El Niño & Winter Storm Preparedness

What is El Niño?

El Niño refers to the warm phase of the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) climate pattern, characterized by unusually warm ocean surface temperatures in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean.

El Niño is an oceanic phenomenon. It is not a storm or a series of storms. A very strong El Niño does tilt the odds toward a wetter-than-normal winter from more Pacific storms, and increases the likelihood of severe-weather and costal hazards.

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What are the Potential Weather Hazards during El Niño?

Enhanced Heavy Rainfall: A warmer ocean increases the amount of available moisture in the atmosphere. This can shift global storm tracks and enhance precipitation in winter storms, leading to prolonged rain events, flash flooding, and urban drainage overflow.

Landslides and Debris Flows: Heavy rainfall on saturated hillsides can increase the risk of mudslides and debris flows—especially in recent burn scars and steep topography across coastal ranges.

Coastal Erosion & Storm Surge: Winter storms can bring large waves and storm surge to coastlines. In addition, higher ocean levels due to warmer than normal waters can lead to more severe coastal erosion and coastal flooding, especially during periods of high tides.

What should I do to prepare?

Preparation works best before rain begins. Here’s a few east steps to take:

1) Subscribe to VC Alert: Register phones and email addresses for your emergency notifications

2) Review Ventura County Public Works Flood Preparedness resources: Visit their Flooding Preparedness website for all kinds of tips and information

3) Assess and prepare your property: Consider cleaning your drains & gutters. Evaluate what your flooding potential is and make sure to have equipment like Sand Bags ready to go.

For more important emergency preparedness information – please visit ready.venturacounty.gov.

El Niño & Winter Storm Preparedness