El Niño has arrived: 5 ways California could get pummeled
Meteorologists are warning that a potentially historic El Niño event is developing, which could bring extreme weather conditions to California. Experts suggest the combination of this climate pattern and long-term global warming may lead to unprecedented environmental impacts for the state.
Why it matters
Understanding the severity of El Niño is critical for disaster preparedness and infrastructure management in regions vulnerable to flooding and mudslides.
A woman watches as workers clean debris from mudslides that were triggered by a storm in Forest Falls, Calif., on Sept. 19. (William Liang / For The Times) By Rong-Gong Lin II Staff Writer Follow June 15, 2026 3 AM PT 35 10 min Click here to listen to this article Share via Close extra sharing options Email Facebook X LinkedIn Threads Reddit WhatsApp Copy Link URL Copied! Print 0:00 0:00 1x This is read by an automated voice. Please report any issues or inconsistencies here .
The article relies on scientific consensus from NOAA and climate experts, presenting the information as a factual weather forecast.
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