Experts say Southern California could potentially be in for a very strong El Niño year. With that, county leaders are trying to inform the public but insist there should not be any panic.
County leaders and emergency officials gathered Tuesday to outline preparations for the possibility of a pronounced El Niño season. The National Weather Service said it’s anticipating a strong El Niño that’s significantly tilting the odds towards a wetter season for Southern California, possibly beginning in mid-October.
El Niño is a weather pattern that produces warm water in the Pacific Ocean. Experts say it can lead to stronger rainfall in the Southland, but it’s not guaranteed.
In Tuesday’s meeting, the LA County Board of Supervisors held a roundtable on the county’s preparation for this season’s pattern. LA County’s Department of Public Works said it’s working on flooding prevention by checking dams, washes and spillways for blockages. It said it will also focus on burn scar areas where mudslides are more susceptible.
Ocean temperatures in the eastern tropical Pacific — a key driver of El Niño — are already the highest recorded for this time of year, according to Daniel Swain, a climate scientist at UCLA, the National Center for Atmospheric Research and The Nature Conservancy.
Swain said during a media briefing last month that forecasts indicate the developing El Niño could intensify beyond the strongest previously observed events.
El Niño occurs when weakened Pacific trade winds allow warm water to shift eastward toward the coasts of Peru and Ecuador, altering storm tracks and weather patterns around the world.
The event is expected to peak between October and December, most likely in November, with its greatest effects on California expected from December through March or later, Swain said.
Separating hype from reality when it comes to El Nino. Belen De Leon reports for the NBC4 News at 4 p.m. on Friday July 9, 2026.
While emergency and county departments are preparing for a possible wet season, local leaders urge the public to do the same. They advise clearing any drains or gutters on your property that could prevent drainage. They also encourage each household to create an evacuation plan in case of an emergency.
“We’re calling on everyone to get that information now, to make sure that you understand who and where you should be looking to and who you have to call on,” County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath said. “And in LA County, all of our departments are here to help.”
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