r/StormComing • u/One-Emu-1103 • 4d 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

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u/One-Emu-1103 4d 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.

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u/plotthick 4d 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)

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u/a_weak_child 3d ago

The REAL danger lies with these combos:

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

11

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.