El Niño could become strongest on record, California Governor Gavin Newsom declares statewide emergency

California Governor Gavin Newsom has declared a statewide emergency due to the approaching El Niño-fueled winter storms. This declaration aims to streamline measures and provide support to California as the historic event unfolds. The emerging El Niño is already breaking records and forecasters expect it to strengthen further, potentially becoming the strongest on record.

Governor Newsom emphasized that California is strongest when they support one another, giving communities the necessary assistance, equipping first responders, and ensuring families have confidence in their state's readiness. Local emergencies have already been declared in several US counties as tropical storms from the Pacific Ocean head towards southern California.

California Natural Resources Secretary Wade Crowfoot stated that the state is taking steps to protect communities from a potentially historic El Niño by cutting red tape and accelerating flood protection and broader preparedness work. The proclamation directed the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services to consult relevant state agencies to enhance accessible and multilingual public preparedness communications regarding severe weather, flooding, emergency alerts, evacuation readiness, power outages, and more.

Homes in southern Orange County and Malibu were damaged by recent floods, and the coast from Carlsbad to Long Beach experienced erosion. El Niño is characterized by the periodic warming of ocean surface temperatures in the eastern Pacific, causing changes in global circulation and precipitation patterns. These changes often result in intense storms over California, leading to dangerous landslides, flooding, debris flow, erosion, and other impacts.