Planetary waves are creeping into California right now

Key Points:

• Oceanographers are monitoring a significant Kelvin wave expected to reach California waters in October, which can raise sea levels by up to a foot and is driven by the strengthening El Niño climate phenomenon.
• Kelvin waves travel thousands of miles in the Pacific Ocean and cause slow, sustained elevation of sea levels along coastlines, potentially lasting days or weeks, especially impacting California during winter.
• The current El Niño is rapidly intensifying, with a 75% chance of reaching historic strength between October and December, contributing to rising Pacific Ocean temperatures and elevated sea levels.
• Scientists warn that Kelvin waves, combined with factors like climate change-induced sea level rise, marine heat waves, high tides, and storms, could create a "quintuple whammy" effect, increasing coastal erosion and flooding risks.
• Satellite data and expert analysis confirm that the sequence of Kelvin waves observed since early 2023 signals the onset and strengthening of this year's El Niño event along the west coast of the Americas.