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Coastal Ocean Temperatures Break Records as Storm Nears Bay Area
Scientists say the unusually warm water could lift sea levels and worsen flooding when king tides and El Niño storms arrive.
- On Saturday, climate scientist Daniel Swain reported an extreme El Niño has triggered a "record-shattering" marine heat wave, with 90 percent of California's coastal waters experiencing severe Category 3 to Category 5 conditions.
- Hot ocean water has sloshed from the western Pacific Ocean to coastal California, causing water temperatures to run more than 10°F warmer than average, according to Swain.
- Thermal expansion is forcing coastal ocean levels 6 to 12 inches above average, contributing to damaging flooding and dangerous waves reaching up to 50 feet along the coast.
- Forecasters warn of 20-to-40-foot waves and potential flooding through the weekend, while Swain remains concerned about further impacts during king tide windows in late November.
- The exceptional warmth is disrupting marine ecosystems; scientists recently spotted tropical species typically found in Hawaii, including winged comb jellies and rose siphonophores, in Central California waters.
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Coastal ocean temperatures break records as storm nears Bay Area
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Record Ocean Warmth and Extreme El Niño Signal Active November Storms Across California
Just case you haven’t already noticed: Current ocean conditions along the California coast are presently just about as far from typical as one could possibly imagine. Water temperatures within about […] The post Record Ocean Warmth and Extreme El Niño Signal Active November Storms Across California appeared first on edhat.
Coverage Details
Total News Sources12
Leaning Left5Leaning Right0Center3Last UpdatedBias Distribution63% Left
Bias Distribution
- 63% of the sources lean Left
63% Left
L 63%
C 37%
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