El Niño Set to Bring Stormier California Winter with Flood and Snow Risks
El Niño is expected to intensify through early 2027, likely delivering more frequent storms, heavy rain and above-average snow to California, raising flood and landslide danger.
Forecasts indicate that El Niño will continue strengthening through the remainder of 2026 and remain strong into the winter of 2026-27, with the Climate Prediction Center assigning more than an 83 % probability of a strong-to-very strong event. This climate mode is expected to reinforce a dominant southern storm track, bringing a series of atmospheric rivers that can dump large amounts of rain and snow across California.
According to meteorologist Peyton Simmers, the state could see flooding, landslides and up to a foot of Sierra Nevada snow, while overall temperatures stay near or just above normal in the north and modestly cooler in the south. The storm pattern may initially focus on central and northern regions before shifting toward Southern California, affecting Los Angeles and San Diego. Such conditions raise concerns for water management, infrastructure and wildfire-fuel moisture levels.
Why it matters
Anticipated stormy winter could strain California’s flood controls, water supply and emergency services.
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