Scientists Warn Foot-Tall Sea Rise From Kelvin Wave Heading for CA

Concerns are rising about a planetary-scale ocean phenomenon called a Kelvin wave that could increase sea levels along the California coastline by up to one foot in coming months as El Niño intensifies. This slow-moving, thousands-of-miles-long surge occurs when trade winds weaken or reverse during strong El Niño years, causing massive amounts of warm water to shift from the western Pacific toward North and South America. A wave recently detected near southern Brazil is moving northward along the equator before turning west; experts say it may reach California shores within days, trapping warm water against the coast for months due to lingering El Niño conditions. Governor Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency across California after reporting hammerhead sharks spotted off Southern California beaches and warnings from scientists about coastal flooding risks ranging from San Clemente to Malibu.