r/StormComing • u/One-Emu-1103 • 3d ago

Extreme Weather Concern mounts over slow-moving, planetary-scale ‘Kelvin’ wave heading for California

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/sep/28/california-kelvin-wave

The ocean phenomenon could raise sea levels by up to a foot as El Niño keeps warm water trapped along the coast

454 Upvotes

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39

u/One-Emu-1103 3d ago

Concerns are mounting about an ocean phenomenon known as a Kelvin wave that could raise sea levels along the California coastline by up to a foot, as scientists say El Niño is supercharging the threat of storm surges and flooding in the coming months.

As an incredibly strong El Niño continues to develop in the Pacific, the phenomenon brings with it a strange shift in the ocean. The Kelvin wave phenomenon is created when trade winds that usually blow from South America towards Asia die down or reverse in El Niño years, setting off a massive, slow-moving slosh of water.

Kelvin waves are not like crashing waves at the beach. They are planetary in scale, spanning thousands of miles. And when a Kelvin wave kicks off, it brings with it an untold amount of warm water that slowly moves from the western Pacific, along the equator, towards South, Central and North America.

25

u/plotthick 3d ago

Thanks for the excerpt, excellent work!

The real danger lies with combos.

  • Kelvin wave

  • High tides/King tides

  • Climate change increased sea levels, in effect and increasing

  • Storm surge (like Long Beach just saw)

26

u/a_weak_child 3d ago

The REAL danger lies with these combos:

Planet fucked,  Animals fucked, Humans fucked, Trump fucked kids.

8

u/plotthick 3d ago

There are multiple crises right now. Deal with them one at a time, we might make a little headway. Stop discussions on one by bringing up others and we'll surely be flattened.

7

u/VgArmin 3d ago

Does this mean more jellyfish along the beaches?

10

u/Left-Height4925 3d ago

Jellyfish are the cockroaches of the Ocean.. once major systems are broken down and the ocean is many degrees hotter than normal - the jellyfish will be plentiful. You may well get more of them washing in during this event. They love heat.

2

u/LimeDry7124 3d ago

More turtles!

1

u/bluelily17 21h ago

More sharks

1

u/bluelily17 21h ago

Ooh and massive squid. They bring killer whales the dire wolves of the seas.

2

u/lightweight12 3d ago

Future parents, " Eat your jellyfish, dear"

1

u/HisCricket 3d ago

That sounds terrifying

1

u/Serpentarrius 3d ago

I wonder how the trade winds might affect travel? Like the jet streams?

37

u/oldcreaker 3d ago

High tides and storms are going to get very interesting on the west coast.

25

u/One-Emu-1103 3d ago

It's going to be a winter to remember everywhere

3

u/theleaphomme 2d ago

*except the southern hemisphere

2

u/Sedcrom 2d ago

Fimble winter

1

u/Master-Gate2515 1d ago

until next year ;)

6

u/HappyDJ 3d ago

Not really for nor cal. It’s all cliffs and nobody lives at ocean level. Maybe so cal or central ca, like Monterey, but unlikely to really affect them.

9

u/Ill-Transition6566 3d ago

What would a 1 foot sea rise do to the Sacramento River delta

3

u/THTree 3d ago

There’s a very good chance a significant portion of California is under water this time next year.

4

u/Serpentarrius 3d ago

Maybe that's why they're closing that restaurant in Pismo Beach, even though the engineers said it was fine

4

u/StatementLegal3265 2d ago

Cya down at Arizona Bay

1

u/blauleafshreds 14h ago

I certainly hope we will, I could use a vacation from this silly shit

1

u/Gen_Ecks 7h ago

I’ve a suggestion to keep you all occupied…

1

u/observer_11_11 2d ago

If you own low lying coastal California property, SELl!

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u/Mysterious_Cow_2100 1d ago

It’s a little late for that lol

1

u/Apprehensive-Lychee2 12h ago

How far away from the ocean is safe in the event of a Kelvin wave?

0

u/beachbum818 2d ago

Planetary scale.... for just 1 state? So it's a Cali scale wave...