Governor Gavin Newsom issued a state of emergency declaration Monday for California, citing preparation for what state officials are calling a potentially historic El Niño season. The move directs state agencies to begin staging equipment, protecting key infrastructure, and preparing communities across the state for the severe winter weather anticipated.
Forecasters have noted that the looming El Niño event is already breaking records, and current projections suggest it will continue to strengthen. There's a 75% chance it could reach historic strength, potentially becoming the strongest in recorded history. Officials warn that this pattern could bring heavy rain, strong winds, significant mountain snow, and coastal flooding to the region.
El Niño is a natural climate pattern characterized by warmer-than-average ocean temperatures in the tropical eastern Pacific. This shift can lead to more intense and wetter winters for California. A recent study published in the journal *Science* highlighted that El Niño events are now more than 36% stronger than they were before the industrial era, a trend that has accelerated significantly over the last 40 years as the planet warms.
According to Governor Newsom's office, the emergency proclamation serves to mobilize state resources and streamline the procurement process. This will help California prepare for anticipated impacts such as severe storms and coastal flooding. The declaration specifically orders state agencies to lead flood-risk-reduction efforts, pre-position critical equipment, and stage flood-fighting supplies, including sandbags and pumps. The California National Guard is also slated to assist with emergency response efforts.
California Natural Resources Secretary Wade Crowfoot emphasized the state's proactive approach in a statement, noting, "California is already taking steps now to protect communities from a potentially historic El Niño." He added that officials understand the seriousness of weather extremes driven by climate change.
In Southern California, specific concerns are rising. Laura Hollander of the state Department of Water Resources indicated during a virtual media briefing that the region could potentially experience an increase in storms during this El Niño season. With powerful storms comes the risk of coastal erosion, particularly when strong systems make landfall. She also highlighted concerns about large waves predicted for November and December, suggesting that the huge waves recently fueled by Hurricane Marie could be an indication of El Niño's potential power.
The Governor's Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES), along with other state agencies, has been directed to expand multilingual public outreach efforts. These initiatives will focus on educating residents about preparedness for severe weather, potential flooding, emergency alerts, evacuation readiness, and power outages.
Cal OES Director Caroline Thomas Jacobs underscored the dangers of water-related incidents, stating, "People underestimate the power of water." Her remarks follow warnings from forecasters that this fall and winter could be dangerous, bringing repeated heavy rain, strong winds, mountain snow, flooding, landslides, debris flows, large waves, and coastal flooding.
Officials advise Californians to prepare early, as the Pacific is unusually warm, which can shift storm tracks and load the atmosphere with more energy in the coming months. While a specific dollar amount for the preparedness effort was not immediately available, according to Brian Ferguson of Cal OES, the state is moving forward. El Niño patterns typically emerge every two to seven years and last for about nine to twelve months.
