Scientists alarmed by ‘Kelvin wave’ that could raise California’s ocean levels by an entire foot

There’s a massive wave rolling across the ocean toward the California coast – not a freak tsunami, but a slow wave caused by what could be one of the strongest El Niño oscillations in nearly a millennium.

This phenomenon is called a “Kelvin wave,” a shift of incomprehensible magnitude of warm ocean water extending from the western Pacific toward the Americas. Like the Tutor Note, the wave spans thousands of kilometers of waves, which are currently moving up the California coast after a slow-motion crash in South and Central America.

When the full force of the wave reaches the Golden State, it could raise coastal sea levels by as much as a foot, oceanographers said. Tutor. And because of El Niño forces, sea levels could remain high for months, accelerating coastal erosion and fueling severe storms.

“It’s a different wave than you’re used to on the beach,” said Mike Jacox, a research oceanographer at the Southwest Fisheries Science Center. Tutor. “They don’t crash, you can’t really see them go by. This winter we’re supposed to have really high tides around Thanksgiving and Christmas. If you also have more storms, then you have storm surge. It’s like you’re raising the bar on everything that’s going on.”

The wave is already growing off the coasts of countries near the equator such as Colombia and Panama. In Ecuador, data collected by the Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral, a public university that plays a key role in global monitoring of El Niño oscillations, found that ambient sea levels were nearly 15 inches higher than average. During periods of high tide, waves rose up to nearly 17 inches above usual levels, The Universe reported.

The Kelvin wave is triggered by abnormally warm water temperatures in the Pacific, up to 13.5 degrees Fahrenheit warmer than usual. During the developing phases of El Niño, this ball of warm water moves much farther east than it usually would, creating broader conditions attributed to the weather system.

These conditions will likely persist into the new year, with the World Meteorological Organization forecasting a weakening phase beginning in early spring 2027.

Learn more about El Niño: World braces for nearly half a million deaths from El Niño