El Niño is characterized by warmer than average sea surface temperatures in the Eastern equitorial Pacific. The interactions between a warmer ocean and the atmosphere affect weather around the world. A strong El Niño in the Pacific Ocean this year has the potential to become one of the most powerful on record. Models are predicting El Niño will peak in the late fall or early winter. Impacts due to flooding, unusually large waves, heavy precipitation, and erosion are expected in Southern California. The resources below can help us understand what to expect and how to prepare.
Coastal Flooding in California
NOAA Ocean Service
This site has great graphics to explain higher water levels and flooding due to tides, El Niño and winter storms. Get updates via @noaaocean and Facebook.
What Does El Niño Mean for Coastal California?
U.S. Geological Survey
This flyer explains how El Niño changes coastal conditions.El Niño- What to expect this winter
NOAA Climate.gov
This site features an El Niño blog, weather and precipitation maps, and other resources.
What is El Niño in a nutshell?
NOAA Climate.gov
What are El Niño and La Niña?
NOAA National Ocean Service
Both pages provide great primers on the
El Niño-Southern Oscillation climate cycle.
Satellite images showing sea surface hieght of El Niño
NASA Jet Propolsion Laboratory
(updated every 10 days)
Video: El Niño de 2015-2016 (Español)
World Meteorological Association
Wonderful video that explains El Niño.
El Niño & Extreme Weather
California Coastal Commission
This page has a wealth of information including checklists for general property, shoreline property, and community preparedness. There is also a table with anticipated high tides dates for each county and El Niño FAQs.
Prepare for El Niño
Los Angeles County
This page covers everything from where to get
sandbags and which agencies to follow on social
media for the latest information, to weather
forecasts and emergency contacts.
Severe Weather and Flooding
City of Los Angeles Emergency Management
Department
This is the city's disaster awareness page. It has
resources and tips to get prepared for flash
flooding, landslides, power outages, and more.
Keep up to date on twitter with #ElNinoLA,
@ReadyLA.
How to Prepare in LA
City of Los Angeles
This site covers the basics of El Niño, steps to
prepare, and how to report a problem.
Ocean Impacts on an El Niño Event
NOAA Lesson & Activity
Climate Literacy Resources
NOAA Outreach & Education
Sea Level Rise & King Tides
USC Sea Grant Curriculum
Video - Change in sea levels over the past 23 years
NASA Jet Propolsion Laboratory
Studying the heart of El Niño, where its weather begins
New York Times, February 1, 2016
Photo by Kent Nishimura
'All hands on deck' needed for El Niño preparations, officials say
Los Angeles Times, December 9, 2015
El Niño keeps getting stronger, raises chance of drenching rains
Los Angeles Times, October 15, 2015
Meet the Neighbors: The tropical sea creatures El Niño is bringing to SoCal shores
KPCC, October 22, 2015
Photo gallery of images from the 1997-98 El Niño
Los Angeles Times
Will El Niño 'solve' the drought? Not if the rain falls in Southern California
Sacramento Bee, October 4, 2015
AdaptLA Webinar: El Nino & Impacts to Southern California (Oct 28 2015)
El Niño: What it is and what to expect for Southern California
By Andy O'Neill, U.S. Geological Survey
California Coastal Commission:
El Niño Actions
By Lesley Ewing, CA Coastal Commission
El Niño and Coastal Preparedness
By Abe Doherty, CA Ocean Protection Council
Stakeholder Briefing: Western Impacts of El Niño
NOAA, Climate Resilience Toolkit
Federal Resources
State Resources
Local Resources