Title
Motion to Adopt a Proclamation of the Threat of a Local Emergency Related to the 2026 El Niño Weather Pattern
Staffreport
COUNCIL PRIORITY
Public Safety
RECOMMENDATION
Adopt a proclamation of a threatened local emergency as requested by the Director of Emergency Services related to the 2026 El Niño weather pattern.
BACKGROUND
El Niño is a natural climate pattern marked by warmer-than-average ocean temperatures in the tropical eastern Pacific, which can shift weather patterns and bring wetter, more intense winters to California. Climate change can supercharge this natural climate pattern. A study published in the journal Science in August 2026 found El Niño events are now more than 36% stronger than before the industrial era, with this trend accelerating over the last 40 years as the planet warms. El Niño’s anticipated impacts are, amongst others, strong storms comprised of heavy rainfall and gusty winds and, in combination with historic king tides, potential coastal flooding, dangerous river and stream overflows and flooding, landslides, and tree falls that could endanger public health, safety, and property.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the 2026 El Niño has a greater than 80% chance of eclipsing all such El Niño weather patterns since 1950 as it continues to strengthen through the 2026 Fall Season (Source: https://www.sfchronicle.com/weather/article/el-nino-record-strong-22466068.php). Past El Niño weather patterns have caused storm damage, and localized flooding to San Leandro. The potential for such a significant El Niño and its damaging effects caused California Governor Gavin Newsom to proclaim a state of emergency on September 21, 2026 (https://www.gov.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/ATTESTED_Super-El-Nino-SOE-9-21-26.pdf) to put California in a stronger position before winter weather intensifies. The Governor’s declaration directs state agencies to begin protecting vulnerable communities, prepare roads a...
Click here for full text