California Faces Record Sea Levels Due to El Niño and King Tides
California is bracing for potentially record-breaking sea levels this year, driven by a combination of a historic El Niño event, climate change, and extreme tides. According to climate scientist Daniel Swain, this event is expected to intensify in the coming weeks, with significant risks of coastal flooding during the winter. The National Weather Service (NWS) has already issued warnings for minor flooding along the Marin County coastline and Bay Area shorelines due to king tides, which are expected to peak around 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. through Thursday morning. Low-lying areas near the San Francisco, San Pablo, and Monterey bays, including Manzanita in Marin and the Embarcadero in San Francisco, are particularly vulnerable. Sea levels in the Bay Area have risen by about half a foot over the last century, with El Niño seasons historically causing noticeable peaks. This year’s event is expected to be one of the strongest on record.