The 2026-27 El Super Niño could bring wetter-than-average conditions and heavy storms to parts of California, which may lead to flooding and other impacts. It doesn't guarantee flooding for every community, but understanding the outlook and preparing early can help reduce your risk. Use the resources below to follow the forecast, sign up for alerts, plan for before, during, and after a flood, and find guidance for households, coastal communities, and farms.
Resources
Understand the Outlook
- UC ANR El Niño Fact Sheet: What a strong El Niño could mean for California.
- NOAA ENSO Outlook: The latest official El Niño updates.
Know Your Risk
- FEMA Flood Map Service Center: Check whether your address is in a flood-prone area.
- California MyHazards: Look up flood and other hazard risks at your address.
- USGS Post-Fire Debris Flow Hazards: Risks from heavy rain in recently burned areas.
Prepare for Flooding
- NWS: Before a Flood: Plan ahead and protect your property.
- NWS: During a Flood: Evacuation tips and how to avoid floodwater.
- NWS: After a Flood: Stay safe while returning home and cleaning up.
- UC ANR Flooding Fact Sheet: A practical guide for before, during, and after.
- UC ANR Disasters Happen: Preparedness, response, and recovery resources for many disaster types.
Flood Insurance
- FloodSmart (NFIP): Learn about National Flood Insurance Program coverage. Standard homeowners policies generally don't cover flood damage.
Get Alerts and Check Conditions
- Listos California Alerts: Sign up for local emergency alerts.
- NWS Local Forecasts: Your local forecast and current conditions.
- NWS Active Alerts: Current weather warnings.
- NOAA Water: River levels, forecasts, and flood information.
- Watch Duty: Incidents, river gauges, and evacuation information.
Coastal Flooding
- El Niño Amplifies Compound Coastal Flood Risk: How tides, waves, and storms combine.
- Coastal Hydro Extension Resources: More El Niño coastal flood resources.
- NOAA Tides & Currents: Tides and water levels along California's coast.
- NOAA Coastal Inundation Dashboard: Real-time and historical coastal flooding data.
Farms and Agriculture
- Flood Preparedness for Farmers: Guidance for protecting farms and operations.
- Understanding Natural Climate Variability: How climate swings affect California's water systems.
