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A 'Propagating Disturbance' Is Headed Toward California
newser.com • • nation
Key Points:
- A massive Kelvin wave of warm Pacific water, intensified by a strong El Nino, is expected to raise California's sea levels by up to a foot for several months.
- Kelvin waves are large, slow-moving bulges of water that travel along the equator and push higher water levels toward the US West Coast when they split near South America.
- The phenomenon results from weakened trade winds allowing warm water from the western Pacific to move eastward, combining with ongoing sea-level rise and a potentially record-strong El Nino.
- California officials, including Governor Gavin Newsom, have declared a state of emergency and are urging residents to prepare for flooding risks ahead of higher tides and El Nino-related storms this winter.
- While Kelvin waves are not uncommon, their impact varies depending on other environmental factors, with researchers noting multiple smaller pulses have already affected Southern California.
