Strong El Niño Fuels Atmospheric Rivers and Flood Risks Across California
Scientists said the strong El Niño would intensify atmospheric rivers, raising the risk of heavy rain, flooding and beach erosion along the West Coast this winter, USA Today reported on October 18. On October 9 the NOAA Climate Prediction Center rated the El Niño as very strong and gave it an 83 % chance of historic intensity, forecasting above-normal precipitation and heightened flood risk for California. Meteorologists warned that Tropical Storm Rachel, together with an El Niño-driven Kelvin wave, could bring coastal flooding, elevated tides and light rain to Southern California. KQED noted that high tides and swells from the post-tropical cyclone Rachel might produce up to 1.
5 feet of flooding in low-lying Bay Area neighborhoods. The Los Angeles Times reported that a record Pacific hurricane season generated unprecedented cyclone energy, causing extensive coastal damage in Southern California and raising concerns about further El Niño impacts. Scientists at a Scripps Institution conference said the El Niño was shaping up as one of the strongest on record, bringing higher ocean temperatures, increased flood risk and potential coastal erosion. NBC News reported that record king tides and storm surges linked to the active El Niño destroyed more than a dozen homes in Long Beach and damaged the Pacific Coast Highway.
