El Niño Strengthens, Raising Possibility of Wet Winter for California
The Pacific Ocean is experiencing unusually warm sea-surface temperatures, with NOAA reporting a greater than 90% chance of a very strong El Niño event during the 2026-27 winter season (Harbor News, 2026-08-30). El Niño, a periodic warming of the central and eastern tropical Pacific, can influence weather patterns across North America, including California. This phenomenon may alter the jet stream and storm tracks, potentially steering more storms toward the West Coast. Atmospheric rivers, narrow corridors of concentrated moisture, are expected to play a significant role in delivering precipitation to California. These systems can bring substantial rainfall, replenishing reservoirs and snowpacks, but also pose risks of flooding and mudslides.