Incoming Kelvin waves and a record El Niño threaten local beaches and could drive more coastal erosion this winter.
After heavy surf and erosion at beaches along the coastline, especially the sinkhole at Sea Level Road in Malibu, oceanographic experts at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) have aired concerns regarding the current El Niño and the Kelvin waves that are approaching the California coast from Mexico.
NOAA’s National Weather Service declared El Niño conditions in June, and during a strong El Niño, warmer water can drive winds that shift the Pacific Jet Stream. This can bring increased winter storms in Southern California and give fuel to potential Pacific hurricanes. This year’s El Niño has a predicted high or 90% possibility of a very strong El Niño and a “high likelihood” or 70% chance that it will be the strongest El Niño on record, or since 1950, according to NOAA…