A massive ocean wave is moving through the Pacific right now, and it just pushed sea levels along the entire West Coast up by six to eight inches. It’s called a Kelvin wave, a planetary-scale wave of deep ocean water that travels east along the equator during El Niño years before turning north to hug the coastline. Scientists say it’s one of the first major signs that this year’s Super El Niño is building, and more waves are lined up through fall and early winter.
The wave doesn’t flood anything on its own, but that extra water raises the odds when storms or high tides hit, which is exactly what happened when Tropical Storm Rachel’s surge flooded Southern California neighborhoods earlier this month. The warmer water is also throwing marine ecosystems off balance. Seabirds have been dying, and a whale shark was spotted off San Diego, a rare sighting for the area. The next Kelvin wave is expected to reach San Diego in late October or early November.
If you live near the coast, this is the season to pay attention to tide charts and storm forecasts. Scientists are watching closely as El Niño builds toward its peak, and each wave adds another few inches to the equation. Have you ever dealt with coastal flooding where you live? Drop your story in the comments.
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Local Lawton
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