Los Angeles leaders say they're acting now ahead of "potentially historic" El Niño winter storms
As a potentially wet winter heads to Southern California due to a historic El Niño event, Los Angeles and National Weather Service officials said they're taking a proactive approach to expected effects.
During a news conference on Monday, Mayor Karen Bass said her office was taking the possibility of flooding and other adverse weather-related effects seriously.
"We do not know exactly how much rain LA will get this winter, but we know certainly what heavy rain and strong winds can do here," she said. "That's why we're acting now, before the storms arrive."
Anticipating stronger winter storms than the area is accustomed to, Bass said crews have been assessing high-risk areas, strengthening stormwater infrastructure, and preparing emergency response teams.
Angelenos, in the meantime, can prepare for the worst by doing the following, officials said:
- Prepare "go kits" with supplies
- Sign up for city alerts through emergency.lacity.gov/notifyla
- Develop a plan with family in case of an emergency
- Retrieve sandbags from LAFD
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Climate Prediction Center, there is a 69% chance of a historic event that would exceed the strength of previous El Niño events dating back to 1950.
Experts say the event's effects in Southern California could include heavy rainfall and flooding. Dr. Ariel Cohen with the NWS emphasized that it's far too early to know how much rain the region could receive in the winter, but El Niño raises the probability of extreme storms.
"We do not know the exact timing, track or intensity of future storms," he said. "What the science supports today is elevated risk, but not certainty, about specific outcomes. Possibility and certainty are not the same thing."
According to data from the National Weather Service, one of the region's strongest El Niños was in 1997-1998. On average, the region receives 14.25 inches of rain during the water year, which runs from October to September. During the 1997-1998 water year, the region received 30.57 inches of rain.
In anticipation of abnormal amounts of rainfall, some Southern California coastal cities like Long Beach and Malibu are preparing for potential effects like erosion and flooding. Just last month, high surf prompted evacuations in both cities.
"We are ready for El Niño and have strengthened our systems, our teams and our infrastructure to better protect the communities that we serve," said Los Angeles Department of Water and Power interim General Manager David Hanson.