El Niño Doesn’t Guarantee Flooding | California News

This year’s El Niño could be the strongest since 1950, with a 69% chance of breaking records—and it’s expected to last through fall and winter. But don’t panic yet: flooding isn’t guaranteed. Historical data shows most of California’s worst floods happened without El Niño, because timing matters more than total rain. Back-to-back storms overwhelm rivers faster than they can drain, while spaced-out storms let ground absorb water. Even strong El Niños can avoid disaster if storms are spread out—like in ’97–’98—or cause flooding without one, as in ’22–’23. With rising sea levels and higher rainfall likely, coastal areas face greater risk. Experts say flood insurance is still worth considering—even if you’re not in a flood zone, the odds are stacked against you this year. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/3446e03ced9c23bc