California declares state of emergency ahead of El Nino

California's governor has declared a state of emergency in anticipation of what could be the most powerful El Nino on record. The forecast predicts damaging storms, higher-than-normal tides, and potential coastal flooding as the US west coast braces for the extreme weather pattern.

Governor Gavin Newsom emphasized the importance of proactive measures, stating that the state must support communities, provide first responders with necessary tools, and assure families of their preparedness. The declaration aims to facilitate access to resources for state agencies and pre-position flood-fighting equipment.

El Nino, a natural climate cycle, occurs every two to seven years when warm water from the western Pacific slides east, causing more storms and clouds. This year's El Nino has a 75% likelihood of being the strongest on record, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. It has already caused intense weather worldwide, tying for the most extreme on record for a specific metric.

A senior scientist noted that the sea surface temperature anomaly in the tropical Pacific has reached 3.07C, matching the 2015-2016 El Nino. California's coastline has already faced storm damage, leading to the cancellation of a music festival in Santa Monica.