California steels for storms that could trigger massive waves, flooding

California is preparing for a series of storms that may trigger massive waves and flooding along its coastal communities. Off the coast of San Francisco, Monterey Bay, and Big Sur, forecasters warn that waves up to 30 feet high could arrive later on Friday, with occasional towering waves reaching 40 to 50 feet. These powerful waves, a hallmark of the El Nino weather pattern, can inundate low-lying infrastructure and run up beaches, crashing over seawalls.

The National Weather Service advises against entering the water and staying away from waterside infrastructure, including jetties, piers, and rocks, as the ocean should never be turned away from. Further south, near Los Angeles, widespread rainfall is expected to begin on Friday and persist into Saturday, along with elevated surf that could create dangerous rip currents and breaking waves.

The greatest impact of the surf is projected to peak on Saturday and possibly again on Monday. There is potential for moderate coastal flooding, with some impacts leading to significant beach erosion and shallow flooding of dry beaches and walkways. Flooding in recent months has caused significant property damage, leaving coastal communities particularly vulnerable.

As the El Nino phenomenon strengthens into the winter, forecasters predict continued storms off the coast, whipping up large waves. This year's El Nino is particularly extreme, with a warmer atmosphere holding more moisture, intensifying rains and causing higher sea levels due to high tides known as king tides, which typically occur in late fall and winter.