How California is bracing for a winter of floods, fires and extreme storms all at once
California is preparing for a severe winter as a record-breaking El Niño event threatens to bring extreme flooding, wildfires, and heatwaves. Experts warn that these climate-driven hazards could lead to significant global food insecurity and health risks.
Why it matters
The convergence of multiple climate disasters poses a major threat to public safety and global supply chains, highlighting the increasing volatility of weather patterns.
Rising risks … California has already seen coastal flooding, as El Niño increases the risk of storms, flooding and high tides. Rising risks … California has already seen coastal flooding, as El Niño increases the risk of storms, flooding and high tides. Down to Earth newsletter Environment How California is bracing for a winter of floods, fires and extreme storms all at once The strongest El Niño recorded is expected to bring a cascade of hazards to a state still facing wildfire and heat risks, while budget cuts have weakened disaster response agencies
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Prefer the Guardian on Google Before this year, the US National Weather Service had never issued a September coastal flood advisory for the San Francisco Bay Area. In the past month, it has had to issue two.
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