up for emergency alerts through \u003ca href=\"https://emergency.marincounty.gov/sign-alertmarin\">Alert Marin\u003c/a>. The county will send out alerts once two inches of rain fall in an hour or three inches in 24 hours.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Marin County residents can also sign up for emergency alerts through \u003ca href=\"https://emergency.marincounty.gov/sign-alertmarin\">Alert Marin\u003c/a>. The county will send out alerts once two inches of rain fall in an hour or three inches in 24 hours.\u003c/p>\n"
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"attrs": {
"text": "Where to sign up for Bay Area emergency alerts to be ready for El Niño ",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Where to sign up for Bay Area emergency alerts to be ready for El Niño \u003c/h2>\n",
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"text": "Bay Area county alerts"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Bay Area county alerts\u003c/h3>\n",
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"Alameda County: ACAlerts",
"Contra Costa County: Community Warning System",
"Marin County: Alert Marin",
"Napa County: Alert Napa County ",
"San Francisco: Alert SF, Ready SF ",
"San Mateo County: SMC Alert",
"Santa Clara County: Alert SCC",
"Solano County: Alert Solano",
"Sonoma County: SoCo Alert"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>Alameda County: \u003ca href=\"https://member.everbridge.net/453003085612570/notif\">ACAlerts\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n",
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"\n\u003cli>Alameda County: \u003ca href=\"https://member.everbridge.net/453003085612570/notif\">ACAlerts\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>Contra Costa County: \u003ca href=\"https://cwsalerts.com/\">Community Warning System\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n",
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"\n\u003cli>Contra Costa County: \u003ca href=\"https://cwsalerts.com/\">Community Warning System\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>Marin County: \u003ca href=\"https://emergency.marincounty.gov/sign-alertmarin\">Alert Marin\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n",
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"\n\u003cli>Marin County: \u003ca href=\"https://emergency.marincounty.gov/sign-alertmarin\">Alert Marin\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>Napa County: \u003ca href=\"https://www.readynapacounty.gov/214/ALERT-Napa-County\">Alert Napa County\u003c/a> \u003c/li>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cli>Napa County: \u003ca href=\"https://www.readynapacounty.gov/214/ALERT-Napa-County\">Alert Napa County\u003c/a> \u003c/li>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>San Francisco: \u003ca href=\"https://www.sf.gov/information--be-know-official-emergency-alerts\">Alert SF\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://www.sf.gov/readysf\">Ready SF \u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n",
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"\n\u003cli>San Francisco: \u003ca href=\"https://www.sf.gov/information--be-know-official-emergency-alerts\">Alert SF\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://www.sf.gov/readysf\">Ready SF \u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>San Mateo County: \u003ca href=\"https://www.smcgov.org/dem/smc-alert\">SMC Alert\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n",
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"\n\u003cli>San Mateo County: \u003ca href=\"https://www.smcgov.org/dem/smc-alert\">SMC Alert\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>Santa Clara County: \u003ca href=\"https://oem.santaclaracounty.gov/sign-up-for-alerts\">Alert SCC\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cli>Santa Clara County: \u003ca href=\"https://oem.santaclaracounty.gov/sign-up-for-alerts\">Alert SCC\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>Solano County: \u003ca href=\"https://www.solanocounty.gov/government/office-emergency-services/alert-solano\">Alert Solano\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cli>Solano County: \u003ca href=\"https://www.solanocounty.gov/government/office-emergency-services/alert-solano\">Alert Solano\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>Sonoma County: \u003ca href=\"https://sonomacounty.gov/administrative-support-and-fiscal-services/emergency-management/resources/soco-alert\">SoCo Alert\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n",
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"\n\u003cli>Sonoma County: \u003ca href=\"https://sonomacounty.gov/administrative-support-and-fiscal-services/emergency-management/resources/soco-alert\">SoCo Alert\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/07/240313-BART-CRISIS-INTERVENTION-UNIT-MD-16_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-11993195\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/07/240313-BART-CRISIS-INTERVENTION-UNIT-MD-16_qed.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/07/240313-BART-CRISIS-INTERVENTION-UNIT-MD-16_qed-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/07/240313-BART-CRISIS-INTERVENTION-UNIT-MD-16_qed-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/07/240313-BART-CRISIS-INTERVENTION-UNIT-MD-16_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/07/240313-BART-CRISIS-INTERVENTION-UNIT-MD-16_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/07/240313-BART-CRISIS-INTERVENTION-UNIT-MD-16_qed-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A train approaches the San Leandro BART station on March 13, 2024.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Martin do Nascimento/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/07/240313-BART-CRISIS-INTERVENTION-UNIT-MD-16_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-11993195\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A train approaches the San Leandro BART station on March 13, 2024.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Martin do Nascimento/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"Bay Area Highways: 511Alert (text 511Alert to 888-777)",
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"Caltrain Alerts ",
"VTA Service Alerts / VTAlerts ",
"SFMTA/Muni Alerts ",
"AC Transit Alerts: Bus delays, detours, cancellations and service disruptions in the East Bay",
"SamTrans Alerts: Bus disruptions and service changes in San Mateo County",
"Golden Gate Transit/Ferry Alerts: Bus and ferry cancellations, delays, and service changes affecting Marin, Sonoma and San Francisco",
"San Francisco Bay Ferry Alerts: Ferry cancellations, delays and service changes",
"SMART Alerts: Train disruptions and service changes in Marin and Sonoma counties",
"County Connection Alerts: Contra Costa bus service",
"Tri Delta Transit Alerts: Eastern Contra Costa County",
"WestCAT Alerts: Western Contra Costa County",
"Wheels Alerts: Tri-Valley/Alameda County",
"SolTrans Alerts: Solano County",
"FAST Alerts: Fairfield/Suisun Transit",
"Napa VINE Alerts: Napa County transit"
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null,
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null,
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null,
"\n\n",
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"\n\n",
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"\n\n",
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null,
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>Bay Area Highways: \u003ca href=\"https://511.org/realtime/emergencies\">511Alert\u003c/a> (text 511Alert to 888-777)\u003c/li>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.bart.gov/schedules/advisories?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">BART Service Alerts\u003c/a> \u003c/li>\n",
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"\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.bart.gov/schedules/advisories?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">BART Service Alerts\u003c/a> \u003c/li>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.caltrain.com/alerts?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">Caltrain Alerts\u003c/a> \u003c/li>\n",
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"\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.caltrain.com/alerts?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">Caltrain Alerts\u003c/a> \u003c/li>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.vta.gov/go/service-alerts?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">VTA Service Alerts / VTAlerts\u003c/a> \u003c/li>\n",
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"\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.vta.gov/go/service-alerts?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">VTA Service Alerts / VTAlerts\u003c/a> \u003c/li>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.sfmta.com/getting-around/muni/muni-alerts\">SFMTA/Muni Alerts\u003c/a> \u003c/li>\n",
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"\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.sfmta.com/getting-around/muni/muni-alerts\">SFMTA/Muni Alerts\u003c/a> \u003c/li>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.actransit.org/service-alerts\">AC Transit Alerts\u003c/a>: Bus delays, detours, cancellations and service disruptions in the East Bay\u003c/li>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.actransit.org/service-alerts\">AC Transit Alerts\u003c/a>: Bus delays, detours, cancellations and service disruptions in the East Bay\u003c/li>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"http://b\">SamTrans Alerts\u003c/a>: Bus disruptions and service changes in San Mateo County\u003c/li>\n",
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"\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"http://b\">SamTrans Alerts\u003c/a>: Bus disruptions and service changes in San Mateo County\u003c/li>\n"
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"excerpt": "A powerful El Niño could bring flooding, high tides, and fierce storms. Here’s how Bay Area residents can prepare.",
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"title": "El Niño Could Bring a Wet, Wild Winter. How Can You — and Your Home — Be Ready? | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/2001688/strong-el-nino-may-bring-record-sea-level-and-coastal-flooding-to-bay-area\">Higher seas\u003c/a>. Back-to-back storms. Mudslides. Flooded homes and highways. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The mere mention of El Niño — and the headlines you’re seeing — can be anxiety-provoking. But how real should your worry be? And what can you do to protect your home, business, or property in advance?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>First, the outlook: Federal forecasters report there’s a \u003ca href=\"https://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/analysis_monitoring/enso_advisory/ensodisc.html\">90% chance of a “very strong” El Niño\u003c/a> this fall and winter, and a nearly 70% chance that the strength of El Niño could exceed the strength of any similar event seen since 1950.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Bay Area cities and counties prone to flooding from the sky and the bay, like San Francisco and Marin, are already taking the El Niño threat seriously and preparing for the worst: deluges that could combine with high tides and temporarily elevated sea levels to potentially swamp whole neighborhoods and roadways, including Highway 101.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We’ve had situations in the past where we’ve had to evacuate blocks,” said Mary Ellen Carroll, executive director of San Francisco’s Department of Emergency Management. “We’re having much more severe weather situations, and we’re seeing things that we haven’t seen in the past.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/061526Flooding_GH_001-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12087662\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/061526Flooding_GH_001-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/061526Flooding_GH_001-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/061526Flooding_GH_001-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A puddle left behind by receding king tides reflects homes along Golden Hind Passage in Corte Madera on June 15, 2026. (Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Marin County officials are paying close attention to the confluence of El Niño-driven elevated sea levels, seasonal king tides, and the potential for frequent storms that could hammer the region. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We don’t know if it’s going to rain, but we are going to \u003cem>plan \u003c/em>for it to rain a significant amount,” said Steven Torrence, director of emergency management for Marin County. “Water has to go somewhere, and if it can’t go to the bay, we want to be able to push it to locations where it actually will not impact our residents or people’s infrastructure.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Counties and cities are preparing by investing in temporary pumps, cleaning storm drains, working with partner agencies to ensure people aren’t on Bay Area roads during flooding and sending emergency alerts out swiftly when danger arises.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“If you want to know about significant traffic incidents, upcoming floods or significant storms, we will send out notifications once thresholds are hit,” Torrence said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Here’s what to know about how El Niño could affect your home and your safety this winter — not to panic you, but so you’re prepared for what might happen in a few months.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">First off, what is El Niño — and what kind of weather could it bring exactly?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>El Niño forms when tropical \u003ca href=\"https://www.nesdis.noaa.gov/about/k-12-education/atmosphere/what-are-trade-winds\">trade winds\u003c/a> weaken or reverse, allowing warm ocean water near Asia to slosh toward the Pacific Coast. That warming can reshape the jet stream and bring stormier weather across California while disrupting the ocean’s nutrient-rich \u003ca href=\"https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/upwelling.html\">upwelling\u003c/a>, heating coastal waters, raising sea levels and stressing marine life.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Exactly what the weather will look like this fall and winter is — quite literally — still up in the air. But similar events in past El Niño years have brought torrential downpours, coastal flooding, mudslides, power outages and giant waves.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The Climate Prediction Center suggests that much of California will experience \u003ca href=\"https://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/analysis_monitoring/enso_advisory/ensodisc.html\">above-normal temperatures this fall \u003cem>and \u003c/em>precipitation\u003c/a> this winter. Earlier in the fall, forecasters expect warm and wet weather in Southern California, the Central Coast, and in the South and East Bays. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/FloodingMarinCountyAP.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12068729\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/FloodingMarinCountyAP.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/FloodingMarinCountyAP-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/FloodingMarinCountyAP-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Cars drive on Highway 101 flooded by the “King Tides” on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026, near Corte Madera in Marin County, California. (Ethan Swope/AP Photo)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>And come December, there’s potential for above-normal precipitation throughout Northern California. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Rachel Kennedy, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service’s Bay Area office, said the Bay Area sits in this interesting transition zone with “drier conditions to the north and wetter conditions to the south.” As a result, the Bay Area could “go either way.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Kennedy said, “It is getting more likely that we will see a rainy winter, but we will need to keep an eye on it. Exactly how much it’s going to be above normal, we don’t really know.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“But the fact that the CPC has started indicating leaning above normal for precipitation is a good sign that we are trending towards a wetter winter,” she said\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Could where I live be at risk of flooding from El Niño?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The effects of El Niño — \u003ca href=\"https://www.sf.gov/severe-storms\">severe rainstorms\u003c/a> that flood homes and roadways, strong winds toppling trees, temporarily higher seas and giant waves eroding bluffs — have the potential to directly affect Bay Area homes from Pacifica to San Francisco to San Rafael.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Kennedy said most of the flooding would likely come from \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1935067/rivers-in-the-sky-what-you-need-to-know-about-atmospheric-river-storms\">atmospheric rivers\u003c/a> that can fuel storms, but also from rising seas, which will be even higher during extra-high \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1955598/king-tides-are-here-why-they-happen-and-what-they-teach-us\">king tides\u003c/a> right around Thanksgiving and Christmas.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“If you live in an area close to a river or just a more flood-prone area, make sure you are staying up to date on the forecast,” Kennedy said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Carroll said it’s important to take stock of where you live and the flood potential of your home. Are you on a hill? Near a river or the bay? Near a highway that floods? Are there big trees near your home that could fall over in or after a storm? \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>She suggests looking up flood maps of your home and neighborhood as a starting place to understand your home and family’s flood risk, like this \u003ca href=\"https://www.arcgis.com/apps/dashboards/9b14420bdefc427981b1c244f0113328#\">map of San Francisco’s storm and flood hazards\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">All this is making me worried about my home during El Niño. Should I be doing any preparation?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Prevention is the number one thing emergency preparedness experts say homeowners should act on in the months before the rainy season. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>This includes everything from clearing out gutters, patching up roofs and trimming trees to ensure low-lying areas, such as creeks or roads, are free of debris — so they don’t get backed up during a storm or high tide.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Make sure those are cleared out, because the moment there’s a tree that’s in the wrong location, water starts flowing everywhere,” Torrence said. “We really wanna make sure that everyone is looking at preventative maintenance as something that they can do today, long before it starts raining\u003cem>.”\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/061526Flooding_GH_011-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12087668\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/061526Flooding_GH_011-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/061526Flooding_GH_011-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/061526Flooding_GH_011-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Plastic sheeting and sandbags are placed outside a home along Golden Hind Passage, as residents prepare for potential king tide flooding, in Corte Madera, on June 15, 2026. (Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Torrence said homeowners in areas that can or routinely flood should also invest in sandbags or flood barriers to protect their assets. Your county may be making these tools available: The County of Marin has \u003ca href=\"https://emergency.marincounty.gov/find-emergency-sandbags\">32 sites\u003c/a> already offering sandbags, and the San Francisco Department of Public Works offers \u003ca href=\"https://sfpublicworks.org/services/sandbags\">10 free sandbags\u003c/a> per household.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Carroll, in \u003ca href=\"https://www.sf.gov/severe-storms\">San Francisco\u003c/a>, also said residents should be \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11778663/how-to-prepare-for-potential-pge-power-shutoffs\">ready for power outages \u003c/a>by purchasing backup batteries, flashlights, and nonperishable food. It’s also important to develop a plan — “on a good day,” she stressed — with your family and neighbors in case disaster strikes. As part of this, you should make sure all your important documentation — passports, birth certificates, etc. — is in a safe place, ideally even in a container you can easily grab when evacuating.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Anyone who gets evacuated will tell you they have no idea why they grabbed the things they did,” Carroll said. “I have a list on my refrigerator to remind me of what to take if I had to get out quickly.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>When it comes to your neighborhood, residents should also make sure storm drains are clear of debris to reduce the risk of a water backup that could flood your street. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>San Francisco has an \u003ca href=\"https://adoptadrain.sfwater.org/\">Adopt-A-Drain\u003c/a> program where people can name their drain and are responsible for helping the city clear leaves, trash, and other debris from it. Around KQED’s offices, for example, \u003ca href=\"https://adoptadrain.sfwater.org/#scl\">named drains\u003c/a> include ‘Drain Me Baby One More Time,’ Singin’ in the Drain and ‘No Pain No Drain’.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Since storms can occur during holidays, Torrence said it is important to build relationships with neighbors who can check on your home or alert you if damage occurs. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">I’m a renter. Do I have any responsibility for El Niño preparations — or liability if the worst happens? \u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Carroll said yes, renters should follow a similar plan to prepare for the potential consequences of downpours, power outages, flooding, and falling trees (see above). \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But, she said, landlords are usually responsible for the upkeep of their property. And renters should ask questions like: Should we be worried about this area that ponds water? What if the power goes out? Or it flooded last year in my apartment or the basement; has that been mitigated?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Torrence, with the County of Marin, said renters should review their lease agreement to understand their burden here versus their landlord’s, because not all leases are the same. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/MarinCountyFloodingAP.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12068651\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/MarinCountyFloodingAP.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/MarinCountyFloodingAP-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/MarinCountyFloodingAP-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">People paddle through a street flooded by the “King Tides,” occurring when the sun, moon and Earth align, causing a stronger gravitational pull on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026, near Corte Madera in Marin County, California. (Ethan Swope/AP Photo)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“If there are things that are on the property owner, please let them know, things like looking at trees and landscaping,” Torrence said. “We definitely encourage people to have those conversations with property owners \u003cem>early\u003c/em>.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Bringing up issues with landlords before the storm season starts is important, Torrence said, because property owners often travel for the winter or are on holiday during the period with the greatest impacts. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Make sure you bring issues up to your property owners’ attention by saying what’s happened when it’s windy and rainy,” Torrence said. “That way they can advance those mitigation measures.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Torrence also said it’s important to check what is covered in your renters insurance. If you live in a flood-prone area, purchasing a plan could prove beneficial if the worst happens. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Double-check what [your] renters insurance policy is and have a conversation with your property owner to figure out what they cover?” Torrence said. “Because when we have these incidents, that is too late to be looking at your insurance policy.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How could El Niño affect my travel plans this winter?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Two other areas to pay attention to when the skies darken and the sea rises: travel on highways and flights from local airports.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“If you are traveling either on the road or flying during a storm, the roadways are going to be wet, and you’re likely going to encounter difficulties in visibility, particularly if you experience moderate to heavy rainfall,” Kennedy said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/GettyImages-2252559644-scaled-e1766441297618.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12068282\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Heavy rains cause flooding in the streets of San Francisco, California, on Dec. 22, 2025, as a storm system pummels Northern California. (Jessica Christian/San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>She also said to expect flooded roadways at times and gusty winds. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“If you feel unsafe while driving, make sure to pull off the road, or if you feel safe enough to continue, make sure you are driving slowly and leaving extra time to reach your destination,” Kennedy said. \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11936674/how-to-prepare-for-this-weeks-atmospheric-river-storm-sandbags-emergency-kits-and-more#driving\">Read our guide to driving during very wet weather.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>And if you’re on a flight during a storm, be prepared for travel delays due to turbulence, she said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How can I make sure I’m aware of El Niño-related emergencies and extreme weather in my area? \u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The first stop experts suggest Bay Area residents should check for information during a flood event or storm is the \u003ca href=\"https://www.weather.gov/mtr/\">National Weather Service\u003c/a>. Check out the service’s website to find out where and when the storm will hit your area. Forecasters regularly update the site with warnings and provide a detailed daily \u003ca href=\"https://forecast.weather.gov/product.php?site=mtr&issuedby=MTR&product=AFD\">forecast discussion\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Secondly, Bay Area residents can sign up for emergency alerts from their city or county. Marin County runs a \u003ca href=\"http://emergency.marincounty.gov\">public emergency portal\u003c/a> 24/7, as does \u003ca href=\"https://member.everbridge.net/453003085612609/login\">San Francisco\u003c/a>. Often, city, county, or fire department Facebook or X (formerly Twitter) pages post evacuation orders, flood updates, or virtual town halls. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1999\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/SeaLevel_005_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12017037\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/SeaLevel_005_qed.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/SeaLevel_005_qed-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/SeaLevel_005_qed-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/SeaLevel_005_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/SeaLevel_005_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/SeaLevel_005_qed-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A sign stating “slippery when wet subject to flooding and water surge” at the Embarcadero’s seawall between the bustling city and water in San Francisco, California, on May 1, 2018. (Lauren Hanussak/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Don’t necessarily expect your phone’s maps app to have the latest information during extreme weather. “We encourage people to look at that website, especially during major flooding incidents because oftentimes we have the information before it shows up on Google Maps or Apple Maps,” Torrence said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Marin County residents can also sign up for emergency alerts through \u003ca href=\"https://emergency.marincounty.gov/sign-alertmarin\">Alert Marin\u003c/a>. The county will send out alerts once two inches of rain fall in an hour or three inches in 24 hours.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Where to sign up for Bay Area emergency alerts to be ready for El Niño \u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Bay Area county alerts\u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003cul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\u003cli>Alameda County: \u003ca href=\"https://member.everbridge.net/453003085612570/notif\">ACAlerts\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>Contra Costa County: \u003ca href=\"https://cwsalerts.com/\">Community Warning System\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>Marin County: \u003ca href=\"https://emergency.marincounty.gov/sign-alertmarin\">Alert Marin\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>Napa County: \u003ca href=\"https://www.readynapacounty.gov/214/ALERT-Napa-County\">Alert Napa County\u003c/a> \u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>San Francisco: \u003ca href=\"https://www.sf.gov/information--be-know-official-emergency-alerts\">Alert SF\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://www.sf.gov/readysf\">Ready SF \u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>San Mateo County: \u003ca href=\"https://www.smcgov.org/dem/smc-alert\">SMC Alert\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>Santa Clara County: \u003ca href=\"https://oem.santaclaracounty.gov/sign-up-for-alerts\">Alert SCC\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>Solano County: \u003ca href=\"https://www.solanocounty.gov/government/office-emergency-services/alert-solano\">Alert Solano\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>Sonoma County: \u003ca href=\"https://sonomacounty.gov/administrative-support-and-fiscal-services/emergency-management/resources/soco-alert\">SoCo Alert\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1999\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/07/240313-BART-CRISIS-INTERVENTION-UNIT-MD-16_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-11993195\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/07/240313-BART-CRISIS-INTERVENTION-UNIT-MD-16_qed.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/07/240313-BART-CRISIS-INTERVENTION-UNIT-MD-16_qed-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/07/240313-BART-CRISIS-INTERVENTION-UNIT-MD-16_qed-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/07/240313-BART-CRISIS-INTERVENTION-UNIT-MD-16_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/07/240313-BART-CRISIS-INTERVENTION-UNIT-MD-16_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/07/240313-BART-CRISIS-INTERVENTION-UNIT-MD-16_qed-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A train approaches the San Leandro BART station on March 13, 2024. (Martin do Nascimento/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Bay Area transit alerts\u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003cul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\u003cli>Bay Area Highways: \u003ca href=\"https://511.org/realtime/emergencies\">511Alert\u003c/a> (text 511Alert to 888-777)\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.bart.gov/schedules/advisories?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">BART Service Alerts\u003c/a> \u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.caltrain.com/alerts?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">Caltrain Alerts\u003c/a> \u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.vta.gov/go/service-alerts?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">VTA Service Alerts / VTAlerts\u003c/a> \u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.sfmta.com/getting-around/muni/muni-alerts\">SFMTA/Muni Alerts\u003c/a> \u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.actransit.org/service-alerts\">AC Transit Alerts\u003c/a>: Bus delays, detours, cancellations and service disruptions in the East Bay\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"http://b\">SamTrans Alerts\u003c/a>: Bus disruptions and service changes in San Mateo County\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.goldengate.org/alert_signup/\">Golden Gate Transit/Ferry Alerts\u003c/a>: Bus and ferry cancellations, delays, and service changes affecting Marin, Sonoma and San Francisco\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://sanfranciscobayferry.com/real-time-text-and-email-alerts-now-available-for-san-francisco-bay-ferry-riders/\">San Francisco Bay Ferry Alerts\u003c/a>: Ferry cancellations, delays and service changes\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"http://sonomamarintrain.org/transitapp\">SMART Alerts\u003c/a>: Train disruptions and service changes in Marin and Sonoma counties\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://countyconnection.com/alerts/\">County Connection Alerts\u003c/a>: Contra Costa bus service\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://trideltatransit.com/e-alerts/\">Tri Delta Transit Alerts\u003c/a>: Eastern Contra Costa County\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.westcat.org/textalerts\">WestCAT Alerts\u003c/a>: Western Contra Costa County\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.wheelsbus.com/alerts/\">Wheels Alerts\u003c/a>: Tri-Valley/Alameda County\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.soltrans.org/alerts\">SolTrans Alerts\u003c/a>: Solano County\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://fasttransit.org/\">FAST Alerts\u003c/a>: Fairfield/Suisun Transit\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://vinetransit.com/\">Napa VINE Alerts\u003c/a>: Napa County transit\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "california-hurricane-not-likely-but-rain-could-be-on-the-way",
"title": "California Hurricane? Not Likely, but Rain Could Be on the Way",
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"headTitle": "California Hurricane? Not Likely, but Rain Could Be on the Way | KQED",
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"content": "\n\u003cp>A tropical storm is forming off the coast of Baja \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/california\">California,\u003c/a> a system that national forecasters say has a virtually nonexistent chance of intensifying into a hurricane.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The National Hurricane Center is predicting a \u003ca href=\"https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/gtwo.php?basin=epac&fdays=7\">90% chance\u003c/a> of a tropical storm forming in the Baja California area within the next 48 hours and within the next seven days. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The storm brewing off the Baja coast is fueled in part by the very strong El Niño, a natural climate pattern that is gaining momentum and warming sea surface temperatures in the Pacific Ocean. Temperatures off the coast of San Diego are about \u003ca href=\"https://www.surf-forecast.com/breaks/Scripps-Pier/seatemp\">8 degrees above the average\u003c/a> for this time of year, according to the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Daniel Swain, a climate scientist with UC Agriculture and Natural Resources, said the warming of the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean is one consequence of human-caused climate change.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1325\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/NationalWeatherServiceGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12037679\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/NationalWeatherServiceGetty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/NationalWeatherServiceGetty-800x530.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/NationalWeatherServiceGetty-1020x676.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/NationalWeatherServiceGetty-160x106.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/NationalWeatherServiceGetty-1536x1018.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/NationalWeatherServiceGetty-1920x1272.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">An automated National Weather Service weather station collects data on a bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean in Montara, California, on April 5, 2016. (Paul Chinn/The San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>During his YouTube \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDPdXP-EnQQ\">office hours\u003c/a> on Monday, Swain said that the ocean off the coast of Southern California and off the west coast of Mexico “is the warmest it has ever been in recorded history.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“There is a record-breaking amount of potential energy stored in that surface ocean,” Swain said. “There is a lot of extra moisture in the overlying atmosphere because, of course, warm water means more evaporation.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But meteorologists are making it clear that California’s coast has a small chance of a tropical storm making landfall, and an even smaller chance of a hurricane, over the next week. NWS forecasters reported that it’s the “least likely outcome at this point.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Everything in between is also on the table,” Los Angeles-based weather service meteorologists wrote in their daily \u003ca href=\"https://forecast.weather.gov/product.php?site=lox&issuedby=LOX&product=AFD\">forecast discussion\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>If the storm forms and veers west, California will likely get very little rain or wind, forecasters said. But if it moves northeast, remnants of the tropical storm increase the chances of rain in Southern California and eventually the Bay Area.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>“To be clear, there is virtually no chance that a hurricane will make landfall in California,” Bay Area weather forecasters wrote in their daily forecast discussion. “The actual water temperature is still far too cold to support a tropical cyclone.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Lauren Villafane, a meteorologist with the NWS San Diego office, said cooler water off the California coast usually protects the state from the effects of intense tropical storms or hurricanes. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Until it actually develops into something and we get more confidence in its track, I can’t put out anything with any real confidence,” Villafane said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Even with our above-average temperatures that we have going on currently, it’s still not those ideal temperatures for tropical cyclone formation,” Villafane said. “Our cold water actually has the tendency to kill things off. So, which is why we usually end up with tropical remnants over the area if we get anything at all.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1708\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/GettyImages-1614120563-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"A man walks next to a large highway that has been completely blockaded by debris.\" class=\"wp-image-11958712\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/GettyImages-1614120563-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/GettyImages-1614120563-800x534.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/GettyImages-1614120563-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/GettyImages-1614120563-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/GettyImages-1614120563-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/GettyImages-1614120563-2048x1366.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/GettyImages-1614120563-1920x1281.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A Coachella Valley Water District worker surveys a debris flow following heavy rains from Tropical Storm Hilary, at Thunderbird Country Club in Rancho Mirage, California, on Aug. 21, 2023. (David Swanson/AFP via Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The last time a tropical storm swept over California was in \u003ca href=\"https://web.archive.org/web/20080229155402/http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/sgx/research/Guide/weatherhistory.pdf\">1939\u003c/a>. But remnants of tropical storms have made landfall — \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11958562/hurricane-hilary-hits-what-california-and-the-bay-area-can-expect\">Hilary\u003c/a> brought significant rain and flooding to Southern California in August 2023, causing nearly a billion dollars in damage to the state.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It wasn’t a hurricane by the time it reached here,” Villafane said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Sea surface temperatures are in the mid- to upper-50s off the Bay Area coast. “Warm water is one of the things you need for a tropical cyclone formation, which is what El Niño really is,” Villafane said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Models show a range of possibilities for the storm’s track once it forms, including one with a 5% chance of direct impacts on Southern California, she said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“If you cherry-pick models, it makes it look like we’re going to get it,” Villafane said. “But a lot of the other models have it going in a different direction.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>If the system moves north, it could lead to a higher chance of precipitation — but not significantly windy conditions, according to Brian Garcia, warning coordination meteorologist for the NWS Bay Area office.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/GettyImages-2227074366-scaled-e1758749155173.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12050295\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A view of the Pacific Ocean along the coastline at Pacifica Municipal Pier in Pacifica, California, United States on July 30, 2025. (Photo by Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“In terms of seeing any sort of storm come up towards the Bay Area or even as close as the Central Coast, it’s pretty much a nonstarter,” Garcia said. “We can’t get a hurricane up across these waters because the waters are just too cold.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>“But we could get moisture to build across our area, which could bring significant rainfall,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Garcia also said that a cold, low-pressure system moving south from the Gulf of Alaska, which could affect the Pacific Northwest by midweek, could reach the Bay Area near the end of the workweek. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It could provide a highway for the remnants of the tropical system to ride along and bring it across different portions of California,” Garcia said. “It is definitely something that we’re watching, we’re keeping an eye on, and we’ll be messaging out to our partners as things become a little bit more concrete.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The storm brewing off the Baja coast is fueled in part by the very strong El Niño, a natural climate pattern that is gaining momentum and warming sea surface temperatures in the Pacific Ocean. Temperatures off the coast of San Diego are about \u003ca href=\"https://www.surf-forecast.com/breaks/Scripps-Pier/seatemp\">8 degrees above the average\u003c/a> for this time of year, according to the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Daniel Swain, a climate scientist with UC Agriculture and Natural Resources, said the warming of the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean is one consequence of human-caused climate change.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/NationalWeatherServiceGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12037679\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/NationalWeatherServiceGetty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/NationalWeatherServiceGetty-800x530.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/NationalWeatherServiceGetty-1020x676.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/NationalWeatherServiceGetty-160x106.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/NationalWeatherServiceGetty-1536x1018.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/NationalWeatherServiceGetty-1920x1272.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">An automated National Weather Service weather station collects data on a bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean in Montara, California, on April 5, 2016. \u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Paul Chinn/The San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>During his YouTube \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDPdXP-EnQQ\">office hours\u003c/a> on Monday, Swain said that the ocean off the coast of Southern California and off the west coast of Mexico “is the warmest it has ever been in recorded history.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>During his YouTube \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDPdXP-EnQQ\">office hours\u003c/a> on Monday, Swain said that the ocean off the coast of Southern California and off the west coast of Mexico “is the warmest it has ever been in recorded history.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“There is a record-breaking amount of potential energy stored in that surface ocean,” Swain said. “There is a lot of extra moisture in the overlying atmosphere because, of course, warm water means more evaporation.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“There is a record-breaking amount of potential energy stored in that surface ocean,” Swain said. “There is a lot of extra moisture in the overlying atmosphere because, of course, warm water means more evaporation.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>But meteorologists are making it clear that California’s coast has a small chance of a tropical storm making landfall, and an even smaller chance of a hurricane, over the next week. NWS forecasters reported that it’s the “least likely outcome at this point.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>But meteorologists are making it clear that California’s coast has a small chance of a tropical storm making landfall, and an even smaller chance of a hurricane, over the next week. NWS forecasters reported that it’s the “least likely outcome at this point.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Everything in between is also on the table,” Los Angeles-based weather service meteorologists wrote in their daily \u003ca href=\"https://forecast.weather.gov/product.php?site=lox&issuedby=LOX&product=AFD\">forecast discussion\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“Everything in between is also on the table,” Los Angeles-based weather service meteorologists wrote in their daily \u003ca href=\"https://forecast.weather.gov/product.php?site=lox&issuedby=LOX&product=AFD\">forecast discussion\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>If the storm forms and veers west, California will likely get very little rain or wind, forecasters said. But if it moves northeast, remnants of the tropical storm increase the chances of rain in Southern California and eventually the Bay Area.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>“To be clear, there is virtually no chance that a hurricane will make landfall in California,” Bay Area weather forecasters wrote in their daily forecast discussion. “The actual water temperature is still far too cold to support a tropical cyclone.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>If the storm forms and veers west, California will likely get very little rain or wind, forecasters said. But if it moves northeast, remnants of the tropical storm increase the chances of rain in Southern California and eventually the Bay Area.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>“To be clear, there is virtually no chance that a hurricane will make landfall in California,” Bay Area weather forecasters wrote in their daily forecast discussion. “The actual water temperature is still far too cold to support a tropical cyclone.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Lauren Villafane, a meteorologist with the NWS San Diego office, said cooler water off the California coast usually protects the state from the effects of intense tropical storms or hurricanes. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Lauren Villafane, a meteorologist with the NWS San Diego office, said cooler water off the California coast usually protects the state from the effects of intense tropical storms or hurricanes. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Until it actually develops into something and we get more confidence in its track, I can’t put out anything with any real confidence,” Villafane said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“Until it actually develops into something and we get more confidence in its track, I can’t put out anything with any real confidence,” Villafane said.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Even with our above-average temperatures that we have going on currently, it’s still not those ideal temperatures for tropical cyclone formation,” Villafane said. “Our cold water actually has the tendency to kill things off. So, which is why we usually end up with tropical remnants over the area if we get anything at all.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“Even with our above-average temperatures that we have going on currently, it’s still not those ideal temperatures for tropical cyclone formation,” Villafane said. “Our cold water actually has the tendency to kill things off. So, which is why we usually end up with tropical remnants over the area if we get anything at all.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"srcset": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/GettyImages-1614120563-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/GettyImages-1614120563-800x534.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/GettyImages-1614120563-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/GettyImages-1614120563-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/GettyImages-1614120563-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/GettyImages-1614120563-2048x1366.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/GettyImages-1614120563-1920x1281.jpg 1920w",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/GettyImages-1614120563-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"A man walks next to a large highway that has been completely blockaded by debris.\" class=\"wp-image-11958712\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/GettyImages-1614120563-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/GettyImages-1614120563-800x534.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/GettyImages-1614120563-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/GettyImages-1614120563-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/GettyImages-1614120563-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/GettyImages-1614120563-2048x1366.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/GettyImages-1614120563-1920x1281.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A Coachella Valley Water District worker surveys a debris flow following heavy rains from Tropical Storm Hilary, at Thunderbird Country Club in Rancho Mirage, California, on Aug. 21, 2023.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (David Swanson/AFP via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/GettyImages-1614120563-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"A man walks next to a large highway that has been completely blockaded by debris.\" class=\"wp-image-11958712\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A Coachella Valley Water District worker surveys a debris flow following heavy rains from Tropical Storm Hilary, at Thunderbird Country Club in Rancho Mirage, California, on Aug. 21, 2023.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (David Swanson/AFP via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The last time a tropical storm swept over California was in \u003ca href=\"https://web.archive.org/web/20080229155402/http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/sgx/research/Guide/weatherhistory.pdf\">1939\u003c/a>. But remnants of tropical storms have made landfall — \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11958562/hurricane-hilary-hits-what-california-and-the-bay-area-can-expect\">Hilary\u003c/a> brought significant rain and flooding to Southern California in August 2023, causing nearly a billion dollars in damage to the state.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The last time a tropical storm swept over California was in \u003ca href=\"https://web.archive.org/web/20080229155402/http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/sgx/research/Guide/weatherhistory.pdf\">1939\u003c/a>. But remnants of tropical storms have made landfall — \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11958562/hurricane-hilary-hits-what-california-and-the-bay-area-can-expect\">Hilary\u003c/a> brought significant rain and flooding to Southern California in August 2023, causing nearly a billion dollars in damage to the state.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“It wasn’t a hurricane by the time it reached here,” Villafane said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“It wasn’t a hurricane by the time it reached here,” Villafane said.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Sea surface temperatures are in the mid- to upper-50s off the Bay Area coast. “Warm water is one of the things you need for a tropical cyclone formation, which is what El Niño really is,” Villafane said. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Sea surface temperatures are in the mid- to upper-50s off the Bay Area coast. “Warm water is one of the things you need for a tropical cyclone formation, which is what El Niño really is,” Villafane said. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Models show a range of possibilities for the storm’s track once it forms, including one with a 5% chance of direct impacts on Southern California, she said. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Models show a range of possibilities for the storm’s track once it forms, including one with a 5% chance of direct impacts on Southern California, she said. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“If you cherry-pick models, it makes it look like we’re going to get it,” Villafane said. “But a lot of the other models have it going in a different direction.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“If you cherry-pick models, it makes it look like we’re going to get it,” Villafane said. “But a lot of the other models have it going in a different direction.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>If the system moves north, it could lead to a higher chance of precipitation — but not significantly windy conditions, according to Brian Garcia, warning coordination meteorologist for the NWS Bay Area office.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>If the system moves north, it could lead to a higher chance of precipitation — but not significantly windy conditions, according to Brian Garcia, warning coordination meteorologist for the NWS Bay Area office.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/GettyImages-2227074366-scaled-e1758749155173.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12050295\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A view of the Pacific Ocean along the coastline at Pacifica Municipal Pier in Pacifica, California, United States on July 30, 2025. \u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Photo by Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/GettyImages-2227074366-scaled-e1758749155173.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12050295\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A view of the Pacific Ocean along the coastline at Pacifica Municipal Pier in Pacifica, California, United States on July 30, 2025. \u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Photo by Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“In terms of seeing any sort of storm come up towards the Bay Area or even as close as the Central Coast, it’s pretty much a nonstarter,” Garcia said. “We can’t get a hurricane up across these waters because the waters are just too cold.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>“But we could get moisture to build across our area, which could bring significant rainfall,” he said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“In terms of seeing any sort of storm come up towards the Bay Area or even as close as the Central Coast, it’s pretty much a nonstarter,” Garcia said. “We can’t get a hurricane up across these waters because the waters are just too cold.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>“But we could get moisture to build across our area, which could bring significant rainfall,” he said.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Garcia also said that a cold, low-pressure system moving south from the Gulf of Alaska, which could affect the Pacific Northwest by midweek, could reach the Bay Area near the end of the workweek. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Garcia also said that a cold, low-pressure system moving south from the Gulf of Alaska, which could affect the Pacific Northwest by midweek, could reach the Bay Area near the end of the workweek. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“It could provide a highway for the remnants of the tropical system to ride along and bring it across different portions of California,” Garcia said. “It is definitely something that we’re watching, we’re keeping an eye on, and we’ll be messaging out to our partners as things become a little bit more concrete.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“It could provide a highway for the remnants of the tropical system to ride along and bring it across different portions of California,” Garcia said. “It is definitely something that we’re watching, we’re keeping an eye on, and we’ll be messaging out to our partners as things become a little bit more concrete.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"excerpt": "A tropical storm could send rain toward California, but forecasters say that a direct hit remains a long shot.",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\n\u003cp>A tropical storm is forming off the coast of Baja \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/california\">California,\u003c/a> a system that national forecasters say has a virtually nonexistent chance of intensifying into a hurricane.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The National Hurricane Center is predicting a \u003ca href=\"https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/gtwo.php?basin=epac&fdays=7\">90% chance\u003c/a> of a tropical storm forming in the Baja California area within the next 48 hours and within the next seven days. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The storm brewing off the Baja coast is fueled in part by the very strong El Niño, a natural climate pattern that is gaining momentum and warming sea surface temperatures in the Pacific Ocean. Temperatures off the coast of San Diego are about \u003ca href=\"https://www.surf-forecast.com/breaks/Scripps-Pier/seatemp\">8 degrees above the average\u003c/a> for this time of year, according to the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Daniel Swain, a climate scientist with UC Agriculture and Natural Resources, said the warming of the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean is one consequence of human-caused climate change.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1325\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/NationalWeatherServiceGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12037679\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/NationalWeatherServiceGetty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/NationalWeatherServiceGetty-800x530.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/NationalWeatherServiceGetty-1020x676.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/NationalWeatherServiceGetty-160x106.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/NationalWeatherServiceGetty-1536x1018.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/NationalWeatherServiceGetty-1920x1272.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">An automated National Weather Service weather station collects data on a bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean in Montara, California, on April 5, 2016. (Paul Chinn/The San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>During his YouTube \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDPdXP-EnQQ\">office hours\u003c/a> on Monday, Swain said that the ocean off the coast of Southern California and off the west coast of Mexico “is the warmest it has ever been in recorded history.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“There is a record-breaking amount of potential energy stored in that surface ocean,” Swain said. “There is a lot of extra moisture in the overlying atmosphere because, of course, warm water means more evaporation.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But meteorologists are making it clear that California’s coast has a small chance of a tropical storm making landfall, and an even smaller chance of a hurricane, over the next week. NWS forecasters reported that it’s the “least likely outcome at this point.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Everything in between is also on the table,” Los Angeles-based weather service meteorologists wrote in their daily \u003ca href=\"https://forecast.weather.gov/product.php?site=lox&issuedby=LOX&product=AFD\">forecast discussion\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>If the storm forms and veers west, California will likely get very little rain or wind, forecasters said. But if it moves northeast, remnants of the tropical storm increase the chances of rain in Southern California and eventually the Bay Area.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>“To be clear, there is virtually no chance that a hurricane will make landfall in California,” Bay Area weather forecasters wrote in their daily forecast discussion. “The actual water temperature is still far too cold to support a tropical cyclone.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Lauren Villafane, a meteorologist with the NWS San Diego office, said cooler water off the California coast usually protects the state from the effects of intense tropical storms or hurricanes. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Until it actually develops into something and we get more confidence in its track, I can’t put out anything with any real confidence,” Villafane said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Even with our above-average temperatures that we have going on currently, it’s still not those ideal temperatures for tropical cyclone formation,” Villafane said. “Our cold water actually has the tendency to kill things off. So, which is why we usually end up with tropical remnants over the area if we get anything at all.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1708\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/GettyImages-1614120563-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"A man walks next to a large highway that has been completely blockaded by debris.\" class=\"wp-image-11958712\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/GettyImages-1614120563-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/GettyImages-1614120563-800x534.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/GettyImages-1614120563-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/GettyImages-1614120563-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/GettyImages-1614120563-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/GettyImages-1614120563-2048x1366.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/GettyImages-1614120563-1920x1281.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A Coachella Valley Water District worker surveys a debris flow following heavy rains from Tropical Storm Hilary, at Thunderbird Country Club in Rancho Mirage, California, on Aug. 21, 2023. (David Swanson/AFP via Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The last time a tropical storm swept over California was in \u003ca href=\"https://web.archive.org/web/20080229155402/http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/sgx/research/Guide/weatherhistory.pdf\">1939\u003c/a>. But remnants of tropical storms have made landfall — \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11958562/hurricane-hilary-hits-what-california-and-the-bay-area-can-expect\">Hilary\u003c/a> brought significant rain and flooding to Southern California in August 2023, causing nearly a billion dollars in damage to the state.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It wasn’t a hurricane by the time it reached here,” Villafane said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Sea surface temperatures are in the mid- to upper-50s off the Bay Area coast. “Warm water is one of the things you need for a tropical cyclone formation, which is what El Niño really is,” Villafane said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Models show a range of possibilities for the storm’s track once it forms, including one with a 5% chance of direct impacts on Southern California, she said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“If you cherry-pick models, it makes it look like we’re going to get it,” Villafane said. “But a lot of the other models have it going in a different direction.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>If the system moves north, it could lead to a higher chance of precipitation — but not significantly windy conditions, according to Brian Garcia, warning coordination meteorologist for the NWS Bay Area office.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/GettyImages-2227074366-scaled-e1758749155173.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12050295\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A view of the Pacific Ocean along the coastline at Pacifica Municipal Pier in Pacifica, California, United States on July 30, 2025. (Photo by Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“In terms of seeing any sort of storm come up towards the Bay Area or even as close as the Central Coast, it’s pretty much a nonstarter,” Garcia said. “We can’t get a hurricane up across these waters because the waters are just too cold.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>“But we could get moisture to build across our area, which could bring significant rainfall,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Garcia also said that a cold, low-pressure system moving south from the Gulf of Alaska, which could affect the Pacific Northwest by midweek, could reach the Bay Area near the end of the workweek. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It could provide a highway for the remnants of the tropical system to ride along and bring it across different portions of California,” Garcia said. “It is definitely something that we’re watching, we’re keeping an eye on, and we’ll be messaging out to our partners as things become a little bit more concrete.”\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "big-sur-fires-cost-around-80-million-so-far-could-burn-until-october-rains",
"title": "Big Sur Fires Cost Around $80 Million So Far, Could Burn Until October Rains",
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"headTitle": "Big Sur Fires Cost Around $80 Million So Far, Could Burn Until October Rains | KQED",
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"content": "\n\u003cp>As firefighters continue to battle the two major blazes in the Big Sur area, the U.S. Forest Service estimates that the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12097303/crews-struggle-to-contain-big-sur-fires-with-el-nino-on-the-horizon\">Timber and Plaskett fires\u003c/a> have cost $80 million so far and could burn until October.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12097092/timber-fire-big-sur-highway-1-closed-again-wildfire-map-evacuation-august-2026\">Plaskett Fire\u003c/a> near Big Sur almost doubled in size over the weekend, burning 15,479 acres with just 1% containment. The fire triggered new evacuation orders on Sunday, in both \u003ca href=\"https://www.facebook.com/MontereyCountySheriffsOffice/\">Monterey\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://x.com/slocountyoes\">San Luis Obispo \u003c/a>counties, and has ignited land that has not burned since the 1970s, said Lee Beyer, a U.S. Forest Service spokesperson. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The nearly 25,000-acre \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12096883/timber-fire-now-third-largest-in-state-chp-announces-highway-1-closure\">Timber Fire\u003c/a>, now in its fourth week, slowed overnight thanks to a change in weather, which draped a thick marine layer over Highway 1, said Josh Silveira, a Cal Fire spokesperson.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>It remains the third-largest wildfire in California this year, according to \u003ca href=\"https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2026\">Cal Fire\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/55484414192_e9eb07140e_o-scaled-e1787935469462.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12097295\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">U.S. Forest Service biologists survey the Timber Fire area on Aug. 24, 2026. (Courtesy of Cal Fire)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In an email to KQED, the Forest Service estimated that fighting the blazes has racked up $80 million in firefighting costs so far, due to the use of “expensive” aircraft. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Given the remote and difficult terrain and the high value of the communities at risk along the Big Sur coast, we have used a lot of aircraft,” Beyer wrote.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Silveira warned the weather may get warmer and drier midweek, which could “potentially put the fire into conditions where it’s going to grow a little more steadily.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Fires in Big Sur can burn into October, Beyer said, when early winter rain can fully extinguish the most remote flames. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Silveira said fires in this part of the Ventana Wilderness — the rugged, mountainous area just inland from Big Sur — typically last longer \u003cstrong>“\u003c/strong>because they are so remote, so difficult to access.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“There’s some hiking trails that lead back into the backcountry, but there’s no real vehicle access,” Silveira said. “So that steep, really rugged, inaccessible terrain is a historic challenge that we’ve had on all the fires in this area. And that’s one of the reasons that we love the Big Sur coast because it is that untamed natural beauty. On the back end of it, though, it just makes things difficult when we do get fires.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Road closures remain in effect on U.S. Highway 1 between Little Sur River and Salmon Creek. Smoke from the fires is expected to impact air quality in the Bay Area on Monday and Tuesday, the air district said Monday. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Silveira added that “monsoonal moisture,” or the humid, rainy weather on Monday, combined with southerly winds, will push the smoke towards the Bay Area. Though the smoke will stay relatively high in the sky, “residents in the Bay should be aware that there is going to be smoke from both of these fires in the area.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Firefighters from across the state, including engine strike teams from Contra Costa, Santa Clara and Alameda counties — and from across the country — have helped manage the flames, he added. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/TimberFireGetty6.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12094843\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/TimberFireGetty6.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/TimberFireGetty6-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/TimberFireGetty6-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A firefighter battles with flames as the Timber Fire continues in Big Sur, California, Aug. 10, 2026. (Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Two firefighters have been injured so far, and no civilians have been injured, Silveira said. Cal Fire has not yet identified the cause of the fire, citing dangerous conditions for investigators.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The community does an amazing job with home hardening and preparedness because they’ve lived through fires in this area,” Silveira said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Evacuation \u003ca href=\"https://www.readymontereycounty.org/emergency/incident-archive/2026-timber-fire\">shelters\u003c/a> remain open at Carmel Mission Inn Conference Room in Carmel and the Veteran’s Building in Cambria. Monterey County’s SPCA is providing emergency rescue and sheltering for animals impacted. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>KQED’s \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/calam\">\u003cem>Christopher Alam\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem> contributed to this report. \u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>As firefighters continue to battle the two major blazes in the Big Sur area, the U.S. Forest Service estimates that the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12097303/crews-struggle-to-contain-big-sur-fires-with-el-nino-on-the-horizon\">Timber and Plaskett fires\u003c/a> have cost $80 million so far and could burn until October.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>As firefighters continue to battle the two major blazes in the Big Sur area, the U.S. Forest Service estimates that the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12097303/crews-struggle-to-contain-big-sur-fires-with-el-nino-on-the-horizon\">Timber and Plaskett fires\u003c/a> have cost $80 million so far and could burn until October.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12097092/timber-fire-big-sur-highway-1-closed-again-wildfire-map-evacuation-august-2026\">Plaskett Fire\u003c/a> near Big Sur almost doubled in size over the weekend, burning 15,479 acres with just 1% containment. The fire triggered new evacuation orders on Sunday, in both \u003ca href=\"https://www.facebook.com/MontereyCountySheriffsOffice/\">Monterey\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://x.com/slocountyoes\">San Luis Obispo \u003c/a>counties, and has ignited land that has not burned since the 1970s, said Lee Beyer, a U.S. Forest Service spokesperson. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12097092/timber-fire-big-sur-highway-1-closed-again-wildfire-map-evacuation-august-2026\">Plaskett Fire\u003c/a> near Big Sur almost doubled in size over the weekend, burning 15,479 acres with just 1% containment. The fire triggered new evacuation orders on Sunday, in both \u003ca href=\"https://www.facebook.com/MontereyCountySheriffsOffice/\">Monterey\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://x.com/slocountyoes\">San Luis Obispo \u003c/a>counties, and has ignited land that has not burned since the 1970s, said Lee Beyer, a U.S. Forest Service spokesperson. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The nearly 25,000-acre \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12096883/timber-fire-now-third-largest-in-state-chp-announces-highway-1-closure\">Timber Fire\u003c/a>, now in its fourth week, slowed overnight thanks to a change in weather, which draped a thick marine layer over Highway 1, said Josh Silveira, a Cal Fire spokesperson.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The nearly 25,000-acre \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12096883/timber-fire-now-third-largest-in-state-chp-announces-highway-1-closure\">Timber Fire\u003c/a>, now in its fourth week, slowed overnight thanks to a change in weather, which draped a thick marine layer over Highway 1, said Josh Silveira, a Cal Fire spokesperson.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>It remains the third-largest wildfire in California this year, according to \u003ca href=\"https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2026\">Cal Fire\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>It remains the third-largest wildfire in California this year, according to \u003ca href=\"https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2026\">Cal Fire\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/55484414192_e9eb07140e_o-scaled-e1787935469462.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12097295\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">U.S. Forest Service biologists survey the Timber Fire area on Aug. 24, 2026. \u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Courtesy of Cal Fire)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In an email to KQED, the Forest Service estimated that fighting the blazes has racked up $80 million in firefighting costs so far, due to the use of “expensive” aircraft. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>In an email to KQED, the Forest Service estimated that fighting the blazes has racked up $80 million in firefighting costs so far, due to the use of “expensive” aircraft. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Given the remote and difficult terrain and the high value of the communities at risk along the Big Sur coast, we have used a lot of aircraft,” Beyer wrote.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Silveira warned the weather may get warmer and drier midweek, which could “potentially put the fire into conditions where it’s going to grow a little more steadily.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Silveira warned the weather may get warmer and drier midweek, which could “potentially put the fire into conditions where it’s going to grow a little more steadily.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Fires in Big Sur can burn into October, Beyer said, when early winter rain can fully extinguish the most remote flames. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Fires in Big Sur can burn into October, Beyer said, when early winter rain can fully extinguish the most remote flames. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Silveira said fires in this part of the Ventana Wilderness — the rugged, mountainous area just inland from Big Sur — typically last longer \u003cstrong>“\u003c/strong>because they are so remote, so difficult to access.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Silveira said fires in this part of the Ventana Wilderness — the rugged, mountainous area just inland from Big Sur — typically last longer \u003cstrong>“\u003c/strong>because they are so remote, so difficult to access.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“There’s some hiking trails that lead back into the backcountry, but there’s no real vehicle access,” Silveira said. “So that steep, really rugged, inaccessible terrain is a historic challenge that we’ve had on all the fires in this area. And that’s one of the reasons that we love the Big Sur coast because it is that untamed natural beauty. On the back end of it, though, it just makes things difficult when we do get fires.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“There’s some hiking trails that lead back into the backcountry, but there’s no real vehicle access,” Silveira said. “So that steep, really rugged, inaccessible terrain is a historic challenge that we’ve had on all the fires in this area. And that’s one of the reasons that we love the Big Sur coast because it is that untamed natural beauty. On the back end of it, though, it just makes things difficult when we do get fires.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Road closures remain in effect on U.S. Highway 1 between Little Sur River and Salmon Creek. Smoke from the fires is expected to impact air quality in the Bay Area on Monday and Tuesday, the air district said Monday. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Road closures remain in effect on U.S. Highway 1 between Little Sur River and Salmon Creek. Smoke from the fires is expected to impact air quality in the Bay Area on Monday and Tuesday, the air district said Monday. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Silveira added that “monsoonal moisture,” or the humid, rainy weather on Monday, combined with southerly winds, will push the smoke towards the Bay Area. Though the smoke will stay relatively high in the sky, “residents in the Bay should be aware that there is going to be smoke from both of these fires in the area.” \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Silveira added that “monsoonal moisture,” or the humid, rainy weather on Monday, combined with southerly winds, will push the smoke towards the Bay Area. Though the smoke will stay relatively high in the sky, “residents in the Bay should be aware that there is going to be smoke from both of these fires in the area.” \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Firefighters from across the state, including engine strike teams from Contra Costa, Santa Clara and Alameda counties — and from across the country — have helped manage the flames, he added. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Firefighters from across the state, including engine strike teams from Contra Costa, Santa Clara and Alameda counties — and from across the country — have helped manage the flames, he added. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Two firefighters have been injured so far, and no civilians have been injured, Silveira said. Cal Fire has not yet identified the cause of the fire, citing dangerous conditions for investigators.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“The community does an amazing job with home hardening and preparedness because they’ve lived through fires in this area,” Silveira said. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Evacuation \u003ca href=\"https://www.readymontereycounty.org/emergency/incident-archive/2026-timber-fire\">shelters\u003c/a> remain open at Carmel Mission Inn Conference Room in Carmel and the Veteran’s Building in Cambria. Monterey County’s SPCA is providing emergency rescue and sheltering for animals impacted. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cem>KQED’s \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/calam\">\u003cem>Christopher Alam\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem> contributed to this report. \u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "The Plaskett and Timber fires raging in the Monterey County wilderness have burned more than 40,000 acres — and show no sign of stopping.",
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"title": "Big Sur Fires Cost Around $80 Million So Far, Could Burn Until October Rains | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\n\u003cp>As firefighters continue to battle the two major blazes in the Big Sur area, the U.S. Forest Service estimates that the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12097303/crews-struggle-to-contain-big-sur-fires-with-el-nino-on-the-horizon\">Timber and Plaskett fires\u003c/a> have cost $80 million so far and could burn until October.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12097092/timber-fire-big-sur-highway-1-closed-again-wildfire-map-evacuation-august-2026\">Plaskett Fire\u003c/a> near Big Sur almost doubled in size over the weekend, burning 15,479 acres with just 1% containment. The fire triggered new evacuation orders on Sunday, in both \u003ca href=\"https://www.facebook.com/MontereyCountySheriffsOffice/\">Monterey\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://x.com/slocountyoes\">San Luis Obispo \u003c/a>counties, and has ignited land that has not burned since the 1970s, said Lee Beyer, a U.S. Forest Service spokesperson. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The nearly 25,000-acre \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12096883/timber-fire-now-third-largest-in-state-chp-announces-highway-1-closure\">Timber Fire\u003c/a>, now in its fourth week, slowed overnight thanks to a change in weather, which draped a thick marine layer over Highway 1, said Josh Silveira, a Cal Fire spokesperson.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>It remains the third-largest wildfire in California this year, according to \u003ca href=\"https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2026\">Cal Fire\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/55484414192_e9eb07140e_o-scaled-e1787935469462.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12097295\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">U.S. Forest Service biologists survey the Timber Fire area on Aug. 24, 2026. (Courtesy of Cal Fire)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In an email to KQED, the Forest Service estimated that fighting the blazes has racked up $80 million in firefighting costs so far, due to the use of “expensive” aircraft. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Given the remote and difficult terrain and the high value of the communities at risk along the Big Sur coast, we have used a lot of aircraft,” Beyer wrote.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Silveira warned the weather may get warmer and drier midweek, which could “potentially put the fire into conditions where it’s going to grow a little more steadily.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Fires in Big Sur can burn into October, Beyer said, when early winter rain can fully extinguish the most remote flames. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Silveira said fires in this part of the Ventana Wilderness — the rugged, mountainous area just inland from Big Sur — typically last longer \u003cstrong>“\u003c/strong>because they are so remote, so difficult to access.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“There’s some hiking trails that lead back into the backcountry, but there’s no real vehicle access,” Silveira said. “So that steep, really rugged, inaccessible terrain is a historic challenge that we’ve had on all the fires in this area. And that’s one of the reasons that we love the Big Sur coast because it is that untamed natural beauty. On the back end of it, though, it just makes things difficult when we do get fires.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Road closures remain in effect on U.S. Highway 1 between Little Sur River and Salmon Creek. Smoke from the fires is expected to impact air quality in the Bay Area on Monday and Tuesday, the air district said Monday. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Silveira added that “monsoonal moisture,” or the humid, rainy weather on Monday, combined with southerly winds, will push the smoke towards the Bay Area. Though the smoke will stay relatively high in the sky, “residents in the Bay should be aware that there is going to be smoke from both of these fires in the area.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Firefighters from across the state, including engine strike teams from Contra Costa, Santa Clara and Alameda counties — and from across the country — have helped manage the flames, he added. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/TimberFireGetty6.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12094843\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/TimberFireGetty6.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/TimberFireGetty6-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/TimberFireGetty6-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A firefighter battles with flames as the Timber Fire continues in Big Sur, California, Aug. 10, 2026. (Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Two firefighters have been injured so far, and no civilians have been injured, Silveira said. Cal Fire has not yet identified the cause of the fire, citing dangerous conditions for investigators.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The community does an amazing job with home hardening and preparedness because they’ve lived through fires in this area,” Silveira said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Evacuation \u003ca href=\"https://www.readymontereycounty.org/emergency/incident-archive/2026-timber-fire\">shelters\u003c/a> remain open at Carmel Mission Inn Conference Room in Carmel and the Veteran’s Building in Cambria. Monterey County’s SPCA is providing emergency rescue and sheltering for animals impacted. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>KQED’s \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/calam\">\u003cem>Christopher Alam\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem> contributed to this report. \u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "california-teacher-misconduct-bill-administrator-discipline-al-muratsuchi",
"title": "California Lawmakers Pass Bill to Punish Administrators Who Fail to Vet Teachers for Misconduct",
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"headTitle": "California Lawmakers Pass Bill to Punish Administrators Who Fail to Vet Teachers for Misconduct | KQED",
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"content": "\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This article was produced for ProPublica’s Local Reporting Network in partnership with \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/\">\u003cem>KQED\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem>. \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.propublica.org/newsletters/dispatches\">\u003cem>Sign up for Dispatches\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem> to get stories like this one as soon as they are published. \u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>California lawmakers unanimously passed legislation last week to ensure that school administrators are informed about past accusations of misconduct against teachers as part of their hiring process.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The legislation follows a \u003ca href=\"https://www.propublica.org/article/california-fired-teacher-sexual-harassment\">KQED-ProPublica investigation\u003c/a> revealing how delays and inaction, combined with a lack of transparency, allowed educators to get new jobs after school districts reported them to the state teacher licensing agency for sexual harassment or other misconduct. Our reporting found that new schools hired at least 14 educators after their former employers determined they had sexually harassed students or committed other sexual misconduct. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The \u003ca href=\"https://legiscan.com/CA/text/AB1381/id/3456504\">bill\u003c/a>, authored by Democratic Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi, is an attempt to make sure that doesn’t happen again, adding teeth to background check mandates in place since 2025. Under \u003ca href=\"https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240AB2534\">that law\u003c/a>, applicants for jobs at public schools are supposed to list every teaching position they have ever held. The requirement \u003ca href=\"https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB848\">expanded to private school\u003c/a> teaching applicants this year. Top school administrators are required to check with applicants’ previous employers to see if they had ever been reported to the state for credible or substantiated complaints of egregious misconduct.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But the existing law relies on schools and teachers to follow the mandates without clear penalties for those who fail to do so. Muratsuchi’s bill specifies that the state’s teacher licensing agency may discipline teachers and administrators; that can include issuing public reprimands or suspending or revoking their credentials if they don’t comply. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/230601-MindShift-33-BL_qed-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12028517\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/230601-MindShift-33-BL_qed-1.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/230601-MindShift-33-BL_qed-1-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/230601-MindShift-33-BL_qed-1-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/230601-MindShift-33-BL_qed-1-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/230601-MindShift-33-BL_qed-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/230601-MindShift-33-BL_qed-1-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Students complete an outdoor assignment activity in the schoolyard at an elementary school in San Leandro, California, on June 1, 2023. California lawmakers unanimously passed legislation last week to ensure that schools are informed about past accusations of teacher misconduct as part of their hiring process. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“If there aren’t any penalties, there are no consequences,” Muratsuchi said in an interview with KQED and ProPublica after the legislation passed. “The bill makes sure that school districts prioritize this by putting in consequences for failing to do so.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, has until Sept. 30 to sign or veto the legislation. A spokesperson for Newsom said the governor does not typically comment on bills awaiting his signature.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The measure is dramatically different from the bill Muratsuchi originally proposed in June, which would have gone further, creating a searchable database that would allow schools to see if applicants for public school teaching positions had been reported to the state after they were fired or had resigned over claims of misconduct. California is set to launch such a database by next summer for school support staff, such as bus drivers and janitors, with substantiated claims of egregious misconduct. But public school teachers are not included.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The Trump administration had singled out teachers unions as obstructions to legislative reforms to protect children when it announced a \u003ca href=\"https://www.propublica.org/article/trump-teacher-sexual-misconduct-crackdown-linda-mcmahon\">national crackdown this summer\u003c/a> on how school districts handle accusations of sexual misconduct by teachers.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>California’s powerful teachers unions, the California Federation of Teachers and California Teachers Association, had \u003ca href=\"https://www.propublica.org/article/california-teacher-misconduct-database-bill-failed-al-muratsuchi\">criticized Muratsuchi’s database proposal\u003c/a> for public school educators, arguing it would violate teachers’ privacy and subject them to employment consequences if allegations are later determined to be unfounded. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The Commission on Teacher Credentialing, California’s educator licensing agency, also warned that complying with the proposed legislation to add teachers to the database would “require Commission staff to commit crimes” and expose the agency to liability because state law restricts what information it is allowed to share. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>After the pushback, Muratsuchi amended the proposed bill and scrapped the database idea. The revamped legislation ultimately received support from the California Federation of Teachers. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>School administrators, though, say the legislation does not address the burden on school districts to reach out to every previous employer for any reports they made to the state about a teacher applicant.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Many of us in this state have been faced with budget cuts and reduced staffing. We need a better system,” said Chris Calabrese, superintendent of Benicia Unified, a 4,500-student district in the San Francisco Bay Area. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>He said a database for employers to check whether a teacher had ever been reported would be a more efficient way to vet applicants, allowing schools easy access to critical information that would keep students safe.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Currently, a red flag shows up next to a teacher’s name in the state’s public database of credentialed educators if the licensing agency has ever disciplined the person. But the state disciplinary process typically takes one year, according to the agency, giving educators who have been reported a window to apply for new teaching jobs without any warning to potential employers. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In 2023, Benicia Unified reported former elementary teacher Matthew Shelton to the state after \u003ca href=\"https://www.vallejosun.com/four-more-victims-accuse-former-benicia-teacher-of-sexual-abuse/\">students accused him of touching them inappropriately\u003c/a>. Shelton resigned and weeks later was hired as an assistant principal at a nearby middle school in West Contra Unified. A red flag did not appear next to his name until the following year, after his teaching license was suspended because he was charged with five felony counts of lewd acts on a Benicia student. The number of victims and charges has since grown, and Shelton, whose license has been revoked, is scheduled to go to trial in September.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Shelton, who has pleaded not guilty to all charges, did not respond to requests for comment, and his attorney declined to comment. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Calabrese, who started as superintendent last year, declined to comment on specific questions about Shelton.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The \u003ca href=\"https://legiscan.com/CA/text/AB1381/id/3456504\">bill\u003c/a>, authored by Democratic Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi, is an attempt to make sure that doesn’t happen again, adding teeth to background check mandates in place since 2025. Under \u003ca href=\"https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240AB2534\">that law\u003c/a>, applicants for jobs at public schools are supposed to list every teaching position they have ever held. The requirement \u003ca href=\"https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB848\">expanded to private school\u003c/a> teaching applicants this year. Top school administrators are required to check with applicants’ previous employers to see if they had ever been reported to the state for credible or substantiated complaints of egregious misconduct.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The \u003ca href=\"https://legiscan.com/CA/text/AB1381/id/3456504\">bill\u003c/a>, authored by Democratic Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi, is an attempt to make sure that doesn’t happen again, adding teeth to background check mandates in place since 2025. Under \u003ca href=\"https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240AB2534\">that law\u003c/a>, applicants for jobs at public schools are supposed to list every teaching position they have ever held. The requirement \u003ca href=\"https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB848\">expanded to private school\u003c/a> teaching applicants this year. Top school administrators are required to check with applicants’ previous employers to see if they had ever been reported to the state for credible or substantiated complaints of egregious misconduct.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>But the existing law relies on schools and teachers to follow the mandates without clear penalties for those who fail to do so. Muratsuchi’s bill specifies that the state’s teacher licensing agency may discipline teachers and administrators; that can include issuing public reprimands or suspending or revoking their credentials if they don’t comply. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>But the existing law relies on schools and teachers to follow the mandates without clear penalties for those who fail to do so. Muratsuchi’s bill specifies that the state’s teacher licensing agency may discipline teachers and administrators; that can include issuing public reprimands or suspending or revoking their credentials if they don’t comply. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/230601-MindShift-33-BL_qed-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12028517\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/230601-MindShift-33-BL_qed-1.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/230601-MindShift-33-BL_qed-1-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/230601-MindShift-33-BL_qed-1-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/230601-MindShift-33-BL_qed-1-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/230601-MindShift-33-BL_qed-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/230601-MindShift-33-BL_qed-1-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Students complete an outdoor assignment activity in the schoolyard at an elementary school in San Leandro, California, on June 1, 2023. California lawmakers unanimously passed legislation last week to ensure that schools are informed about past accusations of teacher misconduct as part of their hiring process.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/230601-MindShift-33-BL_qed-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12028517\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Students complete an outdoor assignment activity in the schoolyard at an elementary school in San Leandro, California, on June 1, 2023. California lawmakers unanimously passed legislation last week to ensure that schools are informed about past accusations of teacher misconduct as part of their hiring process.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“If there aren’t any penalties, there are no consequences,” Muratsuchi said in an interview with KQED and ProPublica after the legislation passed. “The bill makes sure that school districts prioritize this by putting in consequences for failing to do so.” \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“If there aren’t any penalties, there are no consequences,” Muratsuchi said in an interview with KQED and ProPublica after the legislation passed. “The bill makes sure that school districts prioritize this by putting in consequences for failing to do so.” \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, has until Sept. 30 to sign or veto the legislation. A spokesperson for Newsom said the governor does not typically comment on bills awaiting his signature.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, has until Sept. 30 to sign or veto the legislation. A spokesperson for Newsom said the governor does not typically comment on bills awaiting his signature.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The measure is dramatically different from the bill Muratsuchi originally proposed in June, which would have gone further, creating a searchable database that would allow schools to see if applicants for public school teaching positions had been reported to the state after they were fired or had resigned over claims of misconduct. California is set to launch such a database by next summer for school support staff, such as bus drivers and janitors, with substantiated claims of egregious misconduct. But public school teachers are not included.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The measure is dramatically different from the bill Muratsuchi originally proposed in June, which would have gone further, creating a searchable database that would allow schools to see if applicants for public school teaching positions had been reported to the state after they were fired or had resigned over claims of misconduct. California is set to launch such a database by next summer for school support staff, such as bus drivers and janitors, with substantiated claims of egregious misconduct. But public school teachers are not included.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The Trump administration had singled out teachers unions as obstructions to legislative reforms to protect children when it announced a \u003ca href=\"https://www.propublica.org/article/trump-teacher-sexual-misconduct-crackdown-linda-mcmahon\">national crackdown this summer\u003c/a> on how school districts handle accusations of sexual misconduct by teachers.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>California’s powerful teachers unions, the California Federation of Teachers and California Teachers Association, had \u003ca href=\"https://www.propublica.org/article/california-teacher-misconduct-database-bill-failed-al-muratsuchi\">criticized Muratsuchi’s database proposal\u003c/a> for public school educators, arguing it would violate teachers’ privacy and subject them to employment consequences if allegations are later determined to be unfounded. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The Commission on Teacher Credentialing, California’s educator licensing agency, also warned that complying with the proposed legislation to add teachers to the database would “require Commission staff to commit crimes” and expose the agency to liability because state law restricts what information it is allowed to share. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>After the pushback, Muratsuchi amended the proposed bill and scrapped the database idea. The revamped legislation ultimately received support from the California Federation of Teachers. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>School administrators, though, say the legislation does not address the burden on school districts to reach out to every previous employer for any reports they made to the state about a teacher applicant.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Many of us in this state have been faced with budget cuts and reduced staffing. We need a better system,” said Chris Calabrese, superintendent of Benicia Unified, a 4,500-student district in the San Francisco Bay Area. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“Many of us in this state have been faced with budget cuts and reduced staffing. We need a better system,” said Chris Calabrese, superintendent of Benicia Unified, a 4,500-student district in the San Francisco Bay Area. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>He said a database for employers to check whether a teacher had ever been reported would be a more efficient way to vet applicants, allowing schools easy access to critical information that would keep students safe.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Currently, a red flag shows up next to a teacher’s name in the state’s public database of credentialed educators if the licensing agency has ever disciplined the person. But the state disciplinary process typically takes one year, according to the agency, giving educators who have been reported a window to apply for new teaching jobs without any warning to potential employers. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Currently, a red flag shows up next to a teacher’s name in the state’s public database of credentialed educators if the licensing agency has ever disciplined the person. But the state disciplinary process typically takes one year, according to the agency, giving educators who have been reported a window to apply for new teaching jobs without any warning to potential employers. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In 2023, Benicia Unified reported former elementary teacher Matthew Shelton to the state after \u003ca href=\"https://www.vallejosun.com/four-more-victims-accuse-former-benicia-teacher-of-sexual-abuse/\">students accused him of touching them inappropriately\u003c/a>. Shelton resigned and weeks later was hired as an assistant principal at a nearby middle school in West Contra Unified. A red flag did not appear next to his name until the following year, after his teaching license was suspended because he was charged with five felony counts of lewd acts on a Benicia student. The number of victims and charges has since grown, and Shelton, whose license has been revoked, is scheduled to go to trial in September.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>In 2023, Benicia Unified reported former elementary teacher Matthew Shelton to the state after \u003ca href=\"https://www.vallejosun.com/four-more-victims-accuse-former-benicia-teacher-of-sexual-abuse/\">students accused him of touching them inappropriately\u003c/a>. Shelton resigned and weeks later was hired as an assistant principal at a nearby middle school in West Contra Unified. A red flag did not appear next to his name until the following year, after his teaching license was suspended because he was charged with five felony counts of lewd acts on a Benicia student. The number of victims and charges has since grown, and Shelton, whose license has been revoked, is scheduled to go to trial in September.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Shelton, who has pleaded not guilty to all charges, did not respond to requests for comment, and his attorney declined to comment. \u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "The legislation follows a KQED-ProPublica investigation revealing how delays and inaction, combined with a lack of transparency, allowed educators to get new jobs after school districts reported them to the state for sexual misconduct.",
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"title": "California Lawmakers Pass Bill to Punish Administrators Who Fail to Vet Teachers for Misconduct | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This article was produced for ProPublica’s Local Reporting Network in partnership with \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/\">\u003cem>KQED\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem>. \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.propublica.org/newsletters/dispatches\">\u003cem>Sign up for Dispatches\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem> to get stories like this one as soon as they are published. \u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>California lawmakers unanimously passed legislation last week to ensure that school administrators are informed about past accusations of misconduct against teachers as part of their hiring process.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The legislation follows a \u003ca href=\"https://www.propublica.org/article/california-fired-teacher-sexual-harassment\">KQED-ProPublica investigation\u003c/a> revealing how delays and inaction, combined with a lack of transparency, allowed educators to get new jobs after school districts reported them to the state teacher licensing agency for sexual harassment or other misconduct. Our reporting found that new schools hired at least 14 educators after their former employers determined they had sexually harassed students or committed other sexual misconduct. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The \u003ca href=\"https://legiscan.com/CA/text/AB1381/id/3456504\">bill\u003c/a>, authored by Democratic Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi, is an attempt to make sure that doesn’t happen again, adding teeth to background check mandates in place since 2025. Under \u003ca href=\"https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240AB2534\">that law\u003c/a>, applicants for jobs at public schools are supposed to list every teaching position they have ever held. The requirement \u003ca href=\"https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB848\">expanded to private school\u003c/a> teaching applicants this year. Top school administrators are required to check with applicants’ previous employers to see if they had ever been reported to the state for credible or substantiated complaints of egregious misconduct.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But the existing law relies on schools and teachers to follow the mandates without clear penalties for those who fail to do so. Muratsuchi’s bill specifies that the state’s teacher licensing agency may discipline teachers and administrators; that can include issuing public reprimands or suspending or revoking their credentials if they don’t comply. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/230601-MindShift-33-BL_qed-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12028517\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/230601-MindShift-33-BL_qed-1.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/230601-MindShift-33-BL_qed-1-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/230601-MindShift-33-BL_qed-1-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/230601-MindShift-33-BL_qed-1-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/230601-MindShift-33-BL_qed-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/230601-MindShift-33-BL_qed-1-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Students complete an outdoor assignment activity in the schoolyard at an elementary school in San Leandro, California, on June 1, 2023. California lawmakers unanimously passed legislation last week to ensure that schools are informed about past accusations of teacher misconduct as part of their hiring process. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“If there aren’t any penalties, there are no consequences,” Muratsuchi said in an interview with KQED and ProPublica after the legislation passed. “The bill makes sure that school districts prioritize this by putting in consequences for failing to do so.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, has until Sept. 30 to sign or veto the legislation. A spokesperson for Newsom said the governor does not typically comment on bills awaiting his signature.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The measure is dramatically different from the bill Muratsuchi originally proposed in June, which would have gone further, creating a searchable database that would allow schools to see if applicants for public school teaching positions had been reported to the state after they were fired or had resigned over claims of misconduct. California is set to launch such a database by next summer for school support staff, such as bus drivers and janitors, with substantiated claims of egregious misconduct. But public school teachers are not included.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The Trump administration had singled out teachers unions as obstructions to legislative reforms to protect children when it announced a \u003ca href=\"https://www.propublica.org/article/trump-teacher-sexual-misconduct-crackdown-linda-mcmahon\">national crackdown this summer\u003c/a> on how school districts handle accusations of sexual misconduct by teachers.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>California’s powerful teachers unions, the California Federation of Teachers and California Teachers Association, had \u003ca href=\"https://www.propublica.org/article/california-teacher-misconduct-database-bill-failed-al-muratsuchi\">criticized Muratsuchi’s database proposal\u003c/a> for public school educators, arguing it would violate teachers’ privacy and subject them to employment consequences if allegations are later determined to be unfounded. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The Commission on Teacher Credentialing, California’s educator licensing agency, also warned that complying with the proposed legislation to add teachers to the database would “require Commission staff to commit crimes” and expose the agency to liability because state law restricts what information it is allowed to share. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>After the pushback, Muratsuchi amended the proposed bill and scrapped the database idea. The revamped legislation ultimately received support from the California Federation of Teachers. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>School administrators, though, say the legislation does not address the burden on school districts to reach out to every previous employer for any reports they made to the state about a teacher applicant.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Many of us in this state have been faced with budget cuts and reduced staffing. We need a better system,” said Chris Calabrese, superintendent of Benicia Unified, a 4,500-student district in the San Francisco Bay Area. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>He said a database for employers to check whether a teacher had ever been reported would be a more efficient way to vet applicants, allowing schools easy access to critical information that would keep students safe.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Currently, a red flag shows up next to a teacher’s name in the state’s public database of credentialed educators if the licensing agency has ever disciplined the person. But the state disciplinary process typically takes one year, according to the agency, giving educators who have been reported a window to apply for new teaching jobs without any warning to potential employers. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In 2023, Benicia Unified reported former elementary teacher Matthew Shelton to the state after \u003ca href=\"https://www.vallejosun.com/four-more-victims-accuse-former-benicia-teacher-of-sexual-abuse/\">students accused him of touching them inappropriately\u003c/a>. Shelton resigned and weeks later was hired as an assistant principal at a nearby middle school in West Contra Unified. A red flag did not appear next to his name until the following year, after his teaching license was suspended because he was charged with five felony counts of lewd acts on a Benicia student. The number of victims and charges has since grown, and Shelton, whose license has been revoked, is scheduled to go to trial in September.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Shelton, who has pleaded not guilty to all charges, did not respond to requests for comment, and his attorney declined to comment. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Calabrese, who started as superintendent last year, declined to comment on specific questions about Shelton.\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"info": "Possible is hosted by entrepreneur Reid Hoffman and writer Aria Finger. Together in Possible, Hoffman and Finger lead enlightening discussions about building a brighter collective future. The show features interviews with visionary guests like Trevor Noah, Sam Altman and Janette Sadik-Khan. Possible paints an optimistic portrait of the world we can create through science, policy, business, art and our shared humanity. It asks: What if everything goes right for once? How can we get there? Each episode also includes a short fiction story generated by advanced AI GPT-4, serving as a thought-provoking springboard to speculate how humanity could leverage technology for good.",
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"soldout": {
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