"An enormous pulse of wave energy will soon reach Southern California and continue north, raising sea levels by half a foot and increasing threats from swells and tides."
"In the coming days, sea levels off Southern California are expected to begin rising by half a foot or more and then stay elevated for months, as an enormous pulse of wave energy generated by El Niño travels up the coast, lifting the water as it goes.
“It’s one of the first, if not the first indication that El Niño is here,” said Dillon Amaya, an assistant professor in the department of marine, earth and atmospheric sciences at North Carolina State University.
This pulse, known as a Kelvin wave, will boost the ocean’s height across an area extending 12 to 18 miles offshore. It is coming on top of several other factors that are raising the seas off California and increasing the threats from coastal flooding, erosion and saltwater intrusion."
Raymond Zhong reports for the New York Times September 30, 2026.
