Updated

Communities across California are preparing for a massive, slow-moving oceanic 'Kelvin wave' expected to reach the San Francisco Bay Area by early October 2026 after nearing Southern California, as it continues toward Alaska. Scientists say an unusually strong El Niño is trapping warm water along the coast, and the phenomenon could raise sea levels by up to a foot, heightening risks of storm surge and coastal flooding. Experts are warning that the wave's arrival, combined with El Niño conditions, increases the threat of flooding along the North American Pacific coastline in the coming months.