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El Nino and high tide floding, a possible double whammy for some coastal communities in 2026
El Nino will produce a possible double whammy
with high tide flooding in some coastal cities
Insights
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Rising seas and a shifting Pacific climate pattern are on a collision course this year — click through to see what it could mean for U.S. coasts.
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A closer look reveals a chain of ocean and atmospheric shifts already in motion.
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Explore the story below to see how it could play out where you live.
NOAA predicts El Niño will likely emerge by July 2026 and continue through winter, potentially causing increased high tide flooding along U.S. coasts.
El Niño weakens trade winds and raises sea levels, while also shifting weather patterns that can intensify flooding impacts.
Combined with decades of existing sea level rise, coastal communities face a "double whammy" of more frequent and severe flooding.
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