Forecasters have said Southern California may be in for an intense winter, with a powerful El Niño expected to increase rainfall, raise tides, and heighten flood risk across the region.
Since standard homeowners insurance usually excludes flood damage, the season may prove especially costly.
Here's what to know
University of California climate scientist Daniel Swain told LAist: "We are now explicitly expecting the strongest El Niño event ever observed. There will be a strong tilt in the odds towards wet, perhaps even very wet conditions in Southern California."
Swain added that, "This is likely to exceed what occurred in [past strong El Niño events], and by a considerable margin."
Across the region, El Niño is driving concerns over flooding risk, especially in low-lying neighborhoods and places near burn scars.
El Niño temporarily lifts sea levels because it warms ocean water (leading to thermal expansion), and human-caused warming has already raised sea levels along parts of California's coast by up to about a foot over the past century, per LAist. Together, those forces can worsen coastal flooding and increase storm damage to homes, roads and local infrastructure.
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Experts also said an El Niño predicted to be intense is not the same thing as a guaranteed disaster. A wet winter does not always turn destructive, and the timing and intensity of rainfall can matter more than the season's total amount. Yet adding flood insurance can protect countless Californians as winter approaches.
More background
Residents can start by finding out whether their home is in a low-lying area or sits below a recent burn scar before storms move in.
Residents should also weigh their insurance options. Because standard homeowners policies generally do not cover flood damage, waiting until rain is already falling can leave people paying out of pocket to repair floors, walls, furniture, and other belongings.
As LAist reported, only 2% of California residents actually have flood insurance, meaning the vast majority of people are at heightened risk of an expensive season if the predictions of an intense El Niño come to pass.
The outlet noted that once you get a flood insurance policy, it may take roughly a month to kick in, so acting proactively is smart.
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