California Declares State of Emergency as Powerful El Niño Takes Shape

California is getting ready for a potentially wild winter.

Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency across California Monday as officials prepare for what forecasters say could become one of the strongest El Niño events ever recorded.

The declaration allows state agencies to begin preparing now for the possibility of powerful winter storms, flooding, landslides, coastal erosion and other weather-related problems.

According to the governor's office, the state is moving resources into position before the storms arrive rather than waiting until conditions become dangerous.

California Is Getting Ready for a Wet Winter

Under the emergency proclamation, state agencies can take steps to protect vulnerable communities, prepare roads and critical infrastructure, stockpile emergency supplies and reduce the potential damage from flooding and landslides.

Among the preparations:

• Sandbags, pumps and other flood-fighting equipment will be staged around the state.
• Caltrans will position traffic-control, road-closure and snow-removal equipment along highways considered most vulnerable.
• The California National Guard will be prepared to assist with flood response, search-and-rescue operations, engineering and logistics if necessary.
• Environmental and natural-resource agencies will help communities prepare for flooding, landslides and debris flows.
• State agencies will also work to speed up permitting and other processes related to emergency preparation.

California Office of Emergency Services Director Caroline Thomas Jacobs said officials aren't waiting for the storms to show up before getting ready.

The goal, she said, is to make sure communities and first responders have the people, equipment and resources necessary to respond quickly if severe weather hits.

Newsom similarly emphasized preparation, saying the state is acting early because Californians should be prepared before severe weather arrives.

So, What's El Niño Again?

If you haven't thought about El Niño since your last weather quiz, here's the quick version.

El Niño is a climate pattern involving changes in Pacific Ocean temperatures and trade winds. During an El Niño event, the normal trade winds weaken, allowing warmer water to shift eastward toward the West Coast.

That shift can influence the position of the Pacific jet stream and alter weather patterns across the United States.

For California, El Niño can mean wetter-than-normal conditions, although the exact effects can vary from one event to another. And when you combine a potentially wetter winter with California's mountains, burn scars and coastal areas, officials have plenty of reasons to start preparing early.

It's Not Just About Rain

El Niño can also have a major impact on the ocean.

Normally, winds help push warm surface water westward while cold, nutrient-rich water rises toward the surface along the West Coast. This process, called upwelling, provides nutrients that support phytoplankton and the larger marine food chain.

During El Niño, that upwelling can weaken. The resulting warmer coastal waters can affect fish populations and other marine life, while tropical species can sometimes show up in areas where they're not normally found.

And Then There's La Niña

El Niño's better-known opposite is La Niña.

During La Niña, trade winds become stronger, pushing warm water farther west and increasing upwelling along the West Coast. The jet stream also shifts northward.

That can produce a very different pattern, including increased drought risk in parts of the southern United States and wetter conditions in the Pacific Northwest and Canada.

Basically, El Niño and La Niña are two sides of the Pacific Ocean's giant weather mood swing.

According to NOAA, individual El Niño or La Niña events typically last around nine to 12 months, although some can stick around longer. They generally occur every two to seven years, but there's no perfectly predictable schedule.

What This Means for Californians

For now, the state's emergency declaration is about preparation, not predicting exactly what every community will experience this winter.

Officials are getting equipment and personnel into position ahead of time in case heavy rain, flooding, mudslides, debris flows, snow or coastal impacts become a problem.

And considering California's recent history with extreme weather, the state isn't taking any chances.

Translation: winter is coming, and California is putting the sandbags out early.

Read the full emergency proclamation from Gov. Newsom's office