What the El Niño worst-case scenario would look like in California

Key Points:

• Southern California recently experienced significant coastal flooding due to a combination of record-hot ocean temperatures raising sea levels and higher-than-normal tides, with conditions expected to worsen this winter due to El Niño.
• Sea levels last week reached record highs in several locations, including Los Angeles and San Diego, with levels 1.1 to 1.4 feet above expected averages; upcoming king tides around major holidays could drive sea levels even higher.
• The warming ocean, driven by Kelvin waves associated with El Niño, has caused sea levels to rise rapidly, contributing to flooding and coastal damage, including harm to over 100 homes in Huntington Beach.
• Scientists warn that this winter's flooding is a preview of future conditions, with projections indicating up to 3 feet of additional sea level rise by 2070 under high-emission scenarios, emphasizing that current events are a warning of a warmer future.
• El Niño's effects extend inland, bringing extreme rainfall to the Southwest U.S., fueled by exceptional moisture from a marine heat wave linked to both El Niño and climate change.