Technology and Science25 September, 20263 min read
El Niño Strengthens, Raising Sea Levels and Eroding California Beaches And Homes
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Strong El Niño temporarily raises southern California sea level by 15–30 centimeters. Coastline erosion and beach loss alongside property damage threaten southern California communities.
5 outlets told this the same way.
El Niño, Higher Seas
California’s Pacific coastline is facing a higher risk of floods and coastal erosion as El Niño strengthens and as waves from Eastern Pacific cyclones and hurricanes denude beaches of sand and transform the coast. The Southern California sea level has risen 8 to 12 inches (20 cm to 30 cm) over the past century, and a strong El Niño could temporarily increase sea level another 6 to 12 inches (15 to 30 cm). The underwater Kelvin wave could temporarily add another 6 to 12 inches in sea level, and the first major Kelvin wave of the current El Niño is expected to reach California in early October.
“The Southern California sea level has risen 8 to 12 inches (20 cm to 30 cm) over the past century.”
Patrick Barnard, research director of the Center for Coastal Climate Resilience at the University of California, Santa Cruz, said, "Things are definitely lining up for this to be a pretty epic winter in terms of potential hazards," and he added, "Everything's amplified by climate change." California preemptively declared a state of emergency to mobilize disaster relief and first responders in preparation for more turmoil from El Niño, which emerged in June.
Sinkholes, Evacuations, Erosion
In Malibu, the Pacific Ocean opened a sinkhole near the home of movie star Nicolas Cage and wreaked havoc on beachfront property, and residents were forced to flee as the Pacific battered their homes this month. Along Beach Road in the city of Dana Point, waves destroyed one home and forced the city to vacate or restrict occupancy to 16 others, and the waves also eroded much of the concert site just south of the pier at the Ocean Way Festival. Officials canceled the inaugural Ocean Way Festival set for this weekend in Santa Monica after storm surf and runoff from Hurricane Marie over Labor Day weekend eroded much of the concert site just south of the pier.
In Carlsbad, Reuters reported that just to the south, the ocean swallowed the beach completely, cascading into a parking lot that once allowed visitors to park just a few steps from the sand. Young said, "It’s important to remember that erosion on the coastline has been going on for thousands of years," and he added, "The problem is really that we build stuff in the way and on the beaches and in these hazardous areas, and that’s caused the problem."
What Comes Next
The phenomenon is expected to demonstrate its greatest effects through year end and into early 2027, and another hurricane, Polo, churned off the Mexican Pacific coast and could send more waves northward. El Niño could produce massive rainstorms known as atmospheric rivers that often flood coastal areas and erode beach bluffs, and California’s generally steep coastline has until now largely spared residents the chronic inundation seen in low-lying coastal areas elsewhere in the world. In Carlsbad, Reuters reported that just to the south, the ocean swallowed the beach completely, cascading into a parking lot that once allowed visitors to park just a few steps from the sand.
“The phenomenon is expected to demonstrate its greatest effects through year end and into early 2027.”
Adam Young said state and local government can attempt to harden properties, add sand to the beach, or form dunes out of the cobblestones, mimicking nature, and he said, "There often isn’t one solution that works for everyone." Alex Stott said, "Hopefully they can figure out a solution because honestly, I think Mother Nature is going to take everything back until they stop it, right?" after a morning session at Tamarack.