California Governor Gavin Newsom has declared a statewide state of emergency as forecasters warn that a strengthening El Niño could bring severe winter storms, flooding and coastal damage to the US state.
The proclamation, issued on Monday, will allow state agencies to accelerate preparations, mobilise resources and protect communities ahead of potentially intense weather conditions. Forecasters expect the developing El Niño to become very strong and possibly the strongest on record, according to the governor’s office.
The emergency measures direct agencies to prepare roads and critical infrastructure, stockpile supplies and help local authorities reduce the risks of flooding, landslides, debris flows and coastal hazards. The California National Guard may also support flood response, search-and-rescue operations, engineering and logistics if required.
State prepares for severe winter weather
El Niño is a natural climate pattern caused by warmer-than-average sea surface temperatures in the tropical eastern Pacific. It can alter global weather patterns and increase the likelihood of wetter and more intense winters in California.
The governor’s office said the state could face repeated rounds of heavy rain, strong winds, mountain snow, large waves, coastal flooding, power outages and damage to roads and homes. Coastal areas could be particularly vulnerable when storms coincide with high tides.
State agencies have been instructed to position flood-fighting equipment, including sandbags and pumps, while transportation officials prepare traffic-control, road-closure and snow-removal equipment along vulnerable routes. Environmental agencies will also work with local authorities to speed up flood-protection and landslide-prevention measures.
“We are preparing for this El Niño early because every Californian deserves to be safe in their home, connected to their community, and protected when severe weather comes,” Newsom said.
Officials have urged residents to sign up for emergency alerts, assess their flood risk, clear drains and gutters, prepare emergency supplies and make evacuation plans. They also warned people never to drive through floodwater because roads may be deeper, faster-moving or damaged beneath the surface.
El Niño poses wider economic risks
The warning comes as the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, or ECLAC, cautions that an extreme El Niño could cause losses equivalent to at least 2 per cent of the region’s gross domestic product and push an additional 4.8 million people into poverty.
In a report titled The Effects of El Niño in Latin America and the Caribbean and Recommendations for Addressing It, the Santiago-based agency said a high-intensity event could affect energy, agriculture, fisheries and infrastructure.
ECLAC Executive Secretary Jose Manuel Salazar-Xirinachs warned of “severe economic and social repercussions” if the climate pattern reaches high intensity. The agency said the largest economic losses would probably occur during the first year, although the effects could continue for several years.
Declining household incomes could also increase poverty levels towards the end of the decade, ECLAC said.
While El Niño does not guarantee a particular storm or a uniformly wet winter, officials say the developing event raises the risk of dangerous weather across California and other parts of the Americas.