Democratic California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a statewide state of emergency on Monday to prepare California for a strengthening El Niño that federal forecasters say has the potential to reach historic levels. Newsom said the proclamation mobilizes state resources ahead of possible severe weather during the 2026-27 winter season. "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 in a press release.
The release advised residents of the state to prepare for the possibility of "repeated rounds of heavy rain, strong winds [and] mountain snow." In a separate statement on X, Newsom said the declaration would mobilize resources for a "potentially historic El Niño winter in California," citing higher risks of severe weather over the coming months. El Niño is the warm phase of the El Niño-Southern Oscillation, or ENSO, a recurring Pacific climate pattern that can affect weather worldwide. Typical El Niño effects can include stormier weather across the Southern U.S., drier conditions in some northern areas and changes in hurricane activity.
A southern storm track is "typically the norm" during El Niño-dominated winters, AccuWeather lead long-range expert Paul Pastelok told Newsweek previously. Areas such as Los Angeles and San Francisco "can be hit harder and more frequent throughout the late fall and winter season," the meteorologist said. "Depending on landscape, California particularly can be vulnerable to landslides." The National Weather Service’s Climate Prediction Center (CPC) said earlier in September that El Niño was strengthening, with a greater than 90 percent chance of a "very strong" event during fall and winter.
It also placed the odds of a historic event between October and December, stronger than all previous El Niños dating back to 1950, at 75 percent. The agency cautioned, however, that "with an event of this magnitude, the chances of experiencing impacts consistent with El Niño are larger, though not guaranteed." California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services director Caroline Thomas Jacobs has warned that El Niño could deliver a range of hazards. "Climate-driven El Niño conditions could mean months of dangerous weather, heavy rain, strong winds, deep mountain snow, flooding, and Californians should understand this clearly," Jacobs said.
"Storms are among the deadliest disasters we face here in California, and one of the greatest dangers is still people underestimating the power of water." Among other measures, the proclamation instructs the California Department of Water Resources to ready flood-fighting supplies such as sandbags, plastic sheeting, pumps and rock materials. It also orders officials to engage with dam owners and local agencies responsible for levees and flood-control structures. It also directs the California Department of Transportation to identify vulnerable highways, bridges, culverts and other transport infrastructure, while developing plans to position road-closure, traffic-control and emergency communications equipment around at-risk locations.
Snowplows, snow blowers, graders, loaders and chain-control equipment are included in the preparations. It also instructs state officials to prepare for the potential deployment of California National Guard personnel and equipment to assist with any necessary search and rescue efforts, evacuations, flood response, debris removal and logistics. Contact Newsweek editors on this story: John Fitzpatrick and James Debens
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