Kelvin Wave

Scientists and news outlets are raising alarms about a slow-moving, planetary-scale ocean phenomenon known as a Kelvin wave heading toward the California coast. Warm water trapped along the coastline by El Niño could raise local sea levels by as much as a foot, increasing coastal flooding and erosion risks. Observers are watching closely to see how the wave interacts with the ongoing El Niño pattern.

A Kelvin wave is a pulse of unusually warm water that travels eastward along the equatorial Pacific, pushing warmer water toward the Americas. Scientists are tracking current Kelvin wave activity because a strong pulse reaching the West Coast could raise ocean temperatures near California and influence weather patterns, potentially adding to signs of El Niño conditions developing.