The Brief
- A new report from the UC Davis Road Ecology Center warns that a combination of King Tides, a Kelvin Wave, and El Niño conditions could cause severe winter flooding across the Bay Area.
- Low-lying shoreline areas, including Alviso in North San Jose, San Mateo and Alameda counties, San Francisco International Airport, and the eastern approach to the Bay Bridge, face significant risk.
- Coastal areas further south, such as Santa Cruz Harbor and Moss Landing in the Monterey Bay area, are also listed as high-risk locations.
SAN JOSE, Calif. – A new study from UC Davis indicates that several low-lying areas across California and the Bay Area could experience severe winter flooding due to a rare convergence of meteorological events.
The report highlights how the combined effects of upcoming King Tides, a strong El Niño pattern, and an invisible sea-level rise known as a “Kelvin Wave” could push high tides and sea levels to unprecedented heights.
UC Davis flood report details Bay Area risks
Local perspective:
When the remnants of Tropical Storm Rachel struck Southern California earlier this month, coastal communities in Newport Beach, Huntington Beach, and Long Beach suffered heavy damage. Waves exceeded 17 feet, damaging or destroying dozens of homes.…