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"content": "\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The edges of the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/san-francisco-bay\">San Francisco Bay\u003c/a> are flooding this week. Kayakers cruised water-filled streets along \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1999871/after-king-tides-swamp-marin-san-rafael-weighs-billion-dollar-defenses-against-the-bay\">Marin County\u003c/a>‘s bayside. Waves splashed over Pier 14 in \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12106584/san-francisco-embarcadero-floods-as-tides-peak-2-feet-above-normal\">San Francisco’\u003c/a>s Embarcadero. A river of water surrounded a Mexican restaurant in San Rafael. And it’s just the beginning.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“We have not seen the worst coastal flooding this year that we’re likely to see later,” Daniel Swain, a climate scientist with UC Agriculture and Natural Resources, said. “This is probably, unfortunately for those who are dealing with it, just a preview of what is to come.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The National Weather Service extended a moderate coastal flood advisory through Sunday for nearly 2 feet of flooding in low-lying spots throughout the Bay Area and Central Coast. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Several factors are driving the extra-high water, including the influence of the full moon earlier this week and warming water caused by \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12105518/this-years-powerful-el-nino-may-preview-californias-climate-future\">El Niño\u003c/a> expanding and pushing sea levels up.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\nhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8apd4lcP9w\n\u003c/div>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“We have that thermal expansion of the water from the El Niño, and that anomaly has been helping keep the water a bit higher than initially forecast,” Rachel Kennedy, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service’s Bay Area office, said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The flooding is happening on sunny days, without storms to exacerbate impacts, and when the region isn’t experiencing the year’s highest tides. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“In Northern California, we’re pretty much running as high as we ever have been, including record-breaking October tides,” Swain said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This winter’s king tides fall around Thanksgiving and Christmas. Swain said there’s a “very high likelihood of widespread and potentially serious coastal flooding” during those windows.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Parts of Marin County underwater\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Kennedy called Marin County a flooding “hotspot.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“It is starting to reach some people’s homes,” she said. “So, it’s more moderate than minor since people’s lives are being impacted.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On Thursday afternoon, floodwaters blocked entrances to Highway 101 in north Sausalito. Cars and buses sloshed through the water and kayakers took to the new waterways.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At the tides’ peak on Thursday around 2 p.m., workers from El Tucan Tacos and Beer, a Mexican restaurant on the edge of a small harbor in San Rafael, raced to move their cars as a river of water separated the restaurant from the street.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1829\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/GettyImages-2301814093-96c4f076-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12107300\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/GettyImages-2301814093-96c4f076-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/GettyImages-2301814093-96c4f076-2000x1429.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/GettyImages-2301814093-96c4f076-160x114.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/GettyImages-2301814093-96c4f076-1536x1097.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/GettyImages-2301814093-96c4f076-2048x1463.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Floodwaters covered roads in Marin County as residents kayaking on the bike trail during high tide between Sausalito and Mill Valley in California, United States on October 27, 2026. (Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For three days, employee Marilyn Garcia watched water race down the street, stopping lunch service and racing to protect the waterside restaurant. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“Yesterday was bad, but today it got totally worse and a little higher,” Garcia said. “Right now, we have no entrance for anyone to get in or a way for people to pick up food.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The restaurant recently poured a cement barrier to block water from entering the business, but Garcia said water seeps up underneath the patio near the water’s edge. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“We have sandbags, but it’s getting hectic,” Garcia said. “The water is still coming under and in the restaurant.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Low-lying parts of San Rafael flooded most days this week. Agencies blocked roads until water receded, and water surged out of utility holes and rippled onto front yards, said Kate Hagemann, a climate adaptation and resilience planner with San Rafael.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“We are trying to focus on preparedness, since these are not the highest tides of the year,” Hagemann said. “We have a large part of San Rafael that is lower than the bay.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A preview of what’s to come\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Hagemann said Thursday’s flooding could be the worst this week, and she expects several dozen days of flooding over the next few months. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“We may have high tide flooding like this maybe 20 or 30 times this winter, and so we don’t necessarily have staff capacity to be out directing traffic every time this happens,” Hagemann said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She sees the flooding as a window into a future where sea levels keep rising because of human-caused climate change. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“Unfortunately, what we are seeing this week will be every day in the future,” Hagemann said. “Fortunately, this isn’t forever. It’s just for this season. But in the background, these are the water levels that we would expect every day in the next 20 to 40 years.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The city is also slowly working on a long-term fix, but it could cost around $2 billion. The city is studying solutions and published a sea level rise feasibility study last December. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">They found that the area could flood repeatedly over the next few decades, but each potential solution would require major community feedback, restructuring parts of the city and big bucks.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the meantime, Hagemann said that residents should take caution and pay attention to areas that flood.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“Just because the road is open, it doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s totally safe to just barrel through at 40 miles an hour,” Hagemann said. “I want to stress that everyone needs to keep up awareness and not drive through water that they can’t see through.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The edges of the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/san-francisco-bay\">San Francisco Bay\u003c/a> are flooding this week. Kayakers cruised water-filled streets along \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1999871/after-king-tides-swamp-marin-san-rafael-weighs-billion-dollar-defenses-against-the-bay\">Marin County\u003c/a>‘s bayside. Waves splashed over Pier 14 in \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12106584/san-francisco-embarcadero-floods-as-tides-peak-2-feet-above-normal\">San Francisco’\u003c/a>s Embarcadero. A river of water surrounded a Mexican restaurant in San Rafael. And it’s just the beginning.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“We have not seen the worst coastal flooding this year that we’re likely to see later,” Daniel Swain, a climate scientist with UC Agriculture and Natural Resources, said. “This is probably, unfortunately for those who are dealing with it, just a preview of what is to come.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“We have not seen the worst coastal flooding this year that we’re likely to see later,” Daniel Swain, a climate scientist with UC Agriculture and Natural Resources, said. “This is probably, unfortunately for those who are dealing with it, just a preview of what is to come.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The National Weather Service extended a moderate coastal flood advisory through Sunday for nearly 2 feet of flooding in low-lying spots throughout the Bay Area and Central Coast. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Several factors are driving the extra-high water, including the influence of the full moon earlier this week and warming water caused by \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12105518/this-years-powerful-el-nino-may-preview-californias-climate-future\">El Niño\u003c/a> expanding and pushing sea levels up.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Several factors are driving the extra-high water, including the influence of the full moon earlier this week and warming water caused by \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12105518/this-years-powerful-el-nino-may-preview-californias-climate-future\">El Niño\u003c/a> expanding and pushing sea levels up.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“We have that thermal expansion of the water from the El Niño, and that anomaly has been helping keep the water a bit higher than initially forecast,” Rachel Kennedy, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service’s Bay Area office, said. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“We have that thermal expansion of the water from the El Niño, and that anomaly has been helping keep the water a bit higher than initially forecast,” Rachel Kennedy, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service’s Bay Area office, said. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The flooding is happening on sunny days, without storms to exacerbate impacts, and when the region isn’t experiencing the year’s highest tides. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“In Northern California, we’re pretty much running as high as we ever have been, including record-breaking October tides,” Swain said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>This winter’s king tides fall around Thanksgiving and Christmas. Swain said there’s a “very high likelihood of widespread and potentially serious coastal flooding” during those windows.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>This winter’s king tides fall around Thanksgiving and Christmas. Swain said there’s a “very high likelihood of widespread and potentially serious coastal flooding” during those windows.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Kennedy called Marin County a flooding “hotspot.” \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“It is starting to reach some people’s homes,” she said. “So, it’s more moderate than minor since people’s lives are being impacted.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>On Thursday afternoon, floodwaters blocked entrances to Highway 101 in north Sausalito. Cars and buses sloshed through the water and kayakers took to the new waterways.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>At the tides’ peak on Thursday around 2 p.m., workers from El Tucan Tacos and Beer, a Mexican restaurant on the edge of a small harbor in San Rafael, raced to move their cars as a river of water separated the restaurant from the street.\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/10/2026/10/GettyImages-2301814093-96c4f076-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12107300\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/GettyImages-2301814093-96c4f076-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/GettyImages-2301814093-96c4f076-2000x1429.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/GettyImages-2301814093-96c4f076-160x114.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/GettyImages-2301814093-96c4f076-1536x1097.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/GettyImages-2301814093-96c4f076-2048x1463.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Floodwaters covered roads in Marin County as residents kayaking on the bike trail during high tide between Sausalito and Mill Valley in California, United States on October 27, 2026.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>For three days, employee Marilyn Garcia watched water race down the street, stopping lunch service and racing to protect the waterside restaurant. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Yesterday was bad, but today it got totally worse and a little higher,” Garcia said. “Right now, we have no entrance for anyone to get in or a way for people to pick up food.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The restaurant recently poured a cement barrier to block water from entering the business, but Garcia said water seeps up underneath the patio near the water’s edge. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“We have sandbags, but it’s getting hectic,” Garcia said. “The water is still coming under and in the restaurant.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Low-lying parts of San Rafael flooded most days this week. Agencies blocked roads until water receded, and water surged out of utility holes and rippled onto front yards, said Kate Hagemann, a climate adaptation and resilience planner with San Rafael.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Low-lying parts of San Rafael flooded most days this week. Agencies blocked roads until water receded, and water surged out of utility holes and rippled onto front yards, said Kate Hagemann, a climate adaptation and resilience planner with San Rafael.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“We are trying to focus on preparedness, since these are not the highest tides of the year,” Hagemann said. “We have a large part of San Rafael that is lower than the bay.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“We are trying to focus on preparedness, since these are not the highest tides of the year,” Hagemann said. “We have a large part of San Rafael that is lower than the bay.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Hagemann said Thursday’s flooding could be the worst this week, and she expects several dozen days of flooding over the next few months. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“We may have high tide flooding like this maybe 20 or 30 times this winter, and so we don’t necessarily have staff capacity to be out directing traffic every time this happens,” Hagemann said. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>She sees the flooding as a window into a future where sea levels keep rising because of human-caused climate change. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Unfortunately, what we are seeing this week will be every day in the future,” Hagemann said. “Fortunately, this isn’t forever. It’s just for this season. But in the background, these are the water levels that we would expect every day in the next 20 to 40 years.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“Unfortunately, what we are seeing this week will be every day in the future,” Hagemann said. “Fortunately, this isn’t forever. It’s just for this season. But in the background, these are the water levels that we would expect every day in the next 20 to 40 years.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The city is also slowly working on a long-term fix, but it could cost around $2 billion. The city is studying solutions and published a sea level rise feasibility study last December. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>They found that the area could flood repeatedly over the next few decades, but each potential solution would require major community feedback, restructuring parts of the city and big bucks.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>They found that the area could flood repeatedly over the next few decades, but each potential solution would require major community feedback, restructuring parts of the city and big bucks.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In the meantime, Hagemann said that residents should take caution and pay attention to areas that flood.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Just because the road is open, it doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s totally safe to just barrel through at 40 miles an hour,” Hagemann said. “I want to stress that everyone needs to keep up awareness and not drive through water that they can’t see through.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "El Niño and a full moon this week raised Bay Area tides, causing moderate coastal flooding and swamping low-lying roads. Scientists say it’s a glimpse into the future. ",
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"title": "‘Marin Is the Hotspot’: Bay Area to See Coastal Flooding Through Sunday | KQED",
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"headline": "‘Marin Is the Hotspot’: Bay Area to See Coastal Flooding Through Sunday",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The edges of the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/san-francisco-bay\">San Francisco Bay\u003c/a> are flooding this week. Kayakers cruised water-filled streets along \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1999871/after-king-tides-swamp-marin-san-rafael-weighs-billion-dollar-defenses-against-the-bay\">Marin County\u003c/a>‘s bayside. Waves splashed over Pier 14 in \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12106584/san-francisco-embarcadero-floods-as-tides-peak-2-feet-above-normal\">San Francisco’\u003c/a>s Embarcadero. A river of water surrounded a Mexican restaurant in San Rafael. And it’s just the beginning.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“We have not seen the worst coastal flooding this year that we’re likely to see later,” Daniel Swain, a climate scientist with UC Agriculture and Natural Resources, said. “This is probably, unfortunately for those who are dealing with it, just a preview of what is to come.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The National Weather Service extended a moderate coastal flood advisory through Sunday for nearly 2 feet of flooding in low-lying spots throughout the Bay Area and Central Coast. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Several factors are driving the extra-high water, including the influence of the full moon earlier this week and warming water caused by \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12105518/this-years-powerful-el-nino-may-preview-californias-climate-future\">El Niño\u003c/a> expanding and pushing sea levels up.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003cspan class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__embedYoutube'>\n \u003cspan class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__embedYoutubeInside'>\n \u003ciframe\n loading='lazy'\n class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__youtubePlayer'\n type='text/html'\n src='//www.youtube.com/embed/c8apd4lcP9w'\n title='//www.youtube.com/embed/c8apd4lcP9w'\n allowfullscreen='true'\n style='border:0;'>\u003c/iframe>\n \u003c/span>\n \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003c/div>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“We have that thermal expansion of the water from the El Niño, and that anomaly has been helping keep the water a bit higher than initially forecast,” Rachel Kennedy, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service’s Bay Area office, said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The flooding is happening on sunny days, without storms to exacerbate impacts, and when the region isn’t experiencing the year’s highest tides. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“In Northern California, we’re pretty much running as high as we ever have been, including record-breaking October tides,” Swain said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This winter’s king tides fall around Thanksgiving and Christmas. Swain said there’s a “very high likelihood of widespread and potentially serious coastal flooding” during those windows.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Parts of Marin County underwater\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Kennedy called Marin County a flooding “hotspot.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“It is starting to reach some people’s homes,” she said. “So, it’s more moderate than minor since people’s lives are being impacted.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On Thursday afternoon, floodwaters blocked entrances to Highway 101 in north Sausalito. Cars and buses sloshed through the water and kayakers took to the new waterways.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At the tides’ peak on Thursday around 2 p.m., workers from El Tucan Tacos and Beer, a Mexican restaurant on the edge of a small harbor in San Rafael, raced to move their cars as a river of water separated the restaurant from the street.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1829\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/GettyImages-2301814093-96c4f076-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12107300\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/GettyImages-2301814093-96c4f076-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/GettyImages-2301814093-96c4f076-2000x1429.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/GettyImages-2301814093-96c4f076-160x114.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/GettyImages-2301814093-96c4f076-1536x1097.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/GettyImages-2301814093-96c4f076-2048x1463.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Floodwaters covered roads in Marin County as residents kayaking on the bike trail during high tide between Sausalito and Mill Valley in California, United States on October 27, 2026. (Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For three days, employee Marilyn Garcia watched water race down the street, stopping lunch service and racing to protect the waterside restaurant. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“Yesterday was bad, but today it got totally worse and a little higher,” Garcia said. “Right now, we have no entrance for anyone to get in or a way for people to pick up food.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The restaurant recently poured a cement barrier to block water from entering the business, but Garcia said water seeps up underneath the patio near the water’s edge. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“We have sandbags, but it’s getting hectic,” Garcia said. “The water is still coming under and in the restaurant.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Low-lying parts of San Rafael flooded most days this week. Agencies blocked roads until water receded, and water surged out of utility holes and rippled onto front yards, said Kate Hagemann, a climate adaptation and resilience planner with San Rafael.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“We are trying to focus on preparedness, since these are not the highest tides of the year,” Hagemann said. “We have a large part of San Rafael that is lower than the bay.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A preview of what’s to come\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Hagemann said Thursday’s flooding could be the worst this week, and she expects several dozen days of flooding over the next few months. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“We may have high tide flooding like this maybe 20 or 30 times this winter, and so we don’t necessarily have staff capacity to be out directing traffic every time this happens,” Hagemann said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She sees the flooding as a window into a future where sea levels keep rising because of human-caused climate change. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“Unfortunately, what we are seeing this week will be every day in the future,” Hagemann said. “Fortunately, this isn’t forever. It’s just for this season. But in the background, these are the water levels that we would expect every day in the next 20 to 40 years.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The city is also slowly working on a long-term fix, but it could cost around $2 billion. The city is studying solutions and published a sea level rise feasibility study last December. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">They found that the area could flood repeatedly over the next few decades, but each potential solution would require major community feedback, restructuring parts of the city and big bucks.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the meantime, Hagemann said that residents should take caution and pay attention to areas that flood.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“Just because the road is open, it doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s totally safe to just barrel through at 40 miles an hour,” Hagemann said. “I want to stress that everyone needs to keep up awareness and not drive through water that they can’t see through.”\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "marin-county-lowers-lake-phoenix-to-lessen-likelihood-of-winter-flooding",
"title": "Marin County Lowers Lake Phoenix to Lessen Likelihood of Winter Flooding",
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"headTitle": "Marin County Lowers Lake Phoenix to Lessen Likelihood of Winter Flooding | KQED",
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"content": "\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/marin-county\">Marin County\u003c/a> officials \u003ca href=\"https://www.marincounty.gov/news-releases/marin-county-and-marin-water-partner-phoenix-lake-effort-help-reduce-flood-risk\">announced\u003c/a> last week they’ll begin lowering the water at the Lake Phoenix reservoir to reduce flood risk in San Anselmo and Ross ahead of heavy \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12105518/this-years-powerful-el-nino-may-preview-californias-climate-future\">winter storms\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Starting Monday, officials plan on pumping out between 60 and 160 acre-feet of water — roughly 29 to 70 Olympic-size swimming pools — from the lake over the next four to six weeks, said Jessie Underhill, spokesperson for the \u003ca href=\"https://marinwater.org/\">Marin Municipal Water District\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“This effort is being done in advance of the winter,” Underhill said, “to help lower the reservoir level and provide extra room which will help absorb runoff from the first storms of the season.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Lake Phoenix, west of Kentfield and Ross, provides safe drinking water to more than 191,000 people in Marin County, according to a county press \u003ca href=\"https://www.marincounty.gov/news-releases/marin-county-and-marin-water-partner-phoenix-lake-effort-help-reduce-flood-risk\">release\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Officials said they based the effort on an observation following the 2021 \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/california-drought\">drought\u003c/a>, when the reservoir’s “lower water level provided room to capture runoff that otherwise would have flowed into Ross Creek and, ultimately, Corte Madera Creek.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, they cautioned that the benefits of their experiment would “depend on the timing, intensity and duration of storms and the lake’s water level when rain arrives.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In January, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12068644/marin-county-looked-like-a-lagoon-after-king-tides-heavy-rain\">strong storms flooded\u003c/a> many parts of Marin County, leading to emergency service outages, road closures and property damage. Experts say the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12104145/californias-el-nino-winter-could-be-profoundly-unsubtle-scientists-warn\">coming El Niño\u003c/a> is likely to produce similar effects, including torrential downpours, rain instead of snow events, flooding, temporarily elevated sea levels, severe thunderstorms and even isolated tornadoes.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Daniel Swain, a climate scientist with UC Agriculture and Natural Resources, told KQED earlier this month, “This might be a year when the Hollywood version of bad weather in California actually ends up coming true.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The drawdown comes as cities and counties across the Bay Area \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12106001/san-francisco-declares-local-emergency-in-preparation-for-historic-el-nino\">steel bayshores and coastlines\u003c/a> against a possible wet winter. Last month, the Marin County Board of Supervisors approved an additional \u003ca href=\"https://www.marincounty.gov/news-releases/county-approves-3-million-investment-winter-storm-preparedness\">$3 million\u003c/a> in winter storm preparedness.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Officials said preparedness can reduce risk, but cannot eliminate the possibility of flooding. The county encourages residents to sign up for \u003ca href=\"https://emergency.marincounty.gov/sign-alertmarin\">AlertMarin\u003c/a> for emergency updates.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/marin-county\">Marin County\u003c/a> officials \u003ca href=\"https://www.marincounty.gov/news-releases/marin-county-and-marin-water-partner-phoenix-lake-effort-help-reduce-flood-risk\">announced\u003c/a> last week they’ll begin lowering the water at the Lake Phoenix reservoir to reduce flood risk in San Anselmo and Ross ahead of heavy \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12105518/this-years-powerful-el-nino-may-preview-californias-climate-future\">winter storms\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/marin-county\">Marin County\u003c/a> officials \u003ca href=\"https://www.marincounty.gov/news-releases/marin-county-and-marin-water-partner-phoenix-lake-effort-help-reduce-flood-risk\">announced\u003c/a> last week they’ll begin lowering the water at the Lake Phoenix reservoir to reduce flood risk in San Anselmo and Ross ahead of heavy \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12105518/this-years-powerful-el-nino-may-preview-californias-climate-future\">winter storms\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Starting Monday, officials plan on pumping out between 60 and 160 acre-feet of water — roughly 29 to 70 Olympic-size swimming pools — from the lake over the next four to six weeks, said Jessie Underhill, spokesperson for the \u003ca href=\"https://marinwater.org/\">Marin Municipal Water District\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Starting Monday, officials plan on pumping out between 60 and 160 acre-feet of water — roughly 29 to 70 Olympic-size swimming pools — from the lake over the next four to six weeks, said Jessie Underhill, spokesperson for the \u003ca href=\"https://marinwater.org/\">Marin Municipal Water District\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“This effort is being done in advance of the winter,” Underhill said, “to help lower the reservoir level and provide extra room which will help absorb runoff from the first storms of the season.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“This effort is being done in advance of the winter,” Underhill said, “to help lower the reservoir level and provide extra room which will help absorb runoff from the first storms of the season.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Lake Phoenix, west of Kentfield and Ross, provides safe drinking water to more than 191,000 people in Marin County, according to a county press \u003ca href=\"https://www.marincounty.gov/news-releases/marin-county-and-marin-water-partner-phoenix-lake-effort-help-reduce-flood-risk\">release\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Lake Phoenix, west of Kentfield and Ross, provides safe drinking water to more than 191,000 people in Marin County, according to a county press \u003ca href=\"https://www.marincounty.gov/news-releases/marin-county-and-marin-water-partner-phoenix-lake-effort-help-reduce-flood-risk\">release\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Officials said they based the effort on an observation following the 2021 \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/california-drought\">drought\u003c/a>, when the reservoir’s “lower water level provided room to capture runoff that otherwise would have flowed into Ross Creek and, ultimately, Corte Madera Creek.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>However, they cautioned that the benefits of their experiment would “depend on the timing, intensity and duration of storms and the lake’s water level when rain arrives.” \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In January, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12068644/marin-county-looked-like-a-lagoon-after-king-tides-heavy-rain\">strong storms flooded\u003c/a> many parts of Marin County, leading to emergency service outages, road closures and property damage. Experts say the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12104145/californias-el-nino-winter-could-be-profoundly-unsubtle-scientists-warn\">coming El Niño\u003c/a> is likely to produce similar effects, including torrential downpours, rain instead of snow events, flooding, temporarily elevated sea levels, severe thunderstorms and even isolated tornadoes.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>In January, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12068644/marin-county-looked-like-a-lagoon-after-king-tides-heavy-rain\">strong storms flooded\u003c/a> many parts of Marin County, leading to emergency service outages, road closures and property damage. Experts say the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12104145/californias-el-nino-winter-could-be-profoundly-unsubtle-scientists-warn\">coming El Niño\u003c/a> is likely to produce similar effects, including torrential downpours, rain instead of snow events, flooding, temporarily elevated sea levels, severe thunderstorms and even isolated tornadoes.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Daniel Swain, a climate scientist with UC Agriculture and Natural Resources, told KQED earlier this month, “This might be a year when the Hollywood version of bad weather in California actually ends up coming true.” \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Daniel Swain, a climate scientist with UC Agriculture and Natural Resources, told KQED earlier this month, “This might be a year when the Hollywood version of bad weather in California actually ends up coming true.” \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The drawdown comes as cities and counties across the Bay Area \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12106001/san-francisco-declares-local-emergency-in-preparation-for-historic-el-nino\">steel bayshores and coastlines\u003c/a> against a possible wet winter. Last month, the Marin County Board of Supervisors approved an additional \u003ca href=\"https://www.marincounty.gov/news-releases/county-approves-3-million-investment-winter-storm-preparedness\">$3 million\u003c/a> in winter storm preparedness.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Officials said preparedness can reduce risk, but cannot eliminate the possibility of flooding. The county encourages residents to sign up for \u003ca href=\"https://emergency.marincounty.gov/sign-alertmarin\">AlertMarin\u003c/a> for emergency updates.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Officials said preparedness can reduce risk, but cannot eliminate the possibility of flooding. The county encourages residents to sign up for \u003ca href=\"https://emergency.marincounty.gov/sign-alertmarin\">AlertMarin\u003c/a> for emergency updates.\u003c/p>\n"
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"excerpt": "Marin Water will start pumping lake water on Monday to reduce creek levels ahead of seasonal storms.",
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"title": "Marin County Lowers Lake Phoenix to Lessen Likelihood of Winter Flooding | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/marin-county\">Marin County\u003c/a> officials \u003ca href=\"https://www.marincounty.gov/news-releases/marin-county-and-marin-water-partner-phoenix-lake-effort-help-reduce-flood-risk\">announced\u003c/a> last week they’ll begin lowering the water at the Lake Phoenix reservoir to reduce flood risk in San Anselmo and Ross ahead of heavy \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12105518/this-years-powerful-el-nino-may-preview-californias-climate-future\">winter storms\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Starting Monday, officials plan on pumping out between 60 and 160 acre-feet of water — roughly 29 to 70 Olympic-size swimming pools — from the lake over the next four to six weeks, said Jessie Underhill, spokesperson for the \u003ca href=\"https://marinwater.org/\">Marin Municipal Water District\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“This effort is being done in advance of the winter,” Underhill said, “to help lower the reservoir level and provide extra room which will help absorb runoff from the first storms of the season.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Lake Phoenix, west of Kentfield and Ross, provides safe drinking water to more than 191,000 people in Marin County, according to a county press \u003ca href=\"https://www.marincounty.gov/news-releases/marin-county-and-marin-water-partner-phoenix-lake-effort-help-reduce-flood-risk\">release\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Officials said they based the effort on an observation following the 2021 \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/california-drought\">drought\u003c/a>, when the reservoir’s “lower water level provided room to capture runoff that otherwise would have flowed into Ross Creek and, ultimately, Corte Madera Creek.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, they cautioned that the benefits of their experiment would “depend on the timing, intensity and duration of storms and the lake’s water level when rain arrives.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In January, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12068644/marin-county-looked-like-a-lagoon-after-king-tides-heavy-rain\">strong storms flooded\u003c/a> many parts of Marin County, leading to emergency service outages, road closures and property damage. Experts say the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12104145/californias-el-nino-winter-could-be-profoundly-unsubtle-scientists-warn\">coming El Niño\u003c/a> is likely to produce similar effects, including torrential downpours, rain instead of snow events, flooding, temporarily elevated sea levels, severe thunderstorms and even isolated tornadoes.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Daniel Swain, a climate scientist with UC Agriculture and Natural Resources, told KQED earlier this month, “This might be a year when the Hollywood version of bad weather in California actually ends up coming true.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The drawdown comes as cities and counties across the Bay Area \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12106001/san-francisco-declares-local-emergency-in-preparation-for-historic-el-nino\">steel bayshores and coastlines\u003c/a> against a possible wet winter. Last month, the Marin County Board of Supervisors approved an additional \u003ca href=\"https://www.marincounty.gov/news-releases/county-approves-3-million-investment-winter-storm-preparedness\">$3 million\u003c/a> in winter storm preparedness.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Officials said preparedness can reduce risk, but cannot eliminate the possibility of flooding. The county encourages residents to sign up for \u003ca href=\"https://emergency.marincounty.gov/sign-alertmarin\">AlertMarin\u003c/a> for emergency updates.\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"title": "San Francisco Declares Local Emergency in Preparation for Historic El Niño",
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"headTitle": "San Francisco Declares Local Emergency in Preparation for Historic El Niño | KQED",
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"content": "\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/san-francisco\">San Francisco\u003c/a> Mayor Daniel Lurie declared a local emergency on Friday, as flooding and rains from what could be a historic El Niño make their way to the Bay Area. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The declaration, announced during a press conference and with the backing of local emergency personnel, allows the city to access \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12104145/californias-el-nino-winter-could-be-profoundly-unsubtle-scientists-warn\">El Niño\u003c/a> preparation services faster and lets Lurie reallocate funds between and within departments for the emergency. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Federal and independent forecasters have long warned of stronger storms and more flooding due to the weather event. The National Weather Service’s Climate Prediction Center said there’s an 83% chance of a record-breaking El Niño through the end of the year. A \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12105518/this-years-powerful-el-nino-may-preview-californias-climate-future\">report from UC Davis released\u003c/a> this week also said low-lying areas throughout the Bay Area, including the runways at San Francisco International Airport and the Oakland airport, Highway 37 and the eastern approach of the Bay Bridge, are extremely vulnerable to floods and failure this winter. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“Getting these resources ahead of severe weather will help our city protect facilities and respond quickly when impacts do occur,” Lurie said at a press conference. “We are preparing to keep essential services running during storms.”\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/10/2025/12/251223-Storm-10-BL_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12068379\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251223-Storm-10-BL_qed.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251223-Storm-10-BL_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251223-Storm-10-BL_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">People walk along Mission Street in San Francisco on Dec. 23, 2025, as a storm system moves through the Bay Area. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The declaration simplifies contract awards for more than half a dozen departments, including Public Works, the Public Utilities Commission and the Port of San Francisco. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The city’s Department of Emergency Management has already been leading efforts to coordinate preparations. It’s asking other departments to prepare for possible staffing disruptions and to identify possible service gaps. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Emergency Management has also teamed up with the Department of Technology to create additional map features on the \u003ca href=\"https://www.sf.gov/severe-storms\">city’s website\u003c/a>, which show where evacuation and other supply sites are located. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This month, Public Works completed sewer and water upgrades across around 1.4 million miles of sewer pipes, which are expected to reduce flood risk, according to the city. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">SFMTA is adding more maintenance and protective equipment to prepare. In the event of severe weather, the agency will adjust service and, when necessary, replace rail and trolley service with buses. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Mary Ellen Carroll, executive director of Emergency Management, said the declaration prevents “procedural roadblocks” from getting in the way of preparations.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“We also want to remind everyone that preparedness is a partnership, and we are asking residents to do their part to get ready for a wet winter,” Carroll said in a statement. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Other cities — and the state of California — are making their own preparations and have asked the same of residents in areas that could be impacted by El Niño. Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency in September in response to the event, and the Santa Clara Valley Water District \u003ca href=\"https://www.valleywater.org/emergencydeclaration2026\">announced\u003c/a> its own days ago. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The city of San José, which faced its own mass flooding event in 2017, said this month it was also making preparations for large amounts of rain and potential flooding. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">San Francisco said that residents can start their own preparations by staying up to date with National Weather Service forecasts, signing up for AlertSF, looking into flood insurance and protecting belongings using sandbags or elevating items in garages and basements.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The declaration, announced during a press conference and with the backing of local emergency personnel, allows the city to access \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12104145/californias-el-nino-winter-could-be-profoundly-unsubtle-scientists-warn\">El Niño\u003c/a> preparation services faster and lets Lurie reallocate funds between and within departments for the emergency. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Federal and independent forecasters have long warned of stronger storms and more flooding due to the weather event. The National Weather Service’s Climate Prediction Center said there’s an 83% chance of a record-breaking El Niño through the end of the year. A \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12105518/this-years-powerful-el-nino-may-preview-californias-climate-future\">report from UC Davis released\u003c/a> this week also said low-lying areas throughout the Bay Area, including the runways at San Francisco International Airport and the Oakland airport, Highway 37 and the eastern approach of the Bay Bridge, are extremely vulnerable to floods and failure this winter. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Federal and independent forecasters have long warned of stronger storms and more flooding due to the weather event. The National Weather Service’s Climate Prediction Center said there’s an 83% chance of a record-breaking El Niño through the end of the year. A \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12105518/this-years-powerful-el-nino-may-preview-californias-climate-future\">report from UC Davis released\u003c/a> this week also said low-lying areas throughout the Bay Area, including the runways at San Francisco International Airport and the Oakland airport, Highway 37 and the eastern approach of the Bay Bridge, are extremely vulnerable to floods and failure this winter. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Getting these resources ahead of severe weather will help our city protect facilities and respond quickly when impacts do occur,” Lurie said at a press conference. “We are preparing to keep essential services running during storms.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“Getting these resources ahead of severe weather will help our city protect facilities and respond quickly when impacts do occur,” Lurie said at a press conference. “We are preparing to keep essential services running during storms.”\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/10/2025/12/251223-Storm-10-BL_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12068379\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251223-Storm-10-BL_qed.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251223-Storm-10-BL_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251223-Storm-10-BL_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\">People walk along Mission Street in San Francisco on Dec. 23, 2025, as a storm system moves through the Bay Area.\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/10/2025/12/251223-Storm-10-BL_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12068379\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">People walk along Mission Street in San Francisco on Dec. 23, 2025, as a storm system moves through the Bay Area.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The declaration simplifies contract awards for more than half a dozen departments, including Public Works, the Public Utilities Commission and the Port of San Francisco. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The city’s Department of Emergency Management has already been leading efforts to coordinate preparations. It’s asking other departments to prepare for possible staffing disruptions and to identify possible service gaps. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Emergency Management has also teamed up with the Department of Technology to create additional map features on the \u003ca href=\"https://www.sf.gov/severe-storms\">city’s website\u003c/a>, which show where evacuation and other supply sites are located. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>This month, Public Works completed sewer and water upgrades across around 1.4 million miles of sewer pipes, which are expected to reduce flood risk, according to the city. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>SFMTA is adding more maintenance and protective equipment to prepare. In the event of severe weather, the agency will adjust service and, when necessary, replace rail and trolley service with buses. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Mary Ellen Carroll, executive director of Emergency Management, said the declaration prevents “procedural roadblocks” from getting in the way of preparations.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“We also want to remind everyone that preparedness is a partnership, and we are asking residents to do their part to get ready for a wet winter,” Carroll said in a statement. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Other cities — and the state of California — are making their own preparations and have asked the same of residents in areas that could be impacted by El Niño. Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency in September in response to the event, and the Santa Clara Valley Water District \u003ca href=\"https://www.valleywater.org/emergencydeclaration2026\">announced\u003c/a> its own days ago. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Other cities — and the state of California — are making their own preparations and have asked the same of residents in areas that could be impacted by El Niño. Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency in September in response to the event, and the Santa Clara Valley Water District \u003ca href=\"https://www.valleywater.org/emergencydeclaration2026\">announced\u003c/a> its own days ago. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The city of San José, which faced its own mass flooding event in 2017, said this month it was also making preparations for large amounts of rain and potential flooding. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>San Francisco said that residents can start their own preparations by staying up to date with National Weather Service forecasts, signing up for AlertSF, looking into flood insurance and protecting belongings using sandbags or elevating items in garages and basements.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>San Francisco said that residents can start their own preparations by staying up to date with National Weather Service forecasts, signing up for AlertSF, looking into flood insurance and protecting belongings using sandbags or elevating items in garages and basements.\u003c/p>\n"
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"excerpt": "Other Bay Area cities — and the state of California — have already begun preparing for rising seas and flooding thanks to the strengthening weather pattern.",
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"title": "San Francisco Declares Local Emergency in Preparation for Historic El Niño | KQED",
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"headline": "San Francisco Declares Local Emergency in Preparation for Historic El Niño",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/san-francisco\">San Francisco\u003c/a> Mayor Daniel Lurie declared a local emergency on Friday, as flooding and rains from what could be a historic El Niño make their way to the Bay Area. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The declaration, announced during a press conference and with the backing of local emergency personnel, allows the city to access \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12104145/californias-el-nino-winter-could-be-profoundly-unsubtle-scientists-warn\">El Niño\u003c/a> preparation services faster and lets Lurie reallocate funds between and within departments for the emergency. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Federal and independent forecasters have long warned of stronger storms and more flooding due to the weather event. The National Weather Service’s Climate Prediction Center said there’s an 83% chance of a record-breaking El Niño through the end of the year. A \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12105518/this-years-powerful-el-nino-may-preview-californias-climate-future\">report from UC Davis released\u003c/a> this week also said low-lying areas throughout the Bay Area, including the runways at San Francisco International Airport and the Oakland airport, Highway 37 and the eastern approach of the Bay Bridge, are extremely vulnerable to floods and failure this winter. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“Getting these resources ahead of severe weather will help our city protect facilities and respond quickly when impacts do occur,” Lurie said at a press conference. “We are preparing to keep essential services running during storms.”\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/10/2025/12/251223-Storm-10-BL_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12068379\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251223-Storm-10-BL_qed.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251223-Storm-10-BL_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251223-Storm-10-BL_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">People walk along Mission Street in San Francisco on Dec. 23, 2025, as a storm system moves through the Bay Area. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The declaration simplifies contract awards for more than half a dozen departments, including Public Works, the Public Utilities Commission and the Port of San Francisco. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The city’s Department of Emergency Management has already been leading efforts to coordinate preparations. It’s asking other departments to prepare for possible staffing disruptions and to identify possible service gaps. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Emergency Management has also teamed up with the Department of Technology to create additional map features on the \u003ca href=\"https://www.sf.gov/severe-storms\">city’s website\u003c/a>, which show where evacuation and other supply sites are located. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This month, Public Works completed sewer and water upgrades across around 1.4 million miles of sewer pipes, which are expected to reduce flood risk, according to the city. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">SFMTA is adding more maintenance and protective equipment to prepare. In the event of severe weather, the agency will adjust service and, when necessary, replace rail and trolley service with buses. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Mary Ellen Carroll, executive director of Emergency Management, said the declaration prevents “procedural roadblocks” from getting in the way of preparations.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“We also want to remind everyone that preparedness is a partnership, and we are asking residents to do their part to get ready for a wet winter,” Carroll said in a statement. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Other cities — and the state of California — are making their own preparations and have asked the same of residents in areas that could be impacted by El Niño. Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency in September in response to the event, and the Santa Clara Valley Water District \u003ca href=\"https://www.valleywater.org/emergencydeclaration2026\">announced\u003c/a> its own days ago. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The city of San José, which faced its own mass flooding event in 2017, said this month it was also making preparations for large amounts of rain and potential flooding. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">San Francisco said that residents can start their own preparations by staying up to date with National Weather Service forecasts, signing up for AlertSF, looking into flood insurance and protecting belongings using sandbags or elevating items in garages and basements.\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "this-years-powerful-el-nino-may-preview-californias-climate-future",
"title": "This Year’s Powerful El Niño May Preview California’s Climate Future",
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"headTitle": "This Year’s Powerful El Niño May Preview California’s Climate Future | KQED",
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"content": "\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Flooded highways. Inundated airport runways. Water-filled neighborhoods. Beaches washed away. All of these impacts, and more, could take place this winter as \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12104145/californias-el-nino-winter-could-be-profoundly-unsubtle-scientists-warn\">El Niño\u003c/a> continues to unfold.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Several new reports this week suggest that \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12097546/el-nino-could-bring-a-wet-wild-winter-how-can-you-and-your-home-be-ready\">El Niño’s effects\u003c/a> this winter — flooding from \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/2002352/what-is-a-kelvin-wave-how-el-nino-can-raise-west-coast-sea-levels\">temporarily high seas\u003c/a> and potential storms — foreshadow a future shaped by human-caused climate change. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“This is really a preview of the near future,” said Fraser Shilling, director of the Road Ecology Center at UC Davis. “We can think of it as training wheels. This is what’s coming down the road, and we really need to figure out how to deal with it.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Shilling published a \u003ca href=\"https://www.ucdavis.edu/index%2Ephp/climate/news/where-el-nino-may-impact-california-coastal-areas-winter\">special report\u003c/a> highlighting the areas of the state he’s most worried about during El Niño conditions. His concerns span the California coast — Southern California cities already battered by waves, San Luis Obispo, parts of the Bay Area, Stinson Beach and Humboldt Bay. \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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“They are places that have flooded during extreme events before,” Shilling said. “It is possible that we’ll see tipping points, and these systems will just change. If a town or neighborhood has been flooded before, maybe people will just leave and not come back.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Shilling said the recent flooding in Southern California offers a glimpse into what the rest of coastal California could experience this winter, especially along vulnerable highways and other low-lying infrastructure. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Beyond areas likely to flood, his report shows places with a lower chance that could become high risk if they fill with ocean water, rain, or both. Examples include major highways near waterways, like Highway 37 near Novato Creek, and airports with runways built on fill near San Francisco Bay.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“Let’s be optimistic and say that there’s a low probability that [airports] are going to flood,” Shilling said. “But if they flood, that’s a high impact even if it’s temporary.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some of the highest-risk areas in California are places like \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1999871/after-king-tides-swamp-marin-san-rafael-weighs-billion-dollar-defenses-against-the-bay\">San Rafael\u003c/a> in Marin County, where homes and businesses are built right up to the shore and sit below sea level.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“It costs millions or billions to fix these things before they break, but it costs even more if you wait till after,” Shilling said. “Once they do flood, and you have to do emergency repairs and emergency restoration and all those things, then your costs skyrocket.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At the same time, California released its \u003ca href=\"https://www.ucdavis.edu/climate/blog/californias-fifth-climate-change-assessment-offers-warnings-states-future\">Fifth Climate Change Assessment\u003c/a> this week, warning that in the coming decades the state could experience longer summers, more wildfire smoke exposure, a shrinking snowpack and a shorter, more intense rainy season. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“Things climate-wise are intensifying in many instances and getting worse,” said Ruth Langridge, the report’s coordinating lead author and researcher at UC Santa Cruz. “We’re going to be seeing more unprecedented heat waves. The projections show that droughts will intensify and storms will intensify.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The report comes at a time when “science is under attack” by the Trump administration, Langridge said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Moves include revoking the state’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1998169/californias-clean-air-under-siege-regulators-say-and-the-state-should-fight-back\">Clean Air Act vehicle waivers\u003c/a>, pressing for new \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1999366/california-leaders-blast-trumps-idiotic-plan-to-kickstart-offshore-oil-drilling\">offshore oil leases\u003c/a> and trying to limit the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12089085/trump-administration-takes-aim-at-california-coastal-protections\">California Coastal Commission’s authority\u003c/a>, among other actions. The administration also \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2025/04/29/nx-s1-5380816/climate-assessment-authors-released\">cut funding\u003c/a> for the National Climate Assessment in 2025. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2400\" height=\"1600\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/01/2023_01_12_KJ_0147_Storms_Road_Closed.jpg\" alt=\"A "road closed" sign is reflected in floodwater in California's Central Valley.\" class=\"wp-image-11938230\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/01/2023_01_12_KJ_0147_Storms_Road_Closed.jpg 2400w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/01/2023_01_12_KJ_0147_Storms_Road_Closed-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/01/2023_01_12_KJ_0147_Storms_Road_Closed-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/01/2023_01_12_KJ_0147_Storms_Road_Closed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/01/2023_01_12_KJ_0147_Storms_Road_Closed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/01/2023_01_12_KJ_0147_Storms_Road_Closed-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/01/2023_01_12_KJ_0147_Storms_Road_Closed-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2400px) 100vw, 2400px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A road is closed by flooding near the Colusa County town of Williams in the Sacramento Valley. The area was one of many across California to experience high water during the series of storms that began rolling into the state Dec. 26, 2022. (Kenneth James/California Department of Water Resources)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“Eyes will be turned on to what California is seeing in our assessment,” Langridge said. “We want to be sure that a factual story is getting out, and sometimes you’re not hearing that on the federal level.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One of the report’s major findings is that California’s \u003ca href=\"https://climateassessment.ca.gov/2791/\">Central Coast\u003c/a>, roughly from the Bay Area to Santa Barbara, is likely headed toward a future where climate extremes are even more the norm: hotter days, more intense droughts and stronger storms. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The assessment finds that weather patterns are intensifying, especially around heat, with typical hot months getting even warmer and the rainy season getting shorter, with more intense bursts in January and February. By the end of the century, the region’s rainiest day could be up to 30% wetter.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“The amount of precipitation might not change, but it’s going to come in great big deluges,” Langridge said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">UC Santa Cruz researchers created a tool, \u003ca href=\"https://cosmos-adapts.coastalresilience.ucsc.edu/\">CoSMoS Adapts\u003c/a>, that helps coastal communities visualize future flooding and erosion risks. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It may also help cities understand how nature-based solutions, like offshore reefs or restoring dunes, could save money and protect property and infrastructure.\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/10/2026/10/KelvinWavesGetty-8a3fc0db.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12103547\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/KelvinWavesGetty-8a3fc0db.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/KelvinWavesGetty-8a3fc0db-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/KelvinWavesGetty-8a3fc0db-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Reed Freidinger walks with his dog along a flooded Sausalito/Mill Valley bike path during the King Tide in Mill Valley, California, on Jan. 3, 2022. (Josh Edelson/AFP via Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“Strictly about coastal flooding and erosion, after the 2050s, things start to become much more difficult to manage with the kind of tools that we’ve been thinking about at a whole variety of levels,” said Michael Beck, professor and director of the Center for Coastal Climate Resilience at UC Santa Cruz.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The pilot analyzes risk in Santa Cruz, Half Moon Bay and Ventura. On LinkedIn, Beck posted a \u003ca href=\"https://lnkd.in/p/gaCVJK9M\">visualization\u003c/a> of what flooding in Santa Cruz could look like this winter from large waves, king tides, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/2002352/what-is-a-kelvin-wave-how-el-nino-can-raise-west-coast-sea-levels\">Kelvin waves\u003c/a>, thermal expansion and storm surge. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The work could soon include Los Angeles and Orange counties. Beck said he would like to expand to other parts of the region, like the Bay Area. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He said the already-thrashing waves along the coast, nearly a foot of temporary sea level rise (and more to come) and potential back-to-back storms this winter connected to El Niño will likely become California’s more frequent future reality. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“The kinds of things that we both have seen with this El Niño down south and that we are anticipating those seasons might become more regular by the 2050s,” Beck said. “El Niño for us is that reminder that these risks are real, they’re here, they’re now, and they are growing.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Flooded highways. Inundated airport runways. Water-filled neighborhoods. Beaches washed away. All of these impacts, and more, could take place this winter as \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12104145/californias-el-nino-winter-could-be-profoundly-unsubtle-scientists-warn\">El Niño\u003c/a> continues to unfold.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Several new reports this week suggest that \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12097546/el-nino-could-bring-a-wet-wild-winter-how-can-you-and-your-home-be-ready\">El Niño’s effects\u003c/a> this winter — flooding from \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/2002352/what-is-a-kelvin-wave-how-el-nino-can-raise-west-coast-sea-levels\">temporarily high seas\u003c/a> and potential storms — foreshadow a future shaped by human-caused climate change. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Several new reports this week suggest that \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12097546/el-nino-could-bring-a-wet-wild-winter-how-can-you-and-your-home-be-ready\">El Niño’s effects\u003c/a> this winter — flooding from \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/2002352/what-is-a-kelvin-wave-how-el-nino-can-raise-west-coast-sea-levels\">temporarily high seas\u003c/a> and potential storms — foreshadow a future shaped by human-caused climate change. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“This is really a preview of the near future,” said Fraser Shilling, director of the Road Ecology Center at UC Davis. “We can think of it as training wheels. This is what’s coming down the road, and we really need to figure out how to deal with it.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“This is really a preview of the near future,” said Fraser Shilling, director of the Road Ecology Center at UC Davis. “We can think of it as training wheels. This is what’s coming down the road, and we really need to figure out how to deal with it.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Shilling published a \u003ca href=\"https://www.ucdavis.edu/index%2Ephp/climate/news/where-el-nino-may-impact-california-coastal-areas-winter\">special report\u003c/a> highlighting the areas of the state he’s most worried about during El Niño conditions. His concerns span the California coast — Southern California cities already battered by waves, San Luis Obispo, parts of the Bay Area, Stinson Beach and Humboldt Bay. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Shilling published a \u003ca href=\"https://www.ucdavis.edu/index%2Ephp/climate/news/where-el-nino-may-impact-california-coastal-areas-winter\">special report\u003c/a> highlighting the areas of the state he’s most worried about during El Niño conditions. His concerns span the California coast — Southern California cities already battered by waves, San Luis Obispo, parts of the Bay Area, Stinson Beach and Humboldt Bay. \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>“They are places that have flooded during extreme events before,” Shilling said. “It is possible that we’ll see tipping points, and these systems will just change. If a town or neighborhood has been flooded before, maybe people will just leave and not come back.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“They are places that have flooded during extreme events before,” Shilling said. “It is possible that we’ll see tipping points, and these systems will just change. If a town or neighborhood has been flooded before, maybe people will just leave and not come back.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Shilling said the recent flooding in Southern California offers a glimpse into what the rest of coastal California could experience this winter, especially along vulnerable highways and other low-lying infrastructure. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Shilling said the recent flooding in Southern California offers a glimpse into what the rest of coastal California could experience this winter, especially along vulnerable highways and other low-lying infrastructure. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Beyond areas likely to flood, his report shows places with a lower chance that could become high risk if they fill with ocean water, rain, or both. Examples include major highways near waterways, like Highway 37 near Novato Creek, and airports with runways built on fill near San Francisco Bay.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Beyond areas likely to flood, his report shows places with a lower chance that could become high risk if they fill with ocean water, rain, or both. Examples include major highways near waterways, like Highway 37 near Novato Creek, and airports with runways built on fill near San Francisco Bay.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Let’s be optimistic and say that there’s a low probability that [airports] are going to flood,” Shilling said. “But if they flood, that’s a high impact even if it’s temporary.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“Let’s be optimistic and say that there’s a low probability that [airports] are going to flood,” Shilling said. “But if they flood, that’s a high impact even if it’s temporary.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Some of the highest-risk areas in California are places like \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1999871/after-king-tides-swamp-marin-san-rafael-weighs-billion-dollar-defenses-against-the-bay\">San Rafael\u003c/a> in Marin County, where homes and businesses are built right up to the shore and sit below sea level.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Some of the highest-risk areas in California are places like \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1999871/after-king-tides-swamp-marin-san-rafael-weighs-billion-dollar-defenses-against-the-bay\">San Rafael\u003c/a> in Marin County, where homes and businesses are built right up to the shore and sit below sea level.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“It costs millions or billions to fix these things before they break, but it costs even more if you wait till after,” Shilling said. “Once they do flood, and you have to do emergency repairs and emergency restoration and all those things, then your costs skyrocket.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“It costs millions or billions to fix these things before they break, but it costs even more if you wait till after,” Shilling said. “Once they do flood, and you have to do emergency repairs and emergency restoration and all those things, then your costs skyrocket.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>At the same time, California released its \u003ca href=\"https://www.ucdavis.edu/climate/blog/californias-fifth-climate-change-assessment-offers-warnings-states-future\">Fifth Climate Change Assessment\u003c/a> this week, warning that in the coming decades the state could experience longer summers, more wildfire smoke exposure, a shrinking snowpack and a shorter, more intense rainy season. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>At the same time, California released its \u003ca href=\"https://www.ucdavis.edu/climate/blog/californias-fifth-climate-change-assessment-offers-warnings-states-future\">Fifth Climate Change Assessment\u003c/a> this week, warning that in the coming decades the state could experience longer summers, more wildfire smoke exposure, a shrinking snowpack and a shorter, more intense rainy season. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Things climate-wise are intensifying in many instances and getting worse,” said Ruth Langridge, the report’s coordinating lead author and researcher at UC Santa Cruz. “We’re going to be seeing more unprecedented heat waves. The projections show that droughts will intensify and storms will intensify.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“Things climate-wise are intensifying in many instances and getting worse,” said Ruth Langridge, the report’s coordinating lead author and researcher at UC Santa Cruz. “We’re going to be seeing more unprecedented heat waves. The projections show that droughts will intensify and storms will intensify.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The report comes at a time when “science is under attack” by the Trump administration, Langridge said. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The report comes at a time when “science is under attack” by the Trump administration, Langridge said. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Moves include revoking the state’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1998169/californias-clean-air-under-siege-regulators-say-and-the-state-should-fight-back\">Clean Air Act vehicle waivers\u003c/a>, pressing for new \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1999366/california-leaders-blast-trumps-idiotic-plan-to-kickstart-offshore-oil-drilling\">offshore oil leases\u003c/a> and trying to limit the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12089085/trump-administration-takes-aim-at-california-coastal-protections\">California Coastal Commission’s authority\u003c/a>, among other actions. The administration also \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2025/04/29/nx-s1-5380816/climate-assessment-authors-released\">cut funding\u003c/a> for the National Climate Assessment in 2025. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Moves include revoking the state’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1998169/californias-clean-air-under-siege-regulators-say-and-the-state-should-fight-back\">Clean Air Act vehicle waivers\u003c/a>, pressing for new \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1999366/california-leaders-blast-trumps-idiotic-plan-to-kickstart-offshore-oil-drilling\">offshore oil leases\u003c/a> and trying to limit the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12089085/trump-administration-takes-aim-at-california-coastal-protections\">California Coastal Commission’s authority\u003c/a>, among other actions. The administration also \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2025/04/29/nx-s1-5380816/climate-assessment-authors-released\">cut funding\u003c/a> for the National Climate Assessment in 2025. \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/10/2023/01/2023_01_12_KJ_0147_Storms_Road_Closed.jpg\" alt=\"A "road closed" sign is reflected in floodwater in California's Central Valley.\" class=\"wp-image-11938230\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/01/2023_01_12_KJ_0147_Storms_Road_Closed.jpg 2400w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/01/2023_01_12_KJ_0147_Storms_Road_Closed-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/01/2023_01_12_KJ_0147_Storms_Road_Closed-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/01/2023_01_12_KJ_0147_Storms_Road_Closed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/01/2023_01_12_KJ_0147_Storms_Road_Closed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/01/2023_01_12_KJ_0147_Storms_Road_Closed-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/01/2023_01_12_KJ_0147_Storms_Road_Closed-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 road is closed by flooding near the Colusa County town of Williams in the Sacramento Valley. The area was one of many across California to experience high water during the series of storms that began rolling into the state Dec. 26, 2022. \u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Kenneth James/California Department of Water Resources)\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/10/2023/01/2023_01_12_KJ_0147_Storms_Road_Closed.jpg\" alt=\"A "road closed" sign is reflected in floodwater in California's Central Valley.\" class=\"wp-image-11938230\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A road is closed by flooding near the Colusa County town of Williams in the Sacramento Valley. The area was one of many across California to experience high water during the series of storms that began rolling into the state Dec. 26, 2022. \u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Kenneth James/California Department of Water Resources)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Eyes will be turned on to what California is seeing in our assessment,” Langridge said. “We want to be sure that a factual story is getting out, and sometimes you’re not hearing that on the federal level.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“Eyes will be turned on to what California is seeing in our assessment,” Langridge said. “We want to be sure that a factual story is getting out, and sometimes you’re not hearing that on the federal level.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>One of the report’s major findings is that California’s \u003ca href=\"https://climateassessment.ca.gov/2791/\">Central Coast\u003c/a>, roughly from the Bay Area to Santa Barbara, is likely headed toward a future where climate extremes are even more the norm: hotter days, more intense droughts and stronger storms. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>One of the report’s major findings is that California’s \u003ca href=\"https://climateassessment.ca.gov/2791/\">Central Coast\u003c/a>, roughly from the Bay Area to Santa Barbara, is likely headed toward a future where climate extremes are even more the norm: hotter days, more intense droughts and stronger storms. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The assessment finds that weather patterns are intensifying, especially around heat, with typical hot months getting even warmer and the rainy season getting shorter, with more intense bursts in January and February. By the end of the century, the region’s rainiest day could be up to 30% wetter.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The assessment finds that weather patterns are intensifying, especially around heat, with typical hot months getting even warmer and the rainy season getting shorter, with more intense bursts in January and February. By the end of the century, the region’s rainiest day could be up to 30% wetter.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“The amount of precipitation might not change, but it’s going to come in great big deluges,” Langridge said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>UC Santa Cruz researchers created a tool, \u003ca href=\"https://cosmos-adapts.coastalresilience.ucsc.edu/\">CoSMoS Adapts\u003c/a>, that helps coastal communities visualize future flooding and erosion risks. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>UC Santa Cruz researchers created a tool, \u003ca href=\"https://cosmos-adapts.coastalresilience.ucsc.edu/\">CoSMoS Adapts\u003c/a>, that helps coastal communities visualize future flooding and erosion risks. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>It may also help cities understand how nature-based solutions, like offshore reefs or restoring dunes, could save money and protect property and infrastructure.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>It may also help cities understand how nature-based solutions, like offshore reefs or restoring dunes, could save money and protect property and infrastructure.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Strictly about coastal flooding and erosion, after the 2050s, things start to become much more difficult to manage with the kind of tools that we’ve been thinking about at a whole variety of levels,” said Michael Beck, professor and director of the Center for Coastal Climate Resilience at UC Santa Cruz.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“Strictly about coastal flooding and erosion, after the 2050s, things start to become much more difficult to manage with the kind of tools that we’ve been thinking about at a whole variety of levels,” said Michael Beck, professor and director of the Center for Coastal Climate Resilience at UC Santa Cruz.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The pilot analyzes risk in Santa Cruz, Half Moon Bay and Ventura. On LinkedIn, Beck posted a \u003ca href=\"https://lnkd.in/p/gaCVJK9M\">visualization\u003c/a> of what flooding in Santa Cruz could look like this winter from large waves, king tides, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/2002352/what-is-a-kelvin-wave-how-el-nino-can-raise-west-coast-sea-levels\">Kelvin waves\u003c/a>, thermal expansion and storm surge. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The pilot analyzes risk in Santa Cruz, Half Moon Bay and Ventura. On LinkedIn, Beck posted a \u003ca href=\"https://lnkd.in/p/gaCVJK9M\">visualization\u003c/a> of what flooding in Santa Cruz could look like this winter from large waves, king tides, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/2002352/what-is-a-kelvin-wave-how-el-nino-can-raise-west-coast-sea-levels\">Kelvin waves\u003c/a>, thermal expansion and storm surge. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The work could soon include Los Angeles and Orange counties. Beck said he would like to expand to other parts of the region, like the Bay Area. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>He said the already-thrashing waves along the coast, nearly a foot of temporary sea level rise (and more to come) and potential back-to-back storms this winter connected to El Niño will likely become California’s more frequent future reality. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>He said the already-thrashing waves along the coast, nearly a foot of temporary sea level rise (and more to come) and potential back-to-back storms this winter connected to El Niño will likely become California’s more frequent future reality. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“The kinds of things that we both have seen with this El Niño down south and that we are anticipating those seasons might become more regular by the 2050s,” Beck said. “El Niño for us is that reminder that these risks are real, they’re here, they’re now, and they are growing.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“The kinds of things that we both have seen with this El Niño down south and that we are anticipating those seasons might become more regular by the 2050s,” Beck said. “El Niño for us is that reminder that these risks are real, they’re here, they’re now, and they are growing.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"excerpt": "Researchers warn that this winter’s El Niño impacts could be a window into the future, with higher seas and more intense storms. ",
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"title": "This Year’s Powerful El Niño May Preview California’s Climate Future | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Flooded highways. Inundated airport runways. Water-filled neighborhoods. Beaches washed away. All of these impacts, and more, could take place this winter as \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12104145/californias-el-nino-winter-could-be-profoundly-unsubtle-scientists-warn\">El Niño\u003c/a> continues to unfold.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Several new reports this week suggest that \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12097546/el-nino-could-bring-a-wet-wild-winter-how-can-you-and-your-home-be-ready\">El Niño’s effects\u003c/a> this winter — flooding from \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/2002352/what-is-a-kelvin-wave-how-el-nino-can-raise-west-coast-sea-levels\">temporarily high seas\u003c/a> and potential storms — foreshadow a future shaped by human-caused climate change. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“This is really a preview of the near future,” said Fraser Shilling, director of the Road Ecology Center at UC Davis. “We can think of it as training wheels. This is what’s coming down the road, and we really need to figure out how to deal with it.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Shilling published a \u003ca href=\"https://www.ucdavis.edu/index%2Ephp/climate/news/where-el-nino-may-impact-california-coastal-areas-winter\">special report\u003c/a> highlighting the areas of the state he’s most worried about during El Niño conditions. His concerns span the California coast — Southern California cities already battered by waves, San Luis Obispo, parts of the Bay Area, Stinson Beach and Humboldt Bay. \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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“They are places that have flooded during extreme events before,” Shilling said. “It is possible that we’ll see tipping points, and these systems will just change. If a town or neighborhood has been flooded before, maybe people will just leave and not come back.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Shilling said the recent flooding in Southern California offers a glimpse into what the rest of coastal California could experience this winter, especially along vulnerable highways and other low-lying infrastructure. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Beyond areas likely to flood, his report shows places with a lower chance that could become high risk if they fill with ocean water, rain, or both. Examples include major highways near waterways, like Highway 37 near Novato Creek, and airports with runways built on fill near San Francisco Bay.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“Let’s be optimistic and say that there’s a low probability that [airports] are going to flood,” Shilling said. “But if they flood, that’s a high impact even if it’s temporary.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some of the highest-risk areas in California are places like \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1999871/after-king-tides-swamp-marin-san-rafael-weighs-billion-dollar-defenses-against-the-bay\">San Rafael\u003c/a> in Marin County, where homes and businesses are built right up to the shore and sit below sea level.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“It costs millions or billions to fix these things before they break, but it costs even more if you wait till after,” Shilling said. “Once they do flood, and you have to do emergency repairs and emergency restoration and all those things, then your costs skyrocket.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At the same time, California released its \u003ca href=\"https://www.ucdavis.edu/climate/blog/californias-fifth-climate-change-assessment-offers-warnings-states-future\">Fifth Climate Change Assessment\u003c/a> this week, warning that in the coming decades the state could experience longer summers, more wildfire smoke exposure, a shrinking snowpack and a shorter, more intense rainy season. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“Things climate-wise are intensifying in many instances and getting worse,” said Ruth Langridge, the report’s coordinating lead author and researcher at UC Santa Cruz. “We’re going to be seeing more unprecedented heat waves. The projections show that droughts will intensify and storms will intensify.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The report comes at a time when “science is under attack” by the Trump administration, Langridge said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Moves include revoking the state’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1998169/californias-clean-air-under-siege-regulators-say-and-the-state-should-fight-back\">Clean Air Act vehicle waivers\u003c/a>, pressing for new \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1999366/california-leaders-blast-trumps-idiotic-plan-to-kickstart-offshore-oil-drilling\">offshore oil leases\u003c/a> and trying to limit the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12089085/trump-administration-takes-aim-at-california-coastal-protections\">California Coastal Commission’s authority\u003c/a>, among other actions. The administration also \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2025/04/29/nx-s1-5380816/climate-assessment-authors-released\">cut funding\u003c/a> for the National Climate Assessment in 2025. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2400\" height=\"1600\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/01/2023_01_12_KJ_0147_Storms_Road_Closed.jpg\" alt=\"A "road closed" sign is reflected in floodwater in California's Central Valley.\" class=\"wp-image-11938230\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/01/2023_01_12_KJ_0147_Storms_Road_Closed.jpg 2400w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/01/2023_01_12_KJ_0147_Storms_Road_Closed-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/01/2023_01_12_KJ_0147_Storms_Road_Closed-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/01/2023_01_12_KJ_0147_Storms_Road_Closed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/01/2023_01_12_KJ_0147_Storms_Road_Closed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/01/2023_01_12_KJ_0147_Storms_Road_Closed-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/01/2023_01_12_KJ_0147_Storms_Road_Closed-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2400px) 100vw, 2400px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A road is closed by flooding near the Colusa County town of Williams in the Sacramento Valley. The area was one of many across California to experience high water during the series of storms that began rolling into the state Dec. 26, 2022. (Kenneth James/California Department of Water Resources)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“Eyes will be turned on to what California is seeing in our assessment,” Langridge said. “We want to be sure that a factual story is getting out, and sometimes you’re not hearing that on the federal level.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One of the report’s major findings is that California’s \u003ca href=\"https://climateassessment.ca.gov/2791/\">Central Coast\u003c/a>, roughly from the Bay Area to Santa Barbara, is likely headed toward a future where climate extremes are even more the norm: hotter days, more intense droughts and stronger storms. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The assessment finds that weather patterns are intensifying, especially around heat, with typical hot months getting even warmer and the rainy season getting shorter, with more intense bursts in January and February. By the end of the century, the region’s rainiest day could be up to 30% wetter.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“The amount of precipitation might not change, but it’s going to come in great big deluges,” Langridge said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">UC Santa Cruz researchers created a tool, \u003ca href=\"https://cosmos-adapts.coastalresilience.ucsc.edu/\">CoSMoS Adapts\u003c/a>, that helps coastal communities visualize future flooding and erosion risks. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It may also help cities understand how nature-based solutions, like offshore reefs or restoring dunes, could save money and protect property and infrastructure.\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/10/2026/10/KelvinWavesGetty-8a3fc0db.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12103547\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/KelvinWavesGetty-8a3fc0db.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/KelvinWavesGetty-8a3fc0db-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/KelvinWavesGetty-8a3fc0db-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Reed Freidinger walks with his dog along a flooded Sausalito/Mill Valley bike path during the King Tide in Mill Valley, California, on Jan. 3, 2022. (Josh Edelson/AFP via Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“Strictly about coastal flooding and erosion, after the 2050s, things start to become much more difficult to manage with the kind of tools that we’ve been thinking about at a whole variety of levels,” said Michael Beck, professor and director of the Center for Coastal Climate Resilience at UC Santa Cruz.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The pilot analyzes risk in Santa Cruz, Half Moon Bay and Ventura. On LinkedIn, Beck posted a \u003ca href=\"https://lnkd.in/p/gaCVJK9M\">visualization\u003c/a> of what flooding in Santa Cruz could look like this winter from large waves, king tides, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/2002352/what-is-a-kelvin-wave-how-el-nino-can-raise-west-coast-sea-levels\">Kelvin waves\u003c/a>, thermal expansion and storm surge. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The work could soon include Los Angeles and Orange counties. Beck said he would like to expand to other parts of the region, like the Bay Area. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He said the already-thrashing waves along the coast, nearly a foot of temporary sea level rise (and more to come) and potential back-to-back storms this winter connected to El Niño will likely become California’s more frequent future reality. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“The kinds of things that we both have seen with this El Niño down south and that we are anticipating those seasons might become more regular by the 2050s,” Beck said. “El Niño for us is that reminder that these risks are real, they’re here, they’re now, and they are growing.”\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"content": "\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/san-jose\">San José\u003c/a> is ramping up preparations for what forecasters warn could be a “very strong” El Niño, in an effort to avoid another major flood — like the one that prompted mass evacuations almost a decade ago. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The city has increased communication with the Santa Clara Valley Water District since learning what Mayor Matt Mahan called “hard lessons” after the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12027875/san-jose-floodwalls-should-shield-neighborhoods-against-20-year-flood\">2017 Coyote Creek flood\u003c/a> — which displaced thousands and prompted the city to grade itself an ‘F’ in emergency preparedness.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>City staff is monitoring dozens of historical flooding sites, with the Transportation Department holding a storm coordination meeting to review emergency response procedures — upgraded public safety measures thanks to the passage of the 2018 bond measure. \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/10/2025/07/250725-SJPOWER-JG-8_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12049894\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/250725-SJPOWER-JG-8_qed.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/250725-SJPOWER-JG-8_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/250725-SJPOWER-JG-8_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">San José Mayor Matt Mahan speaks during a July 25, 2025, press conference in North San José. \u003cbr> (Joseph Geha/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>All of that information could come in handy — El Niño-driven flooding, mudslides, power outages and more have been predicted, as the natural climate pattern \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12104145/californias-el-nino-winter-could-be-profoundly-unsubtle-scientists-warn\">continues to strengthen\u003c/a> with impacts across the California coast. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We feel we’re prepared,” Mahan told KQED on Thursday. “We keep getting better — we’re investing more in infrastructure, technology, our coordination with Valley Water and continuing to educate our community to make sure individuals are prepared and paying attention and in a position to be resilient as we have extreme weather.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The Climate Protection Center, an arm of the National Weather Service, \u003ca href=\"https://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/analysis_monitoring/enso_advisory/ensodisc.html\">said\u003c/a> earlier this month that El Niño has continued to intensify, and chances “remain high” that it could be stronger than any the world has seen since 1950. From October through December, CPC said there’s an 83% chance for a historic event. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In the Bay Area, counties like Marin and San Francisco \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12097546/el-nino-could-bring-a-wet-wild-winter-how-can-you-and-your-home-be-ready\">have also already started prepping\u003c/a> for the effects by cleaning drains and planning for large amounts of rain. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Mahan said a San José voter-passed initiative, Measure T, helped the city expand water catchment basins, upgrade its emergency operations center, improve roadways and its 911 system. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The public’s willingness to invest in public infrastructure is part of the reason that we feel we’re in a much better position heading into this El Niño season than we have in the past,” Mahan said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The city has \u003ca href=\"https://sanjosespotlight.com/san-jose-starts-preparing-for-wet-winter-weather/\">in recent years\u003c/a> experienced heavy rains due to events like atmospheric rivers, which have caused flooding and fallen trees. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But that flooding has been minimal compared to the Coyote Creek flood, which forced 14,000 to evacuate and incurred around $100 million in damages. Residents filed a lawsuit after the fact because they said that they weren’t properly notified in advance about emergency preparedness, and that the dam that flooded wasn’t adequately maintained. The parties settled. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Efforts for El Niño, he said, do include a focus on locations where flooding has happened historically, though citywide prevention is also a priority. \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/10/2026/10/230906-BERRYESSA-BART-URBAN-VILLAGE-MD-08_qed-74773039.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12104542\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/230906-BERRYESSA-BART-URBAN-VILLAGE-MD-08_qed-74773039.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/230906-BERRYESSA-BART-URBAN-VILLAGE-MD-08_qed-74773039-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/230906-BERRYESSA-BART-URBAN-VILLAGE-MD-08_qed-74773039-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Coyote Creek as seen from Berryessa Rd. in San José on Sept. 6, 2023. (Martin do Nascimento/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Valley Water has also increased preparedness. The agency completed over 8,000 feet of flood walls along Coyote Creek and was recently awarded a $100 million contract for the next phase of flood protection improvement. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“They are steadily investing in the waterways that they oversee and reducing flood risk,” Mahan said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The mayor said the City Council will receive an update on the highest-risk flooding locations in the coming weeks.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The city has increased communication with the Santa Clara Valley Water District since learning what Mayor Matt Mahan called “hard lessons” after the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12027875/san-jose-floodwalls-should-shield-neighborhoods-against-20-year-flood\">2017 Coyote Creek flood\u003c/a> — which displaced thousands and prompted the city to grade itself an ‘F’ in emergency preparedness.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>All of that information could come in handy — El Niño-driven flooding, mudslides, power outages and more have been predicted, as the natural climate pattern \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12104145/californias-el-nino-winter-could-be-profoundly-unsubtle-scientists-warn\">continues to strengthen\u003c/a> with impacts across the California coast. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“We feel we’re prepared,” Mahan told KQED on Thursday. “We keep getting better — we’re investing more in infrastructure, technology, our coordination with Valley Water and continuing to educate our community to make sure individuals are prepared and paying attention and in a position to be resilient as we have extreme weather.” \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The Climate Protection Center, an arm of the National Weather Service, \u003ca href=\"https://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/analysis_monitoring/enso_advisory/ensodisc.html\">said\u003c/a> earlier this month that El Niño has continued to intensify, and chances “remain high” that it could be stronger than any the world has seen since 1950. From October through December, CPC said there’s an 83% chance for a historic event. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In the Bay Area, counties like Marin and San Francisco \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12097546/el-nino-could-bring-a-wet-wild-winter-how-can-you-and-your-home-be-ready\">have also already started prepping\u003c/a> for the effects by cleaning drains and planning for large amounts of rain. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Mahan said a San José voter-passed initiative, Measure T, helped the city expand water catchment basins, upgrade its emergency operations center, improve roadways and its 911 system. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“The public’s willingness to invest in public infrastructure is part of the reason that we feel we’re in a much better position heading into this El Niño season than we have in the past,” Mahan said. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The city has \u003ca href=\"https://sanjosespotlight.com/san-jose-starts-preparing-for-wet-winter-weather/\">in recent years\u003c/a> experienced heavy rains due to events like atmospheric rivers, which have caused flooding and fallen trees. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>But that flooding has been minimal compared to the Coyote Creek flood, which forced 14,000 to evacuate and incurred around $100 million in damages. Residents filed a lawsuit after the fact because they said that they weren’t properly notified in advance about emergency preparedness, and that the dam that flooded wasn’t adequately maintained. The parties settled. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>But that flooding has been minimal compared to the Coyote Creek flood, which forced 14,000 to evacuate and incurred around $100 million in damages. Residents filed a lawsuit after the fact because they said that they weren’t properly notified in advance about emergency preparedness, and that the dam that flooded wasn’t adequately maintained. The parties settled. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Efforts for El Niño, he said, do include a focus on locations where flooding has happened historically, though citywide prevention is also a priority. \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/10/2026/10/230906-BERRYESSA-BART-URBAN-VILLAGE-MD-08_qed-74773039.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12104542\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/230906-BERRYESSA-BART-URBAN-VILLAGE-MD-08_qed-74773039.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/230906-BERRYESSA-BART-URBAN-VILLAGE-MD-08_qed-74773039-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/230906-BERRYESSA-BART-URBAN-VILLAGE-MD-08_qed-74773039-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Coyote Creek as seen from Berryessa Rd. in San José on Sept. 6, 2023.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Martin do Nascimento/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Valley Water has also increased preparedness. The agency completed over 8,000 feet of flood walls along Coyote Creek and was recently awarded a $100 million contract for the next phase of flood protection improvement. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“They are steadily investing in the waterways that they oversee and reducing flood risk,” Mahan said. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The mayor said the City Council will receive an update on the highest-risk flooding locations in the coming weeks.\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/san-jose\">San José\u003c/a> is ramping up preparations for what forecasters warn could be a “very strong” El Niño, in an effort to avoid another major flood — like the one that prompted mass evacuations almost a decade ago. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The city has increased communication with the Santa Clara Valley Water District since learning what Mayor Matt Mahan called “hard lessons” after the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12027875/san-jose-floodwalls-should-shield-neighborhoods-against-20-year-flood\">2017 Coyote Creek flood\u003c/a> — which displaced thousands and prompted the city to grade itself an ‘F’ in emergency preparedness.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>City staff is monitoring dozens of historical flooding sites, with the Transportation Department holding a storm coordination meeting to review emergency response procedures — upgraded public safety measures thanks to the passage of the 2018 bond measure. \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/10/2025/07/250725-SJPOWER-JG-8_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12049894\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/250725-SJPOWER-JG-8_qed.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/250725-SJPOWER-JG-8_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/250725-SJPOWER-JG-8_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">San José Mayor Matt Mahan speaks during a July 25, 2025, press conference in North San José. \u003cbr> (Joseph Geha/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>All of that information could come in handy — El Niño-driven flooding, mudslides, power outages and more have been predicted, as the natural climate pattern \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12104145/californias-el-nino-winter-could-be-profoundly-unsubtle-scientists-warn\">continues to strengthen\u003c/a> with impacts across the California coast. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We feel we’re prepared,” Mahan told KQED on Thursday. “We keep getting better — we’re investing more in infrastructure, technology, our coordination with Valley Water and continuing to educate our community to make sure individuals are prepared and paying attention and in a position to be resilient as we have extreme weather.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The Climate Protection Center, an arm of the National Weather Service, \u003ca href=\"https://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/analysis_monitoring/enso_advisory/ensodisc.html\">said\u003c/a> earlier this month that El Niño has continued to intensify, and chances “remain high” that it could be stronger than any the world has seen since 1950. From October through December, CPC said there’s an 83% chance for a historic event. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In the Bay Area, counties like Marin and San Francisco \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12097546/el-nino-could-bring-a-wet-wild-winter-how-can-you-and-your-home-be-ready\">have also already started prepping\u003c/a> for the effects by cleaning drains and planning for large amounts of rain. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Mahan said a San José voter-passed initiative, Measure T, helped the city expand water catchment basins, upgrade its emergency operations center, improve roadways and its 911 system. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The public’s willingness to invest in public infrastructure is part of the reason that we feel we’re in a much better position heading into this El Niño season than we have in the past,” Mahan said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The city has \u003ca href=\"https://sanjosespotlight.com/san-jose-starts-preparing-for-wet-winter-weather/\">in recent years\u003c/a> experienced heavy rains due to events like atmospheric rivers, which have caused flooding and fallen trees. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But that flooding has been minimal compared to the Coyote Creek flood, which forced 14,000 to evacuate and incurred around $100 million in damages. Residents filed a lawsuit after the fact because they said that they weren’t properly notified in advance about emergency preparedness, and that the dam that flooded wasn’t adequately maintained. The parties settled. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Efforts for El Niño, he said, do include a focus on locations where flooding has happened historically, though citywide prevention is also a priority. \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/10/2026/10/230906-BERRYESSA-BART-URBAN-VILLAGE-MD-08_qed-74773039.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12104542\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/230906-BERRYESSA-BART-URBAN-VILLAGE-MD-08_qed-74773039.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/230906-BERRYESSA-BART-URBAN-VILLAGE-MD-08_qed-74773039-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/230906-BERRYESSA-BART-URBAN-VILLAGE-MD-08_qed-74773039-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Coyote Creek as seen from Berryessa Rd. in San José on Sept. 6, 2023. (Martin do Nascimento/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Valley Water has also increased preparedness. The agency completed over 8,000 feet of flood walls along Coyote Creek and was recently awarded a $100 million contract for the next phase of flood protection improvement. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“They are steadily investing in the waterways that they oversee and reducing flood risk,” Mahan said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The mayor said the City Council will receive an update on the highest-risk flooding locations in the coming weeks.\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"title": "California’s El Niño Winter Could Be ‘Profoundly Unsubtle,’ Scientists Warn",
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"headTitle": "California’s El Niño Winter Could Be ‘Profoundly Unsubtle,’ Scientists Warn | KQED",
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"content": "\n\u003cp>The odds of an unusually wet winter in the Bay Area are rising as \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/el-nino\">El Niño\u003c/a> continues to strengthen, according to climate scientist Daniel Swain. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The UC Agriculture and Natural Resources researcher said that statewide, there’s a “90% to 95% confidence in a wetter-than-average winter,” with the biggest spike most likely to come in January and February. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It’s walking like an El Niño, and it’s talking like an El Niño,” Swain said during a virtual office hours session on Tuesday. “So far, it is all systems go.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Swain’s “high-key level takeaway” is that \u003ca href=\"https://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/analysis_monitoring/enso_advisory/ensodisc.shtml\">October El Niño updates\u003c/a> show the likelihood of California-related impacts increasing “from already pretty high confidence” in September. \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/CaliforniaRipCurrentsGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12088700\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/CaliforniaRipCurrentsGetty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/CaliforniaRipCurrentsGetty-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/CaliforniaRipCurrentsGetty-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Visitors navigate breaking waves along the coastline of Windansea Beach in La Jolla on June 20, 2026, in San Diego, California. The National Weather Service issued a beach hazard statement for elevated surf and high risk for rip currents. (Kevin Carter/Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Swain said all 10 of the major models “are singing roughly the same tune” about precipitation possibilities. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The Bay Area and the North Bay in particular, all the watersheds there, are more likely to see very wet conditions this winter than not,” Swain said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In his \u003ca href=\"https://weatherwest.com/\">most recent blog post\u003c/a>, Swain said that El Niño will likely strengthen for up to two months before peaking between November and January. But he said that impacts are often delayed to “the peak intensity” of El Niño itself, and “This is likely to be true in California.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“This year’s tilt in the odds toward wet and stormy conditions in California will be profoundly unsubtle,” Swain said.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>Impacts could include torrential downpours, rain instead of snow events, flooding, temporarily elevated sea levels, severe thunderstorms and even “isolated tornadoes.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“This might be another winter, but on steroids,” Swain said. “This might be a year when the Hollywood version of bad weather in California actually ends up coming true.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>On the Sierra Nevada snowpack and how it might fare this winter, Swain said lower elevations could get more rain than snow, and that higher elevations of 8,000 feet or taller will likely have “a very snowy winter.” Swain said it could spell rain in South Lake Tahoe “almost all winter,” and that “there could be an enormous amount of snow up at the top of the Heavenly chairlift.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I wouldn’t count on November or December in the Sierra Nevada [for snow],” Swain said. “The odds might get a little bit better as we go toward the back end of the season, and El Niño starts to lose its maturity.”\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/10/2025/12/251204-KINGTIDE-61-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12066253\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251204-KINGTIDE-61-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251204-KINGTIDE-61-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251204-KINGTIDE-61-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Flooding near the Kappa Marina floating home community in Sausalito on Dec. 4, 2025, during a king tide event.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>El Niño also produces massive Kelvin waves — when tropical trade winds slow or reverse. Swain said they have “completely reversed direction” — allowing warm water to push toward South America.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>That water splits north and south when it hits land. A Kelvin wave \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/2002141/an-el-nino-driven-kelvin-wave-could-raise-bay-area-sea-levels-and-flooding-risk\">has already\u003c/a> swept along the coast, raising sea levels by more than a foot, along with thermal expansion also caused by El Niño. Another coastally trapped wave is also moving up the coast, but won’t reach California for around three weeks. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Swain is worried that major flooding could occur later this winter with king tides during Thanksgiving week and Christmas. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“This could be a big problem with disruption of transportation on major highways and interstates throughout California that run through low-lying coastal areas,” Swain said. “If there’s a major storm, we could see major or even record-breaking coastal flooding, and it wouldn’t even take an extreme storm.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“It’s walking like an El Niño, and it’s talking like an El Niño,” Swain said during a virtual office hours session on Tuesday. “So far, it is all systems go.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Swain’s “high-key level takeaway” is that \u003ca href=\"https://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/analysis_monitoring/enso_advisory/ensodisc.shtml\">October El Niño updates\u003c/a> show the likelihood of California-related impacts increasing “from already pretty high confidence” in September. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Swain’s “high-key level takeaway” is that \u003ca href=\"https://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/analysis_monitoring/enso_advisory/ensodisc.shtml\">October El Niño updates\u003c/a> show the likelihood of California-related impacts increasing “from already pretty high confidence” in September. \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/CaliforniaRipCurrentsGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12088700\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/CaliforniaRipCurrentsGetty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/CaliforniaRipCurrentsGetty-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/CaliforniaRipCurrentsGetty-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Visitors navigate breaking waves along the coastline of Windansea Beach in La Jolla on June 20, 2026, in San Diego, California. The National Weather Service issued a beach hazard statement for elevated surf and high risk for rip currents. \u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Kevin Carter/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Swain said all 10 of the major models “are singing roughly the same tune” about precipitation possibilities. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“The Bay Area and the North Bay in particular, all the watersheds there, are more likely to see very wet conditions this winter than not,” Swain said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“The Bay Area and the North Bay in particular, all the watersheds there, are more likely to see very wet conditions this winter than not,” Swain said.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In his \u003ca href=\"https://weatherwest.com/\">most recent blog post\u003c/a>, Swain said that El Niño will likely strengthen for up to two months before peaking between November and January. But he said that impacts are often delayed to “the peak intensity” of El Niño itself, and “This is likely to be true in California.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“This year’s tilt in the odds toward wet and stormy conditions in California will be profoundly unsubtle,” Swain said.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>Impacts could include torrential downpours, rain instead of snow events, flooding, temporarily elevated sea levels, severe thunderstorms and even “isolated tornadoes.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“This year’s tilt in the odds toward wet and stormy conditions in California will be profoundly unsubtle,” Swain said.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>Impacts could include torrential downpours, rain instead of snow events, flooding, temporarily elevated sea levels, severe thunderstorms and even “isolated tornadoes.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“This might be another winter, but on steroids,” Swain said. “This might be a year when the Hollywood version of bad weather in California actually ends up coming true.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>On the Sierra Nevada snowpack and how it might fare this winter, Swain said lower elevations could get more rain than snow, and that higher elevations of 8,000 feet or taller will likely have “a very snowy winter.” Swain said it could spell rain in South Lake Tahoe “almost all winter,” and that “there could be an enormous amount of snow up at the top of the Heavenly chairlift.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>On the Sierra Nevada snowpack and how it might fare this winter, Swain said lower elevations could get more rain than snow, and that higher elevations of 8,000 feet or taller will likely have “a very snowy winter.” Swain said it could spell rain in South Lake Tahoe “almost all winter,” and that “there could be an enormous amount of snow up at the top of the Heavenly chairlift.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“I wouldn’t count on November or December in the Sierra Nevada [for snow],” Swain said. “The odds might get a little bit better as we go toward the back end of the season, and El Niño starts to lose its maturity.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“I wouldn’t count on November or December in the Sierra Nevada [for snow],” Swain said. “The odds might get a little bit better as we go toward the back end of the season, and El Niño starts to lose its maturity.”\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/10/2025/12/251204-KINGTIDE-61-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12066253\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251204-KINGTIDE-61-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251204-KINGTIDE-61-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251204-KINGTIDE-61-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\">Flooding near the Kappa Marina floating home community in Sausalito on Dec. 4, 2025, during a king tide event.\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/10/2025/12/251204-KINGTIDE-61-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12066253\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Flooding near the Kappa Marina floating home community in Sausalito on Dec. 4, 2025, during a king tide event.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>El Niño also produces massive Kelvin waves — when tropical trade winds slow or reverse. Swain said they have “completely reversed direction” — allowing warm water to push toward South America.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>El Niño also produces massive Kelvin waves — when tropical trade winds slow or reverse. Swain said they have “completely reversed direction” — allowing warm water to push toward South America.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>That water splits north and south when it hits land. A Kelvin wave \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/2002141/an-el-nino-driven-kelvin-wave-could-raise-bay-area-sea-levels-and-flooding-risk\">has already\u003c/a> swept along the coast, raising sea levels by more than a foot, along with thermal expansion also caused by El Niño. Another coastally trapped wave is also moving up the coast, but won’t reach California for around three weeks. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>That water splits north and south when it hits land. A Kelvin wave \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/2002141/an-el-nino-driven-kelvin-wave-could-raise-bay-area-sea-levels-and-flooding-risk\">has already\u003c/a> swept along the coast, raising sea levels by more than a foot, along with thermal expansion also caused by El Niño. Another coastally trapped wave is also moving up the coast, but won’t reach California for around three weeks. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Swain is worried that major flooding could occur later this winter with king tides during Thanksgiving week and Christmas. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“This could be a big problem with disruption of transportation on major highways and interstates throughout California that run through low-lying coastal areas,” Swain said. “If there’s a major storm, we could see major or even record-breaking coastal flooding, and it wouldn’t even take an extreme storm.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“This could be a big problem with disruption of transportation on major highways and interstates throughout California that run through low-lying coastal areas,” Swain said. “If there’s a major storm, we could see major or even record-breaking coastal flooding, and it wouldn’t even take an extreme storm.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"excerpt": "As El Niño continues to strengthen, scientists warn that California could face a winter of intense storms, heavy rain and coastal flooding.",
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"title": "California’s El Niño Winter Could Be ‘Profoundly Unsubtle,’ Scientists Warn | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\n\u003cp>The odds of an unusually wet winter in the Bay Area are rising as \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/el-nino\">El Niño\u003c/a> continues to strengthen, according to climate scientist Daniel Swain. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The UC Agriculture and Natural Resources researcher said that statewide, there’s a “90% to 95% confidence in a wetter-than-average winter,” with the biggest spike most likely to come in January and February. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It’s walking like an El Niño, and it’s talking like an El Niño,” Swain said during a virtual office hours session on Tuesday. “So far, it is all systems go.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Swain’s “high-key level takeaway” is that \u003ca href=\"https://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/analysis_monitoring/enso_advisory/ensodisc.shtml\">October El Niño updates\u003c/a> show the likelihood of California-related impacts increasing “from already pretty high confidence” in September. \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/CaliforniaRipCurrentsGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12088700\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/CaliforniaRipCurrentsGetty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/CaliforniaRipCurrentsGetty-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/CaliforniaRipCurrentsGetty-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Visitors navigate breaking waves along the coastline of Windansea Beach in La Jolla on June 20, 2026, in San Diego, California. The National Weather Service issued a beach hazard statement for elevated surf and high risk for rip currents. (Kevin Carter/Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Swain said all 10 of the major models “are singing roughly the same tune” about precipitation possibilities. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The Bay Area and the North Bay in particular, all the watersheds there, are more likely to see very wet conditions this winter than not,” Swain said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In his \u003ca href=\"https://weatherwest.com/\">most recent blog post\u003c/a>, Swain said that El Niño will likely strengthen for up to two months before peaking between November and January. But he said that impacts are often delayed to “the peak intensity” of El Niño itself, and “This is likely to be true in California.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“This year’s tilt in the odds toward wet and stormy conditions in California will be profoundly unsubtle,” Swain said.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>Impacts could include torrential downpours, rain instead of snow events, flooding, temporarily elevated sea levels, severe thunderstorms and even “isolated tornadoes.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“This might be another winter, but on steroids,” Swain said. “This might be a year when the Hollywood version of bad weather in California actually ends up coming true.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>On the Sierra Nevada snowpack and how it might fare this winter, Swain said lower elevations could get more rain than snow, and that higher elevations of 8,000 feet or taller will likely have “a very snowy winter.” Swain said it could spell rain in South Lake Tahoe “almost all winter,” and that “there could be an enormous amount of snow up at the top of the Heavenly chairlift.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I wouldn’t count on November or December in the Sierra Nevada [for snow],” Swain said. “The odds might get a little bit better as we go toward the back end of the season, and El Niño starts to lose its maturity.”\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/10/2025/12/251204-KINGTIDE-61-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12066253\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251204-KINGTIDE-61-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251204-KINGTIDE-61-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251204-KINGTIDE-61-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Flooding near the Kappa Marina floating home community in Sausalito on Dec. 4, 2025, during a king tide event.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>El Niño also produces massive Kelvin waves — when tropical trade winds slow or reverse. Swain said they have “completely reversed direction” — allowing warm water to push toward South America.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>That water splits north and south when it hits land. A Kelvin wave \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/2002141/an-el-nino-driven-kelvin-wave-could-raise-bay-area-sea-levels-and-flooding-risk\">has already\u003c/a> swept along the coast, raising sea levels by more than a foot, along with thermal expansion also caused by El Niño. Another coastally trapped wave is also moving up the coast, but won’t reach California for around three weeks. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Swain is worried that major flooding could occur later this winter with king tides during Thanksgiving week and Christmas. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“This could be a big problem with disruption of transportation on major highways and interstates throughout California that run through low-lying coastal areas,” Swain said. “If there’s a major storm, we could see major or even record-breaking coastal flooding, and it wouldn’t even take an extreme storm.”\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "a-kelvin-wave-on-top-of-el-nino-what-bay-area-hikers-bikers-swimmers-and-campers-should-know-this-winter",
"title": "A Kelvin Wave on Top of El Niño? What Bay Area Hikers, Bikers, Swimmers and Campers Should Know This Winter",
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"headTitle": "A Kelvin Wave on Top of El Niño? What Bay Area Hikers, Bikers, Swimmers and Campers Should Know This Winter | KQED",
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"content": "\n\u003cp>The \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12103307/cautiously-optimistic-the-latest-on-el-nino-and-tahoes-ski-season\">latest El Niño forecasts\u003c/a> show the Bay Area could be in for a particularly wet winter, affecting any late-season outdoor trips locals typically save for the region’s “second summer” in October. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But a new threat on the horizon, called a “\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/2002141/an-el-nino-driven-kelvin-wave-could-raise-bay-area-sea-levels-and-flooding-risk\">Kelvin wave\u003c/a>,” could also spoil plans for late-season hiking, biking and water sports. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>First predicted to hit in mid- to late-October, this warm-water phenomenon could raise Bay Area sea levels by up to a foot. On top of already-high sea levels, potential wet weather and seasonal King Tides, coastal regions could be in for some pretty severe flooding. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>So if you’ve got a coastal campsite booked, maybe a long bike ride up to Marin planned, or a kayaking or swimming trip coming up this fall, be aware: Higher water levels are expected and might affect your plans. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Read on for more information, broken down by activity:\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"#swimming\">Swimming and kayaking\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"#hiking\">Biking and hiking\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"#camping\">Camping\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"swimming\">Beware of debris and high shorelines while swimming and kayaking\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>A main signal of this year’s expected “super El Niño” is particularly warm water in the Pacific Ocean. While that might sound ideal for swimmers, Sylvia Lacock, co-founder of Pacific Open Water Swim Co. and a master captain, said otherwise. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>First, she said, her clients who actively seek out cold-water swimming to qualify or train for international competitions are having to push their scheduled swim dates back deeper toward winter. But more relevant to casual swimmers, she said, is that flooding due to higher tides and sea levels could engulf beaches and docks, making getting in the water to enjoy it difficult. \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/10/2026/10/KelvinWavesGetty2-b7702575.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12103551\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/KelvinWavesGetty2-b7702575.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/KelvinWavesGetty2-b7702575-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/KelvinWavesGetty2-b7702575-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Floodwaters covered roads in Marin County as residents Jill Sherman and her kids, Imogen and Zander Smith, kayak on the bike trail during high tide between Sausalito and Mill Valley during rainy weather on Jan. 3, 2026. (Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Constant rain, constant storms, how it ends up impacting kite surfers, windsurfers and swimmers, is that with a higher tide, we lose beach,” she said. “So if you’re used to having a lot of beach to maybe go in and off of in Aquatic Park or at Crissy Field, you might find that that beach feels a lot smaller just because the water’s up a lot higher.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Galen Licht, CEO and co-owner of kayak rental company SeaTrek, said a group of high school students on a trip to Angel Island last week struggled with the already-high tides.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The beach was nearly gone, and [on] the walkway that we would normally take to get up to the campsite, they were walking in waist-deep water,” he said. “It kind of caught us off guard a little bit.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Plus, Lacock said, areas around shorelines could also be flooded with debris, adding hazards to the water for swimmers. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Every single year we see this,” she said. “When we have storms that come through, now add a higher tide to it. Whether it’s piers or docks, that breaks off, and it ends up floating in the bay.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>For boaters, these floating hazards are an added challenge, she said. Swimmers have to watch for broken pieces of piers and even kite surfers may have to worry about “items that may be just submerged under the surface of the water,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Lacock said she’s particularly concerned about the area around \u003ca href=\"https://www.nps.gov/safr/learn/historyculture/aquatic-park-pier.htm\">San Francisco’s Muni Pier\u003c/a>, which has been in disrepair since it closed in 2022 due to structural damage from an earthquake.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Licht, whose company operates kayak launches in Alameda and Sausalito, said he is “making sure things are extra tied down” and “preparing to be more flexible than ever this winter.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In general, Lacock said swimmers should avoid getting into the water immediately after a storm, especially the first big storm of the winter season. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“You may want to not be in the water for the first 24 or 48 hours after that,” she said. “We like that tide cycle to kind of flush that water out.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"hiking\">Watch for flooding on popular hiking and biking trails\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The compounding effects of higher sea levels, Kelvin waves, King Tides and whatever else this El Niño winter might bring won’t just affect people recreating \u003cem>in \u003c/em>the water. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Dan Sauter, operations superintendent for Marin County Parks, said his agency is preparing for the potential “stacking” of higher tides onto its bayside parks and open space preserves.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Over the past few weeks, the \u003ca href=\"https://www.parks.marincounty.gov/parkspreserves/parks/mill-valley-sausalito-pathway\">Mill Valley-Sausalito multi-use path\u003c/a> — a connecting route for bikers and hikers that routinely floods in winter — has already been submerged, he said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Typically, the path floods when tides are about 6 feet high, he said, but that number could go down if there are more factors in play.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1498\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/KelvinWavesGetty3-eecc658a.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12103556\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/KelvinWavesGetty3-eecc658a.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/KelvinWavesGetty3-eecc658a-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/KelvinWavesGetty3-eecc658a-1536x1150.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Floodwaters covered roads in Marin County as residents kayak on the bike trail during high tide between Sausalito and Mill Valley during rainy weather on Jan. 3, 2026. (Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We’re expecting the tides to impact it at a lower projected tide number,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In fact, the multi-use trail floods so often that there is currently an \u003ca href=\"https://www.onetam.org/our-work/bothin-marsh\">effort underway to redesign it\u003c/a>, said Rob LaPorte, a senior project manager with the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy who has been working on improvements to the trail. He said rerouting the path isn’t particularly feasible given its location sandwiched between the bay and Highways 1 and 101.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We’re looking at significantly raising it by approximately 6.5 feet, 7 feet just to make it more storm-proof,” he said. “And then we’re also looking at ways to restore the natural processes at this marsh to help that ecosystem adapt to higher waters.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>SeaTrek’s Licht said some customers even rent kayaks in Sausalito specifically to paddle through the flooded marsh. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It’s wild,” he said. “Literally our kayakers can paddle across the bike path — and they do.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1332\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/241213-PortFlood-82.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12018233\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/241213-PortFlood-82.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/241213-PortFlood-82-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/241213-PortFlood-82-1020x679.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/241213-PortFlood-82-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/241213-PortFlood-82-1536x1023.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/241213-PortFlood-82-1920x1279.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">People walk along the Embarcadero during a high king tide in San Francisco on Dec. 13, 2024. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Also of concern in Marin County are the Miller Boat Launch in Tomales Bay, Black Point Boat Launch in San Pablo Bay and McNears Beach and McInnis Park in San Rafael.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Sauter said Marin County Parks stations rangers around the multi-use trail and other parks to let people know about potential flooding or advise them when trails are closed. They’ve even started pre-making signs to put up advising hikers and bikers to prepare for flooding impacts. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“If a storm is significant, we may be closing regional parks or areas that are unsafe to visitors,” he said. “So we’re prepared to do that.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>LaPorte said his main concern going into this potentially historic winter is that park infrastructure, designed to handle historical averages of rainfall, may not be up to the task.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“With this El Niño event and the potential for big storms that are associated with climate change — and then add on top of that the Kelvin wave — we’re just anticipating there being a lot more water that’s affecting trails throughout the parks,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Sauter said hikers and bikers should simply stay home during a storm.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It’s always a good idea to check your weather when you’re heading out and your tide logs,” he said. “There’s a good chunk of people that aren’t expecting to come across a multi-use path underwater on just a regular nice day. But it does happen out there.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>After a storm, clearing sediment and other debris off the path and other flooded areas also takes time, Sauter said, so be patient.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We’re all expecting the worst and hoping for the best and preparing for anything,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"camping\">Stay tuned for coastal campground closures\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>If you’ve got fall camping plans, particularly if your site is on or near the bay or ocean, be sure to double-check your reservation is still on before you head out.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Peter Ostroskie, spokesperson for California State Parks’ Bay Area district, said anyone with a camping reservation this winter should check the website of the park they’re going to before heading out. Some state parks also use social media to keep visitors informed, he said. And if you’re ever in doubt about safety or weather conditions at a park, you can always call the number of the park listed on its website for the most up-to-date information.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We’re happy to give you updates or let you know what’s going on and what are the conditions right now,” he said.\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/10/2025/12/251204-KINGTIDE-40-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12066250\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251204-KINGTIDE-40-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251204-KINGTIDE-40-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251204-KINGTIDE-40-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Flooding near the Highway 101 Sausalito/Mill Valley exit in Sausalito on Dec. 4, 2025, during a king tide event. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>If you are planning to camp during wet weather, make sure you have the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12064291/winter-camping-reservations-where-to-go-campsites-near-san-francisco-bay-area\">proper gear and are prepared to leave in case of emergency\u003c/a>. Ostroskie said state parks staff are preparing for a wet winter by staging equipment and readying communications to handle potential flooding or other effects of rising sea levels. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Parks like Angel Island, China Camp, Tomales Bay, Mt. Tam and Candlestick are of particular concern, Ostroskie said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>He said he’s also worried about a park like Samuel P. Taylor State Park, whose Lagunitas Creek can rise dramatically during storms.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The creek floods really high, so we actually close off the creekside campground,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Landslides, fallen trees and power lines are also typical stormy weather concerns for parks, Ostroskie said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>For oceanside campgrounds, bad weather and consistent big waves can threaten infrastructure, he said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It’ll probably take us a little bit longer to open up the season, especially when we hit spring and summer, just because we’ll be doing repairs and fixing things,” he said. “And sometimes that takes a little time.”\u003c/p>\n",
"blocks": [
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12103307/cautiously-optimistic-the-latest-on-el-nino-and-tahoes-ski-season\">latest El Niño forecasts\u003c/a> show the Bay Area could be in for a particularly wet winter, affecting any late-season outdoor trips locals typically save for the region’s “second summer” in October. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>The \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12103307/cautiously-optimistic-the-latest-on-el-nino-and-tahoes-ski-season\">latest El Niño forecasts\u003c/a> show the Bay Area could be in for a particularly wet winter, affecting any late-season outdoor trips locals typically save for the region’s “second summer” in October. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>But a new threat on the horizon, called a “\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/2002141/an-el-nino-driven-kelvin-wave-could-raise-bay-area-sea-levels-and-flooding-risk\">Kelvin wave\u003c/a>,” could also spoil plans for late-season hiking, biking and water sports. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>But a new threat on the horizon, called a “\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/2002141/an-el-nino-driven-kelvin-wave-could-raise-bay-area-sea-levels-and-flooding-risk\">Kelvin wave\u003c/a>,” could also spoil plans for late-season hiking, biking and water sports. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>First predicted to hit in mid- to late-October, this warm-water phenomenon could raise Bay Area sea levels by up to a foot. On top of already-high sea levels, potential wet weather and seasonal King Tides, coastal regions could be in for some pretty severe flooding. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>First predicted to hit in mid- to late-October, this warm-water phenomenon could raise Bay Area sea levels by up to a foot. On top of already-high sea levels, potential wet weather and seasonal King Tides, coastal regions could be in for some pretty severe flooding. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>So if you’ve got a coastal campsite booked, maybe a long bike ride up to Marin planned, or a kayaking or swimming trip coming up this fall, be aware: Higher water levels are expected and might affect your plans. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>So if you’ve got a coastal campsite booked, maybe a long bike ride up to Marin planned, or a kayaking or swimming trip coming up this fall, be aware: Higher water levels are expected and might affect your plans. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Read on for more information, broken down by activity:\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"#swimming\">Swimming and kayaking\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n",
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"\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"#swimming\">Swimming and kayaking\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n"
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"attrs": {
"text": "Beware of debris and high shorelines while swimming and kayaking",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"swimming\">Beware of debris and high shorelines while swimming and kayaking\u003c/h2>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>A main signal of this year’s expected “super El Niño” is particularly warm water in the Pacific Ocean. While that might sound ideal for swimmers, Sylvia Lacock, co-founder of Pacific Open Water Swim Co. and a master captain, said otherwise. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>A main signal of this year’s expected “super El Niño” is particularly warm water in the Pacific Ocean. While that might sound ideal for swimmers, Sylvia Lacock, co-founder of Pacific Open Water Swim Co. and a master captain, said otherwise. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>First, she said, her clients who actively seek out cold-water swimming to qualify or train for international competitions are having to push their scheduled swim dates back deeper toward winter. But more relevant to casual swimmers, she said, is that flooding due to higher tides and sea levels could engulf beaches and docks, making getting in the water to enjoy it difficult. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>First, she said, her clients who actively seek out cold-water swimming to qualify or train for international competitions are having to push their scheduled swim dates back deeper toward winter. But more relevant to casual swimmers, she said, is that flooding due to higher tides and sea levels could engulf beaches and docks, making getting in the water to enjoy it difficult. \u003c/p>\n"
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"srcset": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/KelvinWavesGetty2-b7702575.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/KelvinWavesGetty2-b7702575-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/KelvinWavesGetty2-b7702575-1536x1024.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/10/2026/10/KelvinWavesGetty2-b7702575.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12103551\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/KelvinWavesGetty2-b7702575.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/KelvinWavesGetty2-b7702575-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/KelvinWavesGetty2-b7702575-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Floodwaters covered roads in Marin County as residents Jill Sherman and her kids, Imogen and Zander Smith, kayak on the bike trail during high tide between Sausalito and Mill Valley during rainy weather on Jan. 3, 2026.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (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/10/2026/10/KelvinWavesGetty2-b7702575.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12103551\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Floodwaters covered roads in Marin County as residents Jill Sherman and her kids, Imogen and Zander Smith, kayak on the bike trail during high tide between Sausalito and Mill Valley during rainy weather on Jan. 3, 2026.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Constant rain, constant storms, how it ends up impacting kite surfers, windsurfers and swimmers, is that with a higher tide, we lose beach,” she said. “So if you’re used to having a lot of beach to maybe go in and off of in Aquatic Park or at Crissy Field, you might find that that beach feels a lot smaller just because the water’s up a lot higher.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“Constant rain, constant storms, how it ends up impacting kite surfers, windsurfers and swimmers, is that with a higher tide, we lose beach,” she said. “So if you’re used to having a lot of beach to maybe go in and off of in Aquatic Park or at Crissy Field, you might find that that beach feels a lot smaller just because the water’s up a lot higher.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Galen Licht, CEO and co-owner of kayak rental company SeaTrek, said a group of high school students on a trip to Angel Island last week struggled with the already-high tides.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Galen Licht, CEO and co-owner of kayak rental company SeaTrek, said a group of high school students on a trip to Angel Island last week struggled with the already-high tides.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“The beach was nearly gone, and [on] the walkway that we would normally take to get up to the campsite, they were walking in waist-deep water,” he said. “It kind of caught us off guard a little bit.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“The beach was nearly gone, and [on] the walkway that we would normally take to get up to the campsite, they were walking in waist-deep water,” he said. “It kind of caught us off guard a little bit.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Plus, Lacock said, areas around shorelines could also be flooded with debris, adding hazards to the water for swimmers. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Plus, Lacock said, areas around shorelines could also be flooded with debris, adding hazards to the water for swimmers. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Every single year we see this,” she said. “When we have storms that come through, now add a higher tide to it. Whether it’s piers or docks, that breaks off, and it ends up floating in the bay.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“Every single year we see this,” she said. “When we have storms that come through, now add a higher tide to it. Whether it’s piers or docks, that breaks off, and it ends up floating in the bay.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>For boaters, these floating hazards are an added challenge, she said. Swimmers have to watch for broken pieces of piers and even kite surfers may have to worry about “items that may be just submerged under the surface of the water,” she said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>For boaters, these floating hazards are an added challenge, she said. Swimmers have to watch for broken pieces of piers and even kite surfers may have to worry about “items that may be just submerged under the surface of the water,” she said.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Lacock said she’s particularly concerned about the area around \u003ca href=\"https://www.nps.gov/safr/learn/historyculture/aquatic-park-pier.htm\">San Francisco’s Muni Pier\u003c/a>, which has been in disrepair since it closed in 2022 due to structural damage from an earthquake.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Lacock said she’s particularly concerned about the area around \u003ca href=\"https://www.nps.gov/safr/learn/historyculture/aquatic-park-pier.htm\">San Francisco’s Muni Pier\u003c/a>, which has been in disrepair since it closed in 2022 due to structural damage from an earthquake.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Licht, whose company operates kayak launches in Alameda and Sausalito, said he is “making sure things are extra tied down” and “preparing to be more flexible than ever this winter.”\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Licht, whose company operates kayak launches in Alameda and Sausalito, said he is “making sure things are extra tied down” and “preparing to be more flexible than ever this winter.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In general, Lacock said swimmers should avoid getting into the water immediately after a storm, especially the first big storm of the winter season. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>In general, Lacock said swimmers should avoid getting into the water immediately after a storm, especially the first big storm of the winter season. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“You may want to not be in the water for the first 24 or 48 hours after that,” she said. “We like that tide cycle to kind of flush that water out.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“You may want to not be in the water for the first 24 or 48 hours after that,” she said. “We like that tide cycle to kind of flush that water out.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"attrs": {
"text": "Watch for flooding on popular hiking and biking trails",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"hiking\">Watch for flooding on popular hiking and biking trails\u003c/h2>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The compounding effects of higher sea levels, Kelvin waves, King Tides and whatever else this El Niño winter might bring won’t just affect people recreating \u003cem>in \u003c/em>the water. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The compounding effects of higher sea levels, Kelvin waves, King Tides and whatever else this El Niño winter might bring won’t just affect people recreating \u003cem>in \u003c/em>the water. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Dan Sauter, operations superintendent for Marin County Parks, said his agency is preparing for the potential “stacking” of higher tides onto its bayside parks and open space preserves.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Dan Sauter, operations superintendent for Marin County Parks, said his agency is preparing for the potential “stacking” of higher tides onto its bayside parks and open space preserves.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Over the past few weeks, the \u003ca href=\"https://www.parks.marincounty.gov/parkspreserves/parks/mill-valley-sausalito-pathway\">Mill Valley-Sausalito multi-use path\u003c/a> — a connecting route for bikers and hikers that routinely floods in winter — has already been submerged, he said. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Over the past few weeks, the \u003ca href=\"https://www.parks.marincounty.gov/parkspreserves/parks/mill-valley-sausalito-pathway\">Mill Valley-Sausalito multi-use path\u003c/a> — a connecting route for bikers and hikers that routinely floods in winter — has already been submerged, he said. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Typically, the path floods when tides are about 6 feet high, he said, but that number could go down if there are more factors in play.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Typically, the path floods when tides are about 6 feet high, he said, but that number could go down if there are more factors in play.\u003c/p>\n"
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"srcset": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/KelvinWavesGetty3-eecc658a.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/KelvinWavesGetty3-eecc658a-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/KelvinWavesGetty3-eecc658a-1536x1150.jpg 1536w",
"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/10/2026/10/KelvinWavesGetty3-eecc658a.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12103556\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/KelvinWavesGetty3-eecc658a.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/KelvinWavesGetty3-eecc658a-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/KelvinWavesGetty3-eecc658a-1536x1150.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Floodwaters covered roads in Marin County as residents kayak on the bike trail during high tide between Sausalito and Mill Valley during rainy weather on Jan. 3, 2026. \u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu 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/10/2026/10/KelvinWavesGetty3-eecc658a.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12103556\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Floodwaters covered roads in Marin County as residents kayak on the bike trail during high tide between Sausalito and Mill Valley during rainy weather on Jan. 3, 2026. \u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“We’re expecting the tides to impact it at a lower projected tide number,” he said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“We’re expecting the tides to impact it at a lower projected tide number,” he said.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In fact, the multi-use trail floods so often that there is currently an \u003ca href=\"https://www.onetam.org/our-work/bothin-marsh\">effort underway to redesign it\u003c/a>, said Rob LaPorte, a senior project manager with the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy who has been working on improvements to the trail. He said rerouting the path isn’t particularly feasible given its location sandwiched between the bay and Highways 1 and 101.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>In fact, the multi-use trail floods so often that there is currently an \u003ca href=\"https://www.onetam.org/our-work/bothin-marsh\">effort underway to redesign it\u003c/a>, said Rob LaPorte, a senior project manager with the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy who has been working on improvements to the trail. He said rerouting the path isn’t particularly feasible given its location sandwiched between the bay and Highways 1 and 101.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“We’re looking at significantly raising it by approximately 6.5 feet, 7 feet just to make it more storm-proof,” he said. “And then we’re also looking at ways to restore the natural processes at this marsh to help that ecosystem adapt to higher waters.”\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“We’re looking at significantly raising it by approximately 6.5 feet, 7 feet just to make it more storm-proof,” he said. “And then we’re also looking at ways to restore the natural processes at this marsh to help that ecosystem adapt to higher waters.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>SeaTrek’s Licht said some customers even rent kayaks in Sausalito specifically to paddle through the flooded marsh. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>SeaTrek’s Licht said some customers even rent kayaks in Sausalito specifically to paddle through the flooded marsh. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“It’s wild,” he said. “Literally our kayakers can paddle across the bike path — and they do.”\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“It’s wild,” he said. “Literally our kayakers can paddle across the bike path — and they do.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"srcset": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/241213-PortFlood-82.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/241213-PortFlood-82-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/241213-PortFlood-82-1020x679.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/241213-PortFlood-82-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/241213-PortFlood-82-1536x1023.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/241213-PortFlood-82-1920x1279.jpg 1920w",
"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/10/2024/12/241213-PortFlood-82.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12018233\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/241213-PortFlood-82.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/241213-PortFlood-82-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/241213-PortFlood-82-1020x679.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/241213-PortFlood-82-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/241213-PortFlood-82-1536x1023.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/241213-PortFlood-82-1920x1279.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">People walk along the Embarcadero during a high king tide in San Francisco on Dec. 13, 2024.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Beth LaBerge/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/10/2024/12/241213-PortFlood-82.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12018233\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">People walk along the Embarcadero during a high king tide in San Francisco on Dec. 13, 2024.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Also of concern in Marin County are the Miller Boat Launch in Tomales Bay, Black Point Boat Launch in San Pablo Bay and McNears Beach and McInnis Park in San Rafael.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Also of concern in Marin County are the Miller Boat Launch in Tomales Bay, Black Point Boat Launch in San Pablo Bay and McNears Beach and McInnis Park in San Rafael.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Sauter said Marin County Parks stations rangers around the multi-use trail and other parks to let people know about potential flooding or advise them when trails are closed. They’ve even started pre-making signs to put up advising hikers and bikers to prepare for flooding impacts. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Sauter said Marin County Parks stations rangers around the multi-use trail and other parks to let people know about potential flooding or advise them when trails are closed. They’ve even started pre-making signs to put up advising hikers and bikers to prepare for flooding impacts. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“If a storm is significant, we may be closing regional parks or areas that are unsafe to visitors,” he said. “So we’re prepared to do that.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“If a storm is significant, we may be closing regional parks or areas that are unsafe to visitors,” he said. “So we’re prepared to do that.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>LaPorte said his main concern going into this potentially historic winter is that park infrastructure, designed to handle historical averages of rainfall, may not be up to the task.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>LaPorte said his main concern going into this potentially historic winter is that park infrastructure, designed to handle historical averages of rainfall, may not be up to the task.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“With this El Niño event and the potential for big storms that are associated with climate change — and then add on top of that the Kelvin wave — we’re just anticipating there being a lot more water that’s affecting trails throughout the parks,” he said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“With this El Niño event and the potential for big storms that are associated with climate change — and then add on top of that the Kelvin wave — we’re just anticipating there being a lot more water that’s affecting trails throughout the parks,” he said.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Sauter said hikers and bikers should simply stay home during a storm.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Sauter said hikers and bikers should simply stay home during a storm.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“It’s always a good idea to check your weather when you’re heading out and your tide logs,” he said. “There’s a good chunk of people that aren’t expecting to come across a multi-use path underwater on just a regular nice day. But it does happen out there.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“It’s always a good idea to check your weather when you’re heading out and your tide logs,” he said. “There’s a good chunk of people that aren’t expecting to come across a multi-use path underwater on just a regular nice day. But it does happen out there.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>After a storm, clearing sediment and other debris off the path and other flooded areas also takes time, Sauter said, so be patient.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>After a storm, clearing sediment and other debris off the path and other flooded areas also takes time, Sauter said, so be patient.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“We’re all expecting the worst and hoping for the best and preparing for anything,” he said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“We’re all expecting the worst and hoping for the best and preparing for anything,” he said.\u003c/p>\n"
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{
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"attrs": {
"text": "Stay tuned for coastal campground closures",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"camping\">Stay tuned for coastal campground closures\u003c/h2>\n",
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"\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"camping\">Stay tuned for coastal campground closures\u003c/h2>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>If you’ve got fall camping plans, particularly if your site is on or near the bay or ocean, be sure to double-check your reservation is still on before you head out.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>If you’ve got fall camping plans, particularly if your site is on or near the bay or ocean, be sure to double-check your reservation is still on before you head out.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Peter Ostroskie, spokesperson for California State Parks’ Bay Area district, said anyone with a camping reservation this winter should check the website of the park they’re going to before heading out. Some state parks also use social media to keep visitors informed, he said. And if you’re ever in doubt about safety or weather conditions at a park, you can always call the number of the park listed on its website for the most up-to-date information.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Peter Ostroskie, spokesperson for California State Parks’ Bay Area district, said anyone with a camping reservation this winter should check the website of the park they’re going to before heading out. Some state parks also use social media to keep visitors informed, he said. And if you’re ever in doubt about safety or weather conditions at a park, you can always call the number of the park listed on its website for the most up-to-date information.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“We’re happy to give you updates or let you know what’s going on and what are the conditions right now,” he said.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“We’re happy to give you updates or let you know what’s going on and what are the conditions right now,” he said.\u003c/p>\n"
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"srcset": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251204-KINGTIDE-40-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251204-KINGTIDE-40-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251204-KINGTIDE-40-BL-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/10/2025/12/251204-KINGTIDE-40-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12066250\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251204-KINGTIDE-40-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251204-KINGTIDE-40-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251204-KINGTIDE-40-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\">Flooding near the Highway 101 Sausalito/Mill Valley exit in Sausalito on Dec. 4, 2025, during a king tide event.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Beth LaBerge/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/10/2025/12/251204-KINGTIDE-40-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12066250\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Flooding near the Highway 101 Sausalito/Mill Valley exit in Sausalito on Dec. 4, 2025, during a king tide event.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>If you are planning to camp during wet weather, make sure you have the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12064291/winter-camping-reservations-where-to-go-campsites-near-san-francisco-bay-area\">proper gear and are prepared to leave in case of emergency\u003c/a>. Ostroskie said state parks staff are preparing for a wet winter by staging equipment and readying communications to handle potential flooding or other effects of rising sea levels. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>If you are planning to camp during wet weather, make sure you have the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12064291/winter-camping-reservations-where-to-go-campsites-near-san-francisco-bay-area\">proper gear and are prepared to leave in case of emergency\u003c/a>. Ostroskie said state parks staff are preparing for a wet winter by staging equipment and readying communications to handle potential flooding or other effects of rising sea levels. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Parks like Angel Island, China Camp, Tomales Bay, Mt. Tam and Candlestick are of particular concern, Ostroskie said. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Parks like Angel Island, China Camp, Tomales Bay, Mt. Tam and Candlestick are of particular concern, Ostroskie said. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>He said he’s also worried about a park like Samuel P. Taylor State Park, whose Lagunitas Creek can rise dramatically during storms.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>He said he’s also worried about a park like Samuel P. Taylor State Park, whose Lagunitas Creek can rise dramatically during storms.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“The creek floods really high, so we actually close off the creekside campground,” he said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“The creek floods really high, so we actually close off the creekside campground,” he said.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Landslides, fallen trees and power lines are also typical stormy weather concerns for parks, Ostroskie said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Landslides, fallen trees and power lines are also typical stormy weather concerns for parks, Ostroskie said.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>For oceanside campgrounds, bad weather and consistent big waves can threaten infrastructure, he said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>For oceanside campgrounds, bad weather and consistent big waves can threaten infrastructure, he said.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“It’ll probably take us a little bit longer to open up the season, especially when we hit spring and summer, just because we’ll be doing repairs and fixing things,” he said. “And sometimes that takes a little time.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“It’ll probably take us a little bit longer to open up the season, especially when we hit spring and summer, just because we’ll be doing repairs and fixing things,” he said. “And sometimes that takes a little time.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\n\u003cp>The \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12103307/cautiously-optimistic-the-latest-on-el-nino-and-tahoes-ski-season\">latest El Niño forecasts\u003c/a> show the Bay Area could be in for a particularly wet winter, affecting any late-season outdoor trips locals typically save for the region’s “second summer” in October. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But a new threat on the horizon, called a “\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/2002141/an-el-nino-driven-kelvin-wave-could-raise-bay-area-sea-levels-and-flooding-risk\">Kelvin wave\u003c/a>,” could also spoil plans for late-season hiking, biking and water sports. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>First predicted to hit in mid- to late-October, this warm-water phenomenon could raise Bay Area sea levels by up to a foot. On top of already-high sea levels, potential wet weather and seasonal King Tides, coastal regions could be in for some pretty severe flooding. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>So if you’ve got a coastal campsite booked, maybe a long bike ride up to Marin planned, or a kayaking or swimming trip coming up this fall, be aware: Higher water levels are expected and might affect your plans. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Read on for more information, broken down by activity:\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"#swimming\">Swimming and kayaking\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"#hiking\">Biking and hiking\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"#camping\">Camping\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"swimming\">Beware of debris and high shorelines while swimming and kayaking\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>A main signal of this year’s expected “super El Niño” is particularly warm water in the Pacific Ocean. While that might sound ideal for swimmers, Sylvia Lacock, co-founder of Pacific Open Water Swim Co. and a master captain, said otherwise. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>First, she said, her clients who actively seek out cold-water swimming to qualify or train for international competitions are having to push their scheduled swim dates back deeper toward winter. But more relevant to casual swimmers, she said, is that flooding due to higher tides and sea levels could engulf beaches and docks, making getting in the water to enjoy it difficult. \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/10/2026/10/KelvinWavesGetty2-b7702575.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12103551\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/KelvinWavesGetty2-b7702575.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/KelvinWavesGetty2-b7702575-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/KelvinWavesGetty2-b7702575-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Floodwaters covered roads in Marin County as residents Jill Sherman and her kids, Imogen and Zander Smith, kayak on the bike trail during high tide between Sausalito and Mill Valley during rainy weather on Jan. 3, 2026. (Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Constant rain, constant storms, how it ends up impacting kite surfers, windsurfers and swimmers, is that with a higher tide, we lose beach,” she said. “So if you’re used to having a lot of beach to maybe go in and off of in Aquatic Park or at Crissy Field, you might find that that beach feels a lot smaller just because the water’s up a lot higher.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Galen Licht, CEO and co-owner of kayak rental company SeaTrek, said a group of high school students on a trip to Angel Island last week struggled with the already-high tides.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The beach was nearly gone, and [on] the walkway that we would normally take to get up to the campsite, they were walking in waist-deep water,” he said. “It kind of caught us off guard a little bit.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Plus, Lacock said, areas around shorelines could also be flooded with debris, adding hazards to the water for swimmers. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Every single year we see this,” she said. “When we have storms that come through, now add a higher tide to it. Whether it’s piers or docks, that breaks off, and it ends up floating in the bay.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>For boaters, these floating hazards are an added challenge, she said. Swimmers have to watch for broken pieces of piers and even kite surfers may have to worry about “items that may be just submerged under the surface of the water,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Lacock said she’s particularly concerned about the area around \u003ca href=\"https://www.nps.gov/safr/learn/historyculture/aquatic-park-pier.htm\">San Francisco’s Muni Pier\u003c/a>, which has been in disrepair since it closed in 2022 due to structural damage from an earthquake.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Licht, whose company operates kayak launches in Alameda and Sausalito, said he is “making sure things are extra tied down” and “preparing to be more flexible than ever this winter.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In general, Lacock said swimmers should avoid getting into the water immediately after a storm, especially the first big storm of the winter season. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“You may want to not be in the water for the first 24 or 48 hours after that,” she said. “We like that tide cycle to kind of flush that water out.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"hiking\">Watch for flooding on popular hiking and biking trails\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The compounding effects of higher sea levels, Kelvin waves, King Tides and whatever else this El Niño winter might bring won’t just affect people recreating \u003cem>in \u003c/em>the water. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Dan Sauter, operations superintendent for Marin County Parks, said his agency is preparing for the potential “stacking” of higher tides onto its bayside parks and open space preserves.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Over the past few weeks, the \u003ca href=\"https://www.parks.marincounty.gov/parkspreserves/parks/mill-valley-sausalito-pathway\">Mill Valley-Sausalito multi-use path\u003c/a> — a connecting route for bikers and hikers that routinely floods in winter — has already been submerged, he said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Typically, the path floods when tides are about 6 feet high, he said, but that number could go down if there are more factors in play.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1498\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/KelvinWavesGetty3-eecc658a.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12103556\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/KelvinWavesGetty3-eecc658a.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/KelvinWavesGetty3-eecc658a-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/KelvinWavesGetty3-eecc658a-1536x1150.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Floodwaters covered roads in Marin County as residents kayak on the bike trail during high tide between Sausalito and Mill Valley during rainy weather on Jan. 3, 2026. (Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We’re expecting the tides to impact it at a lower projected tide number,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In fact, the multi-use trail floods so often that there is currently an \u003ca href=\"https://www.onetam.org/our-work/bothin-marsh\">effort underway to redesign it\u003c/a>, said Rob LaPorte, a senior project manager with the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy who has been working on improvements to the trail. He said rerouting the path isn’t particularly feasible given its location sandwiched between the bay and Highways 1 and 101.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We’re looking at significantly raising it by approximately 6.5 feet, 7 feet just to make it more storm-proof,” he said. “And then we’re also looking at ways to restore the natural processes at this marsh to help that ecosystem adapt to higher waters.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>SeaTrek’s Licht said some customers even rent kayaks in Sausalito specifically to paddle through the flooded marsh. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It’s wild,” he said. “Literally our kayakers can paddle across the bike path — and they do.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1332\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/241213-PortFlood-82.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12018233\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/241213-PortFlood-82.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/241213-PortFlood-82-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/241213-PortFlood-82-1020x679.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/241213-PortFlood-82-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/241213-PortFlood-82-1536x1023.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/241213-PortFlood-82-1920x1279.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">People walk along the Embarcadero during a high king tide in San Francisco on Dec. 13, 2024. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Also of concern in Marin County are the Miller Boat Launch in Tomales Bay, Black Point Boat Launch in San Pablo Bay and McNears Beach and McInnis Park in San Rafael.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Sauter said Marin County Parks stations rangers around the multi-use trail and other parks to let people know about potential flooding or advise them when trails are closed. They’ve even started pre-making signs to put up advising hikers and bikers to prepare for flooding impacts. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“If a storm is significant, we may be closing regional parks or areas that are unsafe to visitors,” he said. “So we’re prepared to do that.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>LaPorte said his main concern going into this potentially historic winter is that park infrastructure, designed to handle historical averages of rainfall, may not be up to the task.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“With this El Niño event and the potential for big storms that are associated with climate change — and then add on top of that the Kelvin wave — we’re just anticipating there being a lot more water that’s affecting trails throughout the parks,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Sauter said hikers and bikers should simply stay home during a storm.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It’s always a good idea to check your weather when you’re heading out and your tide logs,” he said. “There’s a good chunk of people that aren’t expecting to come across a multi-use path underwater on just a regular nice day. But it does happen out there.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>After a storm, clearing sediment and other debris off the path and other flooded areas also takes time, Sauter said, so be patient.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We’re all expecting the worst and hoping for the best and preparing for anything,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"camping\">Stay tuned for coastal campground closures\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>If you’ve got fall camping plans, particularly if your site is on or near the bay or ocean, be sure to double-check your reservation is still on before you head out.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Peter Ostroskie, spokesperson for California State Parks’ Bay Area district, said anyone with a camping reservation this winter should check the website of the park they’re going to before heading out. Some state parks also use social media to keep visitors informed, he said. And if you’re ever in doubt about safety or weather conditions at a park, you can always call the number of the park listed on its website for the most up-to-date information.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We’re happy to give you updates or let you know what’s going on and what are the conditions right now,” he said.\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/10/2025/12/251204-KINGTIDE-40-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12066250\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251204-KINGTIDE-40-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251204-KINGTIDE-40-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251204-KINGTIDE-40-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Flooding near the Highway 101 Sausalito/Mill Valley exit in Sausalito on Dec. 4, 2025, during a king tide event. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>If you are planning to camp during wet weather, make sure you have the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12064291/winter-camping-reservations-where-to-go-campsites-near-san-francisco-bay-area\">proper gear and are prepared to leave in case of emergency\u003c/a>. Ostroskie said state parks staff are preparing for a wet winter by staging equipment and readying communications to handle potential flooding or other effects of rising sea levels. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Parks like Angel Island, China Camp, Tomales Bay, Mt. Tam and Candlestick are of particular concern, Ostroskie said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>He said he’s also worried about a park like Samuel P. Taylor State Park, whose Lagunitas Creek can rise dramatically during storms.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The creek floods really high, so we actually close off the creekside campground,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Landslides, fallen trees and power lines are also typical stormy weather concerns for parks, Ostroskie said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>For oceanside campgrounds, bad weather and consistent big waves can threaten infrastructure, he said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It’ll probably take us a little bit longer to open up the season, especially when we hit spring and summer, just because we’ll be doing repairs and fixing things,” he said. “And sometimes that takes a little time.”\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "cautiously-optimistic-the-latest-on-el-nino-and-tahoes-ski-season",
"title": "‘Cautiously Optimistic’: The Latest on El Niño and Tahoe’s Ski Season",
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"headTitle": "‘Cautiously Optimistic’: The Latest on El Niño and Tahoe’s Ski Season | KQED",
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"content": "\n\u003cp>Will this ski season be the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12096560/el-nino-snow-weather-forecast-sierra-nevada-tahoe-california-ski-pass-winter-2026-2027\">best ever\u003c/a>? Or, with \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12099961/scientists-warn-this-years-el-nino-can-trigger-unprecedented-flooding\">report\u003c/a> after \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12097546/el-nino-could-bring-a-wet-wild-winter-how-can-you-and-your-home-be-ready\">report\u003c/a> of a “super El Niño” that will slam the West Coast with rain and snow, will skiers’ expectations pale in comparison to reality?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The answer, OpenSnow forecaster Bryan Allegretto said, is still far from clear. And for him, a big part of this uncertainty is that “we don’t have much data on strong El Niños.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In fact, there have only really been four winters since 1970 to be considered “strong” El Niños, Allegretto said. Of those, half produced above-average snowfall, including the \u003ca href=\"https://www.skimag.com/ski-resort-life/10-deepest-winters-recent-history/\">1982-83 season\u003c/a>, when total snowfall came in at 170% of average. But the other half produced below-average snowfall. And going back to 1950, he sees four of seven “strong” El Niños resulting in big snow years.\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/10/2026/03/TahoeSnowGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12077403\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/TahoeSnowGetty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/TahoeSnowGetty-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/TahoeSnowGetty-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The ski area at Homewood has closed due to poor snow conditions as viewed on April 14, 2021, in Homewood, California. (George Rose/Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“So if you were just going to look historically, there’s no clear signal,” he said. “They haven’t been consistent as far as snowfall.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>That said, the two years that did overproduce did so … \u003cem>enormously\u003c/em>. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“If you were to look at the average … it’s like 138% of average snowfall, but that isn’t fair to the years that are below-average,” he said. “Because there’s so much that can happen in the middle of the year that can affect our weather pattern.”\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=\"#skiing-winter\">What does all this mean for skiing this winter?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#open\">When are Tahoe ski resorts scheduled to open?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>That was the case with the \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2016/01/01/461693346/ski-resorts-see-slight-thaw-after-chilling-effect-of-climate-change\">2015-16 season\u003c/a>, Allegretto said. There was a similar air of hype around El Niño conditions, but ultimately, the winter’s snowfall was just 97% of average, slightly \u003cem>below \u003c/em>a typical year.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>So what does today’s forecast mean for ski season? Allegretto breaks it down below.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is the El Niño forecast saying today?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>First, Allegretto warned that it takes three consecutive months of higher-than-normal ocean surface temperatures before one can even declare an El Niño — let alone a “strong” or “very strong” El Niño.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>So far, he said, water temperatures are about 2.2 degrees above average. The 2015-16 season was 2.3 degrees above the average. If we reach 2.5 degrees above normal, he said, that would be a record. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“At the end of September, it was the warmest the water has been at this point in the fall along the equator where they measure,” he said. \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/10/2025/04/SierraSnow2.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12033987\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/SierraSnow2.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/SierraSnow2-800x600.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/SierraSnow2-1020x765.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/SierraSnow2-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/SierraSnow2-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/SierraSnow2-1920x1440.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Sierra snow scene near Lake Tahoe, late December, 2015. (Courtesy Mikee Gildea)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.sfchronicle.com/weather/article/el-nino-rain-california-22465614.php\">Monday’s updated models\u003c/a> showed even more reason to believe it will be an unusually wet winter. But it’s not yet clear if that trend will continue — or what other factors will be in play.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We had a ‘super’ El Niño in 15-16 with below-average snowfall,” he said. “But there were things happening that year in the Atlantic and the Northern Pacific that were messing with the weather pattern. And it was causing most of the storms to go to the north of California and the Pacific Northwest.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>What’s tough to know is whether this season’s El Niño pattern will be the most prevailing, or if other weather systems in January or February will interfere. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In theory, Allegretto said, this year’s El Niño “should be the most dominant factor.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Still, he said he is only “cautiously optimistic.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I think we will see above average snow and rain,” he said. “But am I willing to say that we’re going to get a year like 1982-83?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“No,” he said. “Only very risky people say those kinds of things.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"skiing-winter\">What does all this mean for skiing this winter?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>All in all, Allegretto said he is “pretty excited” for the ski season. After all, as OpenSnow’s expert on California and the Lake Tahoe region, it’s \u003ca href=\"https://opensnow.com/dailysnow/tahoe/post/44538\">his job to update skiers and snowboarders\u003c/a> about the winter weather. This week, he started \u003ca href=\"https://opensnow.com/dailysnow/tahoe\">posting his weekly forecasts\u003c/a> and said that come opening day at ski resorts in November, he will start posting daily.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I just hope the storms stay cold enough, the snow levels stay low, and we don’t end up with a bunch of rain,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Allegretto isn’t the only one hedging. In a \u003ca href=\"https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/atqfkmbd/#Slides_6\">recent earnings call\u003c/a>, Vail Resorts CEO Rob Katz told investors that sales of Epic Passes, which give local skiers access to three Lake Tahoe resorts, are 12% down this year. Katz attributed the drop in part to 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\">disappointing snowfall\u003c/a>, which closed many resorts prematurely. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In general, Allegretto said strong El Niños tend to produce the most snowfall in February and January, calling them “make-or-break months.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Still, he was careful not to overstate the possibility of a banger ski season.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I just don’t hype, even if it looks like it’s going to be a decent year,” Allegretto said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>He even warned that too much snow could bring different problems for skiers. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“You don’t want too much snow because then the ski resorts are closed, the highway’s closed,” he said. “I just prefer good storms that are easy to chase.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“You only need shin-deep powder to have fun,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"open\">Those California ski resort opening dates so far:\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Mammoth Mountain: Nov. 13\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Heavenly Ski Resort: Nov. 20\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Northstar California Resort: Nov. 20\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Mount Rose Ski Tahoe: Nov. 20\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Palisades Tahoe: Nov. 25\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Kirkwood Mountain Resort: Dec. 4\u003c/p>\n",
"blocks": [
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Will this ski season be the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12096560/el-nino-snow-weather-forecast-sierra-nevada-tahoe-california-ski-pass-winter-2026-2027\">best ever\u003c/a>? Or, with \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12099961/scientists-warn-this-years-el-nino-can-trigger-unprecedented-flooding\">report\u003c/a> after \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12097546/el-nino-could-bring-a-wet-wild-winter-how-can-you-and-your-home-be-ready\">report\u003c/a> of a “super El Niño” that will slam the West Coast with rain and snow, will skiers’ expectations pale in comparison to reality?\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Will this ski season be the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12096560/el-nino-snow-weather-forecast-sierra-nevada-tahoe-california-ski-pass-winter-2026-2027\">best ever\u003c/a>? Or, with \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12099961/scientists-warn-this-years-el-nino-can-trigger-unprecedented-flooding\">report\u003c/a> after \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12097546/el-nino-could-bring-a-wet-wild-winter-how-can-you-and-your-home-be-ready\">report\u003c/a> of a “super El Niño” that will slam the West Coast with rain and snow, will skiers’ expectations pale in comparison to reality?\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The answer, OpenSnow forecaster Bryan Allegretto said, is still far from clear. And for him, a big part of this uncertainty is that “we don’t have much data on strong El Niños.” \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>The answer, OpenSnow forecaster Bryan Allegretto said, is still far from clear. And for him, a big part of this uncertainty is that “we don’t have much data on strong El Niños.” \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In fact, there have only really been four winters since 1970 to be considered “strong” El Niños, Allegretto said. Of those, half produced above-average snowfall, including the \u003ca href=\"https://www.skimag.com/ski-resort-life/10-deepest-winters-recent-history/\">1982-83 season\u003c/a>, when total snowfall came in at 170% of average. But the other half produced below-average snowfall. And going back to 1950, he sees four of seven “strong” El Niños resulting in big snow years.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>In fact, there have only really been four winters since 1970 to be considered “strong” El Niños, Allegretto said. Of those, half produced above-average snowfall, including the \u003ca href=\"https://www.skimag.com/ski-resort-life/10-deepest-winters-recent-history/\">1982-83 season\u003c/a>, when total snowfall came in at 170% of average. But the other half produced below-average snowfall. And going back to 1950, he sees four of seven “strong” El Niños resulting in big snow years.\u003c/p>\n"
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"srcset": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/TahoeSnowGetty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/TahoeSnowGetty-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/TahoeSnowGetty-1536x1024.jpg 1536w",
"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/10/2026/03/TahoeSnowGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12077403\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/TahoeSnowGetty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/TahoeSnowGetty-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/TahoeSnowGetty-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 ski area at Homewood has closed due to poor snow conditions as viewed on April 14, 2021, in Homewood, California. \u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (George Rose/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/10/2026/03/TahoeSnowGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12077403\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The ski area at Homewood has closed due to poor snow conditions as viewed on April 14, 2021, in Homewood, California. \u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (George Rose/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“So if you were just going to look historically, there’s no clear signal,” he said. “They haven’t been consistent as far as snowfall.”\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“So if you were just going to look historically, there’s no clear signal,” he said. “They haven’t been consistent as far as snowfall.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>That said, the two years that did overproduce did so … \u003cem>enormously\u003c/em>. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>That said, the two years that did overproduce did so … \u003cem>enormously\u003c/em>. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“If you were to look at the average … it’s like 138% of average snowfall, but that isn’t fair to the years that are below-average,” he said. “Because there’s so much that can happen in the middle of the year that can affect our weather pattern.”\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“If you were to look at the average … it’s like 138% of average snowfall, but that isn’t fair to the years that are below-average,” he said. “Because there’s so much that can happen in the middle of the year that can affect our weather pattern.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n"
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"What does all this mean for skiing this winter?",
"When are Tahoe ski resorts scheduled to open?"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\n\u003c/ul>\n",
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null,
"\n\n",
null,
"\u003c/ul>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#skiing-winter\">What does all this mean for skiing this winter?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#skiing-winter\">What does all this mean for skiing this winter?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n"
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{
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#open\">When are Tahoe ski resorts scheduled to open?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#open\">When are Tahoe ski resorts scheduled to open?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n"
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{
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>That was the case with the \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2016/01/01/461693346/ski-resorts-see-slight-thaw-after-chilling-effect-of-climate-change\">2015-16 season\u003c/a>, Allegretto said. There was a similar air of hype around El Niño conditions, but ultimately, the winter’s snowfall was just 97% of average, slightly \u003cem>below \u003c/em>a typical year.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>That was the case with the \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2016/01/01/461693346/ski-resorts-see-slight-thaw-after-chilling-effect-of-climate-change\">2015-16 season\u003c/a>, Allegretto said. There was a similar air of hype around El Niño conditions, but ultimately, the winter’s snowfall was just 97% of average, slightly \u003cem>below \u003c/em>a typical year.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>So what does today’s forecast mean for ski season? Allegretto breaks it down below.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>So what does today’s forecast mean for ski season? Allegretto breaks it down below.\u003c/p>\n"
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"blockName": "core/heading",
"attrs": {
"text": "What is the El Niño forecast saying today?",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is the El Niño forecast saying today?\u003c/h2>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is the El Niño forecast saying today?\u003c/h2>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>First, Allegretto warned that it takes three consecutive months of higher-than-normal ocean surface temperatures before one can even declare an El Niño — let alone a “strong” or “very strong” El Niño.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>First, Allegretto warned that it takes three consecutive months of higher-than-normal ocean surface temperatures before one can even declare an El Niño — let alone a “strong” or “very strong” El Niño.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>So far, he said, water temperatures are about 2.2 degrees above average. The 2015-16 season was 2.3 degrees above the average. If we reach 2.5 degrees above normal, he said, that would be a record. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>So far, he said, water temperatures are about 2.2 degrees above average. The 2015-16 season was 2.3 degrees above the average. If we reach 2.5 degrees above normal, he said, that would be a record. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“At the end of September, it was the warmest the water has been at this point in the fall along the equator where they measure,” he said. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“At the end of September, it was the warmest the water has been at this point in the fall along the equator where they measure,” he said. \u003c/p>\n"
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"srcset": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/SierraSnow2.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/SierraSnow2-800x600.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/SierraSnow2-1020x765.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/SierraSnow2-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/SierraSnow2-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/SierraSnow2-1920x1440.jpg 1920w",
"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/10/2025/04/SierraSnow2.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12033987\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/SierraSnow2.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/SierraSnow2-800x600.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/SierraSnow2-1020x765.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/SierraSnow2-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/SierraSnow2-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/SierraSnow2-1920x1440.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Sierra snow scene near Lake Tahoe, late December, 2015.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Courtesy Mikee Gildea)\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/10/2025/04/SierraSnow2.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12033987\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Sierra snow scene near Lake Tahoe, late December, 2015.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Courtesy Mikee Gildea)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.sfchronicle.com/weather/article/el-nino-rain-california-22465614.php\">Monday’s updated models\u003c/a> showed even more reason to believe it will be an unusually wet winter. But it’s not yet clear if that trend will continue — or what other factors will be in play.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.sfchronicle.com/weather/article/el-nino-rain-california-22465614.php\">Monday’s updated models\u003c/a> showed even more reason to believe it will be an unusually wet winter. But it’s not yet clear if that trend will continue — or what other factors will be in play.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“We had a ‘super’ El Niño in 15-16 with below-average snowfall,” he said. “But there were things happening that year in the Atlantic and the Northern Pacific that were messing with the weather pattern. And it was causing most of the storms to go to the north of California and the Pacific Northwest.”\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“We had a ‘super’ El Niño in 15-16 with below-average snowfall,” he said. “But there were things happening that year in the Atlantic and the Northern Pacific that were messing with the weather pattern. And it was causing most of the storms to go to the north of California and the Pacific Northwest.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>What’s tough to know is whether this season’s El Niño pattern will be the most prevailing, or if other weather systems in January or February will interfere. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>What’s tough to know is whether this season’s El Niño pattern will be the most prevailing, or if other weather systems in January or February will interfere. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In theory, Allegretto said, this year’s El Niño “should be the most dominant factor.” \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>In theory, Allegretto said, this year’s El Niño “should be the most dominant factor.” \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Still, he said he is only “cautiously optimistic.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Still, he said he is only “cautiously optimistic.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“I think we will see above average snow and rain,” he said. “But am I willing to say that we’re going to get a year like 1982-83?\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“I think we will see above average snow and rain,” he said. “But am I willing to say that we’re going to get a year like 1982-83?\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“No,” he said. “Only very risky people say those kinds of things.”\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“No,” he said. “Only very risky people say those kinds of things.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"attrs": {
"text": "What does all this mean for skiing this winter?",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"skiing-winter\">What does all this mean for skiing this winter?\u003c/h2>\n",
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"\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"skiing-winter\">What does all this mean for skiing this winter?\u003c/h2>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>All in all, Allegretto said he is “pretty excited” for the ski season. After all, as OpenSnow’s expert on California and the Lake Tahoe region, it’s \u003ca href=\"https://opensnow.com/dailysnow/tahoe/post/44538\">his job to update skiers and snowboarders\u003c/a> about the winter weather. This week, he started \u003ca href=\"https://opensnow.com/dailysnow/tahoe\">posting his weekly forecasts\u003c/a> and said that come opening day at ski resorts in November, he will start posting daily.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>All in all, Allegretto said he is “pretty excited” for the ski season. After all, as OpenSnow’s expert on California and the Lake Tahoe region, it’s \u003ca href=\"https://opensnow.com/dailysnow/tahoe/post/44538\">his job to update skiers and snowboarders\u003c/a> about the winter weather. This week, he started \u003ca href=\"https://opensnow.com/dailysnow/tahoe\">posting his weekly forecasts\u003c/a> and said that come opening day at ski resorts in November, he will start posting daily.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“I just hope the storms stay cold enough, the snow levels stay low, and we don’t end up with a bunch of rain,” he said.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“I just hope the storms stay cold enough, the snow levels stay low, and we don’t end up with a bunch of rain,” he said.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Allegretto isn’t the only one hedging. In a \u003ca href=\"https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/atqfkmbd/#Slides_6\">recent earnings call\u003c/a>, Vail Resorts CEO Rob Katz told investors that sales of Epic Passes, which give local skiers access to three Lake Tahoe resorts, are 12% down this year. Katz attributed the drop in part to 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\">disappointing snowfall\u003c/a>, which closed many resorts prematurely. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Allegretto isn’t the only one hedging. In a \u003ca href=\"https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/atqfkmbd/#Slides_6\">recent earnings call\u003c/a>, Vail Resorts CEO Rob Katz told investors that sales of Epic Passes, which give local skiers access to three Lake Tahoe resorts, are 12% down this year. Katz attributed the drop in part to 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\">disappointing snowfall\u003c/a>, which closed many resorts prematurely. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In general, Allegretto said strong El Niños tend to produce the most snowfall in February and January, calling them “make-or-break months.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>In general, Allegretto said strong El Niños tend to produce the most snowfall in February and January, calling them “make-or-break months.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Still, he was careful not to overstate the possibility of a banger ski season.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Still, he was careful not to overstate the possibility of a banger ski season.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“I just don’t hype, even if it looks like it’s going to be a decent year,” Allegretto said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“I just don’t hype, even if it looks like it’s going to be a decent year,” Allegretto said.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>He even warned that too much snow could bring different problems for skiers. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>He even warned that too much snow could bring different problems for skiers. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“You don’t want too much snow because then the ski resorts are closed, the highway’s closed,” he said. “I just prefer good storms that are easy to chase.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“You don’t want too much snow because then the ski resorts are closed, the highway’s closed,” he said. “I just prefer good storms that are easy to chase.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“You only need shin-deep powder to have fun,” he said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“You only need shin-deep powder to have fun,” he said.\u003c/p>\n"
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"text": "Those California ski resort opening dates so far:",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"open\">Those California ski resort opening dates so far:\u003c/h2>\n",
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"\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"open\">Those California ski resort opening dates so far:\u003c/h2>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Mammoth Mountain: Nov. 13\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Mammoth Mountain: Nov. 13\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Heavenly Ski Resort: Nov. 20\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Heavenly Ski Resort: Nov. 20\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Northstar California Resort: Nov. 20\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Mount Rose Ski Tahoe: Nov. 20\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Mount Rose Ski Tahoe: Nov. 20\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Palisades Tahoe: Nov. 25\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Kirkwood Mountain Resort: Dec. 4\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "One forecaster breaks down the data — without buying into the hype.",
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"title": "‘Cautiously Optimistic’: The Latest on El Niño and Tahoe’s Ski Season | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\n\u003cp>Will this ski season be the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12096560/el-nino-snow-weather-forecast-sierra-nevada-tahoe-california-ski-pass-winter-2026-2027\">best ever\u003c/a>? Or, with \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12099961/scientists-warn-this-years-el-nino-can-trigger-unprecedented-flooding\">report\u003c/a> after \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12097546/el-nino-could-bring-a-wet-wild-winter-how-can-you-and-your-home-be-ready\">report\u003c/a> of a “super El Niño” that will slam the West Coast with rain and snow, will skiers’ expectations pale in comparison to reality?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The answer, OpenSnow forecaster Bryan Allegretto said, is still far from clear. And for him, a big part of this uncertainty is that “we don’t have much data on strong El Niños.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In fact, there have only really been four winters since 1970 to be considered “strong” El Niños, Allegretto said. Of those, half produced above-average snowfall, including the \u003ca href=\"https://www.skimag.com/ski-resort-life/10-deepest-winters-recent-history/\">1982-83 season\u003c/a>, when total snowfall came in at 170% of average. But the other half produced below-average snowfall. And going back to 1950, he sees four of seven “strong” El Niños resulting in big snow years.\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/10/2026/03/TahoeSnowGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12077403\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/TahoeSnowGetty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/TahoeSnowGetty-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/TahoeSnowGetty-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The ski area at Homewood has closed due to poor snow conditions as viewed on April 14, 2021, in Homewood, California. (George Rose/Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“So if you were just going to look historically, there’s no clear signal,” he said. “They haven’t been consistent as far as snowfall.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>That said, the two years that did overproduce did so … \u003cem>enormously\u003c/em>. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“If you were to look at the average … it’s like 138% of average snowfall, but that isn’t fair to the years that are below-average,” he said. “Because there’s so much that can happen in the middle of the year that can affect our weather pattern.”\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=\"#skiing-winter\">What does all this mean for skiing this winter?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#open\">When are Tahoe ski resorts scheduled to open?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>That was the case with the \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2016/01/01/461693346/ski-resorts-see-slight-thaw-after-chilling-effect-of-climate-change\">2015-16 season\u003c/a>, Allegretto said. There was a similar air of hype around El Niño conditions, but ultimately, the winter’s snowfall was just 97% of average, slightly \u003cem>below \u003c/em>a typical year.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>So what does today’s forecast mean for ski season? Allegretto breaks it down below.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is the El Niño forecast saying today?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>First, Allegretto warned that it takes three consecutive months of higher-than-normal ocean surface temperatures before one can even declare an El Niño — let alone a “strong” or “very strong” El Niño.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>So far, he said, water temperatures are about 2.2 degrees above average. The 2015-16 season was 2.3 degrees above the average. If we reach 2.5 degrees above normal, he said, that would be a record. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“At the end of September, it was the warmest the water has been at this point in the fall along the equator where they measure,” he said. \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/10/2025/04/SierraSnow2.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12033987\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/SierraSnow2.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/SierraSnow2-800x600.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/SierraSnow2-1020x765.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/SierraSnow2-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/SierraSnow2-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/SierraSnow2-1920x1440.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Sierra snow scene near Lake Tahoe, late December, 2015. (Courtesy Mikee Gildea)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.sfchronicle.com/weather/article/el-nino-rain-california-22465614.php\">Monday’s updated models\u003c/a> showed even more reason to believe it will be an unusually wet winter. But it’s not yet clear if that trend will continue — or what other factors will be in play.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We had a ‘super’ El Niño in 15-16 with below-average snowfall,” he said. “But there were things happening that year in the Atlantic and the Northern Pacific that were messing with the weather pattern. And it was causing most of the storms to go to the north of California and the Pacific Northwest.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>What’s tough to know is whether this season’s El Niño pattern will be the most prevailing, or if other weather systems in January or February will interfere. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In theory, Allegretto said, this year’s El Niño “should be the most dominant factor.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Still, he said he is only “cautiously optimistic.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I think we will see above average snow and rain,” he said. “But am I willing to say that we’re going to get a year like 1982-83?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“No,” he said. “Only very risky people say those kinds of things.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"skiing-winter\">What does all this mean for skiing this winter?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>All in all, Allegretto said he is “pretty excited” for the ski season. After all, as OpenSnow’s expert on California and the Lake Tahoe region, it’s \u003ca href=\"https://opensnow.com/dailysnow/tahoe/post/44538\">his job to update skiers and snowboarders\u003c/a> about the winter weather. This week, he started \u003ca href=\"https://opensnow.com/dailysnow/tahoe\">posting his weekly forecasts\u003c/a> and said that come opening day at ski resorts in November, he will start posting daily.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I just hope the storms stay cold enough, the snow levels stay low, and we don’t end up with a bunch of rain,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Allegretto isn’t the only one hedging. In a \u003ca href=\"https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/atqfkmbd/#Slides_6\">recent earnings call\u003c/a>, Vail Resorts CEO Rob Katz told investors that sales of Epic Passes, which give local skiers access to three Lake Tahoe resorts, are 12% down this year. Katz attributed the drop in part to 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\">disappointing snowfall\u003c/a>, which closed many resorts prematurely. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In general, Allegretto said strong El Niños tend to produce the most snowfall in February and January, calling them “make-or-break months.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Still, he was careful not to overstate the possibility of a banger ski season.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I just don’t hype, even if it looks like it’s going to be a decent year,” Allegretto said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>He even warned that too much snow could bring different problems for skiers. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“You don’t want too much snow because then the ski resorts are closed, the highway’s closed,” he said. “I just prefer good storms that are easy to chase.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“You only need shin-deep powder to have fun,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"open\">Those California ski resort opening dates so far:\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Mammoth Mountain: Nov. 13\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Heavenly Ski Resort: Nov. 20\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Northstar California Resort: Nov. 20\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Mount Rose Ski Tahoe: Nov. 20\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Palisades Tahoe: Nov. 25\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Kirkwood Mountain Resort: Dec. 4\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "bay-area-heat-wave-breaks-records-in-these-4-cities-with-relief-ahead",
"title": "Bay Area Heat Wave Breaks Records in These 4 Cities, With Relief Ahead ",
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"content": "\n\u003cp>This week’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12098784/summer-finally-kicks-off-in-san-francisco-with-hot-weather-stretch-across-the-bay-area\">heat wave\u003c/a> caused four Bay Area cities to break daily high records on Wednesday, and forecasters expect at least one more day of above-average heat this week.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>San Rafael reached 104 degrees, downtown Oakland soared to 97 degrees, San Francisco’s airport flew to 94 degrees, and Half Moon Bay peaked at 83 degrees, said Nicole Sarment, a Bay Area National Weather Service meteorologist.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Wednesday’s temperatures were \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12098629/3-day-heat-wave-scorches-the-bay-area-this-week\">10 to 20 degrees\u003c/a> above normal for this time of year, though Sarment noted that September is the hottest month for most parts of the region. And according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the country experienced its \u003ca href=\"https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/news/national-climate-202608\">hottest\u003c/a> meteorological summer on record, while California set a record for its warmest August average temperature.\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/10/2026/09/260909-HeatFile-NG-25_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12098993\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260909-HeatFile-NG-25_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260909-HeatFile-NG-25_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260909-HeatFile-NG-25_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">People congregate at Crissy Field Beach in San Francisco on Sept. 9, 2026. Temperatures reached over 90 degrees in parts of San Francisco on Wednesday. (Nina Glick/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\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=\"1537\" height=\"1025\" data-id=\"12098991\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260909-HeatFile-NG-8.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12098991\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260909-HeatFile-NG-8.jpg 1537w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260909-HeatFile-NG-8-160x107.jpg 160w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1537px) 100vw, 1537px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A customer uses a water-spray fan at Bi-Rite Creamery in San Francisco’s Mission District on Sept. 9, 2026. Temperatures reached over 90 degrees in parts of San Francisco on Wednesday. (Nina Glick/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" data-id=\"12098992\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260909-HeatFile-NG-13_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12098992\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260909-HeatFile-NG-13_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260909-HeatFile-NG-13_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260909-HeatFile-NG-13_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">People lay in the shade at Dolores Park in San Francisco’s Mission District on Sept. 9, 2026. Temperatures reached over 90 degrees in parts of San Francisco on Wednesday. (Nina Glick/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>For the rest of the week, Sarment forecasts temperatures to drop slightly on Thursday and decrease by around 10 degrees on Friday, dipping a couple of degrees each day after. Some spots, like the interior East Bay and the furthest reaches of the North Bay, could still reach into the triple digits on Thursday. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It may be hard to tell, but we already kind of are cooling off,” Sarment said. “It will be in the 90s, and the city may be up to 80. It’s still going to be warm. I don’t want to undersell that, but we’re not expecting it to be as hot as it was yesterday.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Sarment said Bay Area residents should also be on the lookout for wildfire starts because of the heat, dryness and potential winds as the weather pattern slowly changes. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The main thing is going to be just preventing sparks,” Sarment said. “Don’t go out and do landscaping.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Forecasters expect the strong high-pressure system from the east that caused this week’s soaring temperatures to stick around through Thursday. But that will change Friday, as a “pulse of energy” from the north will slowly begin to flatten the ridge and help temperatures drop, meteorologists wrote in their daily forecast discussion.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Onshore flow, winds from the Pacific Ocean toward the coast, return Thursday, “which is really going to be the saving grace for the coast,” Sarment said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>And then there’s the promise of the marine layer making a return Thursday night. Although Sarment said she’s “cautiously optimistic” that the marine layer will make a full comeback tonight, it’s currently “so far away.” With the current temperatures, it will be difficult to form.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>By the weekend, Sarment expects highs to drop into the mid-70s to mid-80s inland and the upper 60s to upper 70s close to the coast.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>San Rafael reached 104 degrees, downtown Oakland soared to 97 degrees, San Francisco’s airport flew to 94 degrees, and Half Moon Bay peaked at 83 degrees, said Nicole Sarment, a Bay Area National Weather Service meteorologist.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>For the rest of the week, Sarment forecasts temperatures to drop slightly on Thursday and decrease by around 10 degrees on Friday, dipping a couple of degrees each day after. Some spots, like the interior East Bay and the furthest reaches of the North Bay, could still reach into the triple digits on Thursday. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“It may be hard to tell, but we already kind of are cooling off,” Sarment said. “It will be in the 90s, and the city may be up to 80. It’s still going to be warm. I don’t want to undersell that, but we’re not expecting it to be as hot as it was yesterday.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Sarment said Bay Area residents should also be on the lookout for wildfire starts because of the heat, dryness and potential winds as the weather pattern slowly changes. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“The main thing is going to be just preventing sparks,” Sarment said. “Don’t go out and do landscaping.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Forecasters expect the strong high-pressure system from the east that caused this week’s soaring temperatures to stick around through Thursday. But that will change Friday, as a “pulse of energy” from the north will slowly begin to flatten the ridge and help temperatures drop, meteorologists wrote in their daily forecast discussion.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Forecasters expect the strong high-pressure system from the east that caused this week’s soaring temperatures to stick around through Thursday. But that will change Friday, as a “pulse of energy” from the north will slowly begin to flatten the ridge and help temperatures drop, meteorologists wrote in their daily forecast discussion.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Onshore flow, winds from the Pacific Ocean toward the coast, return Thursday, “which is really going to be the saving grace for the coast,” Sarment said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>And then there’s the promise of the marine layer making a return Thursday night. Although Sarment said she’s “cautiously optimistic” that the marine layer will make a full comeback tonight, it’s currently “so far away.” With the current temperatures, it will be difficult to form.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>And then there’s the promise of the marine layer making a return Thursday night. Although Sarment said she’s “cautiously optimistic” that the marine layer will make a full comeback tonight, it’s currently “so far away.” With the current temperatures, it will be difficult to form.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>By the weekend, Sarment expects highs to drop into the mid-70s to mid-80s inland and the upper 60s to upper 70s close to the coast.\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "Record heat scorched the Bay Area this week, but cooler temperatures and the marine layer are on the way.",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\n\u003cp>This week’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12098784/summer-finally-kicks-off-in-san-francisco-with-hot-weather-stretch-across-the-bay-area\">heat wave\u003c/a> caused four Bay Area cities to break daily high records on Wednesday, and forecasters expect at least one more day of above-average heat this week.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>San Rafael reached 104 degrees, downtown Oakland soared to 97 degrees, San Francisco’s airport flew to 94 degrees, and Half Moon Bay peaked at 83 degrees, said Nicole Sarment, a Bay Area National Weather Service meteorologist.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Wednesday’s temperatures were \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12098629/3-day-heat-wave-scorches-the-bay-area-this-week\">10 to 20 degrees\u003c/a> above normal for this time of year, though Sarment noted that September is the hottest month for most parts of the region. And according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the country experienced its \u003ca href=\"https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/news/national-climate-202608\">hottest\u003c/a> meteorological summer on record, while California set a record for its warmest August average temperature.\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/10/2026/09/260909-HeatFile-NG-25_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12098993\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260909-HeatFile-NG-25_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260909-HeatFile-NG-25_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260909-HeatFile-NG-25_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">People congregate at Crissy Field Beach in San Francisco on Sept. 9, 2026. Temperatures reached over 90 degrees in parts of San Francisco on Wednesday. (Nina Glick/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\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=\"1537\" height=\"1025\" data-id=\"12098991\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260909-HeatFile-NG-8.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12098991\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260909-HeatFile-NG-8.jpg 1537w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260909-HeatFile-NG-8-160x107.jpg 160w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1537px) 100vw, 1537px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A customer uses a water-spray fan at Bi-Rite Creamery in San Francisco’s Mission District on Sept. 9, 2026. Temperatures reached over 90 degrees in parts of San Francisco on Wednesday. (Nina Glick/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" data-id=\"12098992\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260909-HeatFile-NG-13_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12098992\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260909-HeatFile-NG-13_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260909-HeatFile-NG-13_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260909-HeatFile-NG-13_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">People lay in the shade at Dolores Park in San Francisco’s Mission District on Sept. 9, 2026. Temperatures reached over 90 degrees in parts of San Francisco on Wednesday. (Nina Glick/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>For the rest of the week, Sarment forecasts temperatures to drop slightly on Thursday and decrease by around 10 degrees on Friday, dipping a couple of degrees each day after. Some spots, like the interior East Bay and the furthest reaches of the North Bay, could still reach into the triple digits on Thursday. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It may be hard to tell, but we already kind of are cooling off,” Sarment said. “It will be in the 90s, and the city may be up to 80. It’s still going to be warm. I don’t want to undersell that, but we’re not expecting it to be as hot as it was yesterday.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Sarment said Bay Area residents should also be on the lookout for wildfire starts because of the heat, dryness and potential winds as the weather pattern slowly changes. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The main thing is going to be just preventing sparks,” Sarment said. “Don’t go out and do landscaping.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Forecasters expect the strong high-pressure system from the east that caused this week’s soaring temperatures to stick around through Thursday. But that will change Friday, as a “pulse of energy” from the north will slowly begin to flatten the ridge and help temperatures drop, meteorologists wrote in their daily forecast discussion.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Onshore flow, winds from the Pacific Ocean toward the coast, return Thursday, “which is really going to be the saving grace for the coast,” Sarment said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>And then there’s the promise of the marine layer making a return Thursday night. Although Sarment said she’s “cautiously optimistic” that the marine layer will make a full comeback tonight, it’s currently “so far away.” With the current temperatures, it will be difficult to form.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>By the weekend, Sarment expects highs to drop into the mid-70s to mid-80s inland and the upper 60s to upper 70s close to the coast.\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",
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"\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",
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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/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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"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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"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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"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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"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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"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\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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"\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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"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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"blockName": "core/heading",
"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",
"innerContent": [
"\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",
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"\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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"\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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"innerBlocks": [],
"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",
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"\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",
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"\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",
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"\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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"AC Transit Alerts: Bus delays, detours, cancellations and service disruptions in the East Bay",
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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 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",
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"\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"
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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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"\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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"\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\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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"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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"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",
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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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"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\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",
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"\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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"title": "Why This Could Be an Unpredictable Year for Fires in California",
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"content": "\u003cp>\u003cb>Here are the morning’s top stories on Thursday, July 2, 2026\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Fourth of July weekend is almost here and many of us are pulling out the grills and the barbecue sauce. But across the state, fire crews are bracing for a very different kind of heat. California’s weather has become more unpredictable, drier in some places and potentially wetter in others, and that’s due to the El Nino weather pattern. But what does that mean for potential wildfires? \u003c/span>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">California’s Department of Motor Vehicles is on track to\u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/politics/2026/06/driver-license-sharing/\"> share driver’s license data with a national database.\u003c/a> The plan is moving forward despite concerns from immigrant advocates that the information could expose people to deportation.\u003c/span>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>El Niño among the factors that could play into severity of wildfires this year \u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>With summer well underway, California has seen fairly mild weather. But the federal agency that puts together long-term fire outlooks said that the danger or the potential for bad fires is going to be above normal, north of the Bay Area and normal south of that.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Normal fire danger can still be bad in California. And it’s still unclear how the influence of our strong \u003cspan class=\"T286Pc\" data-sfc-cp=\"\" data-sfc-root=\"ep\" data-sfc-cb=\"\" data-complete=\"true\" data-copy-service-computed-style='font-family: \"Google Sans\", Roboto, Arial, sans-serif, \"Noto Color Emoji\"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px; text-decoration: none; border-bottom: 0px rgb(10, 10, 10);'>\u003cspan class=\"\" data-sfc-cp=\"\" data-sfc-root=\"c\" data-sfc-cb=\"\" data-ved=\"2ahUKEwjZ5tbBzLSVAxWjDzQIHWNWBRoQ0fERegoIAggACAAIBhAD\" data-complete=\"true\" data-copy-service-computed-style='font-family: \"Google Sans\", Roboto, Arial, sans-serif, \"Noto Color Emoji\"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px; text-decoration: none; border-bottom: 0px rgb(10, 10, 10);'>El Niño\u003c/span>\u003c/span> that we’re seeing is going to affect fire season. Daniel Swain, a climate scientist with UC Agriculture and Natural Resources said that California’s on this razor’s edge of whether \u003cspan class=\"T286Pc\" data-sfc-cp=\"\" data-sfc-root=\"ep\" data-sfc-cb=\"\" data-complete=\"true\" data-copy-service-computed-style='font-family: \"Google Sans\", Roboto, Arial, sans-serif, \"Noto Color Emoji\"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px; text-decoration: none; border-bottom: 0px rgb(10, 10, 10);'>\u003cspan class=\"\" data-sfc-cp=\"\" data-sfc-root=\"c\" data-sfc-cb=\"\" data-ved=\"2ahUKEwjZ5tbBzLSVAxWjDzQIHWNWBRoQ0fERegoIAggACAAIBhAD\" data-complete=\"true\" data-copy-service-computed-style='font-family: \"Google Sans\", Roboto, Arial, sans-serif, \"Noto Color Emoji\"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px; text-decoration: none; border-bottom: 0px rgb(10, 10, 10);'>El Niño\u003c/span>\u003c/span> will make fires worse or better this season. “If we get summer showers, autumn downpours, like we did with the tropical storm Dolores or Hillary twice in the past decade, then we might shut down Southern California’s fire season early,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But there are far worse scenarios as well. California could get a combination of atmospheric conditions that can lead to thunderstorms. With dry lightning, a lot of wind and not a lot of water, that combo can lead to very bad fire conditions. In 2020, when we were still in the full swing of the pandemic, California had tens of thousands of dry lightning strikes during a tropical storm. It was called Tropical Storm Fausto. And the state had hundreds and hundreds of fires that sprang up overnight. Firefighting equipment personnel was taxed, drawn down like it really had never been before or since.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2 class=\"entry-title \">\u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/politics/2026/06/driver-license-sharing/\">\u003cstrong>California to share driver license data despite fears it could expose unauthorized immigrants\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Department of Motor Vehicles is on track to share driver’s license and identification data with an outside network despite concerns from immigrant advocates that the information could expose people to deportation.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The California Legislature authorized that sharing in the \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/politics/2026/06/california-gavin-newsom-final-budget-deal/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">state budget it passed on Monday\u003c/a>, along with a separate transportation measure that laid out some special oversight procedures to protect the data. Gov. Gavin Newsom signed the budget and is expected to approve the companion measure, which his administration negotiated with lawmakers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Lawmakers earlier had \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/economy/technology/2026/06/dmv-data-sharing-california-budget/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">refused to approve the data sharing plan\u003c/a> until protections were \u003ca href=\"https://sbud.senate.ca.gov/system/files/2026-06/june-29-2026-hearing-agenda-senate-budget.pdf#page=44\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">put in place\u003c/a> late last week.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The stakes are high for the more than 1 million immigrants who have driver’s licenses. The system records the last five digits of a driver’s Social Security number and uses the placeholder “99999” for people without one. Advocates fear that feeding that information into a national database could expose undocumented Californians to federal immigration enforcement and told CalMatters in April that such a plan amounts to “\u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/economy/technology/2026/04/california-dmv-shares-immigrant-driver-data/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">a betrayal\u003c/a>.” Earlier this year, the governor’s office told CalMatters that reporting on the dispute amounted to “manufacturing fear and panic with lies.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The new state budget includes $55 million, which the DMV will use to enable the sharing of California records with the State-to-State Verification Service and SPEX database run by the nonprofit American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA). State officials have argued that the data sharing is needed to comply with the federal REAL ID Act, warning that if California does not participate, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security could refuse to accept state IDs at airports. They say the system can only be queried for one record at a time using information supplied by an applicant and that bulk searches are not possible.\u003c/p>\n\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003cb>Here are the morning’s top stories on Thursday, July 2, 2026\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Fourth of July weekend is almost here and many of us are pulling out the grills and the barbecue sauce. But across the state, fire crews are bracing for a very different kind of heat. California’s weather has become more unpredictable, drier in some places and potentially wetter in others, and that’s due to the El Nino weather pattern. But what does that mean for potential wildfires? \u003c/span>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">California’s Department of Motor Vehicles is on track to\u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/politics/2026/06/driver-license-sharing/\"> share driver’s license data with a national database.\u003c/a> The plan is moving forward despite concerns from immigrant advocates that the information could expose people to deportation.\u003c/span>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>El Niño among the factors that could play into severity of wildfires this year \u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>With summer well underway, California has seen fairly mild weather. But the federal agency that puts together long-term fire outlooks said that the danger or the potential for bad fires is going to be above normal, north of the Bay Area and normal south of that.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Normal fire danger can still be bad in California. And it’s still unclear how the influence of our strong \u003cspan class=\"T286Pc\" data-sfc-cp=\"\" data-sfc-root=\"ep\" data-sfc-cb=\"\" data-complete=\"true\" data-copy-service-computed-style='font-family: \"Google Sans\", Roboto, Arial, sans-serif, \"Noto Color Emoji\"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px; text-decoration: none; border-bottom: 0px rgb(10, 10, 10);'>\u003cspan class=\"\" data-sfc-cp=\"\" data-sfc-root=\"c\" data-sfc-cb=\"\" data-ved=\"2ahUKEwjZ5tbBzLSVAxWjDzQIHWNWBRoQ0fERegoIAggACAAIBhAD\" data-complete=\"true\" data-copy-service-computed-style='font-family: \"Google Sans\", Roboto, Arial, sans-serif, \"Noto Color Emoji\"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px; text-decoration: none; border-bottom: 0px rgb(10, 10, 10);'>El Niño\u003c/span>\u003c/span> that we’re seeing is going to affect fire season. Daniel Swain, a climate scientist with UC Agriculture and Natural Resources said that California’s on this razor’s edge of whether \u003cspan class=\"T286Pc\" data-sfc-cp=\"\" data-sfc-root=\"ep\" data-sfc-cb=\"\" data-complete=\"true\" data-copy-service-computed-style='font-family: \"Google Sans\", Roboto, Arial, sans-serif, \"Noto Color Emoji\"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px; text-decoration: none; border-bottom: 0px rgb(10, 10, 10);'>\u003cspan class=\"\" data-sfc-cp=\"\" data-sfc-root=\"c\" data-sfc-cb=\"\" data-ved=\"2ahUKEwjZ5tbBzLSVAxWjDzQIHWNWBRoQ0fERegoIAggACAAIBhAD\" data-complete=\"true\" data-copy-service-computed-style='font-family: \"Google Sans\", Roboto, Arial, sans-serif, \"Noto Color Emoji\"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px; text-decoration: none; border-bottom: 0px rgb(10, 10, 10);'>El Niño\u003c/span>\u003c/span> will make fires worse or better this season. “If we get summer showers, autumn downpours, like we did with the tropical storm Dolores or Hillary twice in the past decade, then we might shut down Southern California’s fire season early,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But there are far worse scenarios as well. California could get a combination of atmospheric conditions that can lead to thunderstorms. With dry lightning, a lot of wind and not a lot of water, that combo can lead to very bad fire conditions. In 2020, when we were still in the full swing of the pandemic, California had tens of thousands of dry lightning strikes during a tropical storm. It was called Tropical Storm Fausto. And the state had hundreds and hundreds of fires that sprang up overnight. Firefighting equipment personnel was taxed, drawn down like it really had never been before or since.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2 class=\"entry-title \">\u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/politics/2026/06/driver-license-sharing/\">\u003cstrong>California to share driver license data despite fears it could expose unauthorized immigrants\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Department of Motor Vehicles is on track to share driver’s license and identification data with an outside network despite concerns from immigrant advocates that the information could expose people to deportation.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The California Legislature authorized that sharing in the \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/politics/2026/06/california-gavin-newsom-final-budget-deal/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">state budget it passed on Monday\u003c/a>, along with a separate transportation measure that laid out some special oversight procedures to protect the data. Gov. Gavin Newsom signed the budget and is expected to approve the companion measure, which his administration negotiated with lawmakers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Lawmakers earlier had \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/economy/technology/2026/06/dmv-data-sharing-california-budget/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">refused to approve the data sharing plan\u003c/a> until protections were \u003ca href=\"https://sbud.senate.ca.gov/system/files/2026-06/june-29-2026-hearing-agenda-senate-budget.pdf#page=44\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">put in place\u003c/a> late last week.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The stakes are high for the more than 1 million immigrants who have driver’s licenses. The system records the last five digits of a driver’s Social Security number and uses the placeholder “99999” for people without one. Advocates fear that feeding that information into a national database could expose undocumented Californians to federal immigration enforcement and told CalMatters in April that such a plan amounts to “\u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/economy/technology/2026/04/california-dmv-shares-immigrant-driver-data/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">a betrayal\u003c/a>.” Earlier this year, the governor’s office told CalMatters that reporting on the dispute amounted to “manufacturing fear and panic with lies.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The new state budget includes $55 million, which the DMV will use to enable the sharing of California records with the State-to-State Verification Service and SPEX database run by the nonprofit American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA). State officials have argued that the data sharing is needed to comply with the federal REAL ID Act, warning that if California does not participate, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security could refuse to accept state IDs at airports. They say the system can only be queried for one record at a time using information supplied by an applicant and that bulk searches are not possible.\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"tagline": "Where conversation and cultura meet",
"info": "What kind of no sabo word is Hyphenación? For us, it’s about living within a hyphenation. Like being a third-gen Mexican-American from the Texas border now living that Bay Area Chicano life. Like Xorje! Each week we bring together a couple of hyphenated Latinos to talk all about personal life choices: family, careers, relationships, belonging … everything is on the table. ",
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"info": "The Political Mind of Jerry Brown brings listeners the wisdom of the former Governor, Mayor, and presidential candidate. Scott Shafer interviewed Brown for more than 40 hours, covering the former governor's life and half-century in the political game – and Brown has some lessons he'd like to share. ",
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"marketplace": {
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"info": "Our flagship program, helmed by Kai Ryssdal, examines what the day in money delivered, through stories, conversations, newsworthy numbers and more. Updated Monday through Friday at about 3:30 p.m. PT.",
"airtime": "MON-FRI 4pm-4:30pm, MON-WED 6:30pm-7pm",
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"info": "The MindShift podcast explores the innovations in education that are shaping how kids learn. Hosts Ki Sung and Katrina Schwartz introduce listeners to educators, researchers, parents and students who are developing effective ways to improve how kids learn. We cover topics like how fed-up administrators are developing surprising tactics to deal with classroom disruptions; how listening to podcasts are helping kids develop reading skills; the consequences of overparenting; and why interdisciplinary learning can engage students on all ends of the traditional achievement spectrum. This podcast is part of the MindShift education site, a division of KQED News. KQED is an NPR/PBS member station based in San Francisco. You can also visit the MindShift website for episodes and supplemental blog posts or tweet us \u003ca href=\"https://twitter.com/MindShiftKQED\">@MindShiftKQED\u003c/a> or visit us at \u003ca href=\"/mindshift\">MindShift.KQED.org\u003c/a>",
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"info": "For decades, the process for how police police themselves has been inconsistent – if not opaque. In some states, like California, these proceedings were completely hidden. After a new police transparency law unsealed scores of internal affairs files, our reporters set out to examine these cases and the shadow world of police discipline. On Our Watch brings listeners into the rooms where officers are questioned and witnesses are interrogated to find out who this system is really protecting. Is it the officers, or the public they've sworn to serve?",
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"info": "Our weekly podcast explores how the media 'sausage' is made, casts an incisive eye on fluctuations in the marketplace of ideas, and examines threats to the freedom of information and expression in America and abroad. For one hour a week, the show tries to lift the veil from the process of \"making media,\" especially news media, because it's through that lens that we see the world and the world sees us",
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"planet-money": {
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"politicalbreakdown": {
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"title": "Political Breakdown",
"tagline": "Politics from a personal perspective",
"info": "Political Breakdown is a new series that explores the political intersection of California and the nation. Each week hosts Scott Shafer and Marisa Lagos are joined with a new special guest to unpack politics -- with personality — and offer an insider’s glimpse at how politics happens.",
"airtime": "THU 6:30pm-7pm",
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"possible": {
"id": "possible",
"title": "Possible",
"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.",
"airtime": "SUN 2pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Possible-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
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"pri-the-world": {
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"title": "PRI's The World: Latest Edition",
"info": "Each weekday, host Marco Werman and his team of producers bring you the world's most interesting stories in an hour of radio that reminds us just how small our planet really is.",
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"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/The-World-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
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},
"radiolab": {
"id": "radiolab",
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"info": "A two-time Peabody Award-winner, Radiolab is an investigation told through sounds and stories, and centered around one big idea. In the Radiolab world, information sounds like music and science and culture collide. Hosted by Jad Abumrad and Robert Krulwich, the show is designed for listeners who demand skepticism, but appreciate wonder. WNYC Studios is the producer of other leading podcasts including Freakonomics Radio, Death, Sex & Money, On the Media and many more.",
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"reveal": {
"id": "reveal",
"title": "Reveal",
"info": "Created by The Center for Investigative Reporting and PRX, Reveal is public radios first one-hour weekly radio show and podcast dedicated to investigative reporting. Credible, fact based and without a partisan agenda, Reveal combines the power and artistry of driveway moment storytelling with data-rich reporting on critically important issues. The result is stories that inform and inspire, arming our listeners with information to right injustices, hold the powerful accountable and improve lives.Reveal is hosted by Al Letson and showcases the award-winning work of CIR and newsrooms large and small across the nation. In a radio and podcast market crowded with choices, Reveal focuses on important and often surprising stories that illuminate the world for our listeners.",
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"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.revealnews.org/episodes/",
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},
"rightnowish": {
"id": "rightnowish",
"title": "Rightnowish",
"tagline": "Art is where you find it",
"info": "Rightnowish digs into life in the Bay Area right now… ish. Journalist Pendarvis Harshaw takes us to galleries painted on the sides of liquor stores in West Oakland. We'll dance in warehouses in the Bayview, make smoothies with kids in South Berkeley, and listen to classical music in a 1984 Cutlass Supreme in Richmond. Every week, Pen talks to movers and shakers about how the Bay Area shapes what they create, and how they shape the place we call home.",
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"order": 16
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},
"science-friday": {
"id": "science-friday",
"title": "Science Friday",
"info": "Science Friday is a weekly science talk show, broadcast live over public radio stations nationwide. Each week, the show focuses on science topics that are in the news and tries to bring an educated, balanced discussion to bear on the scientific issues at hand. Panels of expert guests join host Ira Flatow, a veteran science journalist, to discuss science and to take questions from listeners during the call-in portion of the program.",
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},
"snap-judgment": {
"id": "snap-judgment",
"title": "Snap Judgment",
"tagline": "Real stories with killer beats",
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