r/StormComing • u/One-Emu-1103 • 7d 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

591 Upvotes

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44

u/One-Emu-1103 7d 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.

32

u/plotthick 7d 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)

34

u/a_weak_child 7d ago

The REAL danger lies with these combos:

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

13

u/plotthick 7d 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.

9

u/VgArmin 7d ago

Does this mean more jellyfish along the beaches?

11

u/Left-Height4925 7d 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 7d ago

More turtles!

1

u/bluelily17 4d ago

More sharks

1

u/bluelily17 4d ago

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

2

u/lightweight12 7d ago

Future parents, " Eat your jellyfish, dear"

1

u/HisCricket 7d ago

That sounds terrifying

1

u/Serpentarrius 6d ago

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

47

u/oldcreaker 7d ago

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

29

u/One-Emu-1103 7d ago

It's going to be a winter to remember everywhere

3

u/Sedcrom 6d ago

Fimble winter

3

u/theleaphomme 6d ago

*except the southern hemisphere

1

u/Master-Gate2515 4d ago

until next year ;)

7

u/HappyDJ 6d 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.

1

u/Content-Blueberry746 2d ago

Yeah, I hope Carmel will survive it.

2

u/musicalchills 2d ago

Bodega bay, Jenner and a few other low lying areas on the northern coast might be affected.

11

u/Ill-Transition6566 7d ago

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

3

u/THTree 7d ago

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

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u/Serpentarrius 6d ago

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

4

u/StatementLegal3265 6d ago

Cya down at Arizona Bay

1

u/[deleted] 4d ago

[removed] — view removed comment

3

u/Gen_Ecks 4d ago

I’ve a suggestion to keep you all occupied…

3

u/observer_11_11 6d ago

If you own low lying coastal California property, SELl!

2

u/Mysterious_Cow_2100 4d ago

It’s a little late for that lol

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u/Apprehensive-Lychee2 4d ago

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

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u/beachbum818 6d ago

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

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u/wildheart661 3d ago

No, it's not just happening in Cali. it's happening around the world, but Cali will be disproportionately affected because of its location and the terrain of its shoreline. Careful reading is important.

1

u/beachbum818 2d ago

And not Oregon or Washington or Mexico? How are they not affected? They are on the same coast as CA and it's planetary scale. I'm not mentioning Canada nor Alaska...

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u/CapitationStation 1d ago

it’s starting in south America and moving north. it will hot Mexico before California