Los Angeles prepares for historic El Niño weather emergency

Los Angeles and Southern California have initiated emergency preparations in response to projections of a historic El Niño phenomenon. Scientific models from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) indicate a 69% probability that this event will reach an intensity unseen since 1950, threatening record-breaking precipitation and wind.

Mayor Karen Bass has outlined a contingency plan to mitigate impacts, which includes cleaning over 31,000 storm drains and drainage systems to prevent severe flooding. Municipal crews are also pruning trees near high-voltage power lines to prevent outages and inspecting hillsides vulnerable to landslides, particularly in areas recently affected by January 2025 wildfires. Additionally, sandbags are being distributed to fire stations.

California Governor Gavin Newsom previously declared a state of emergency to allow state agencies to protect vulnerable communities and prepare critical infrastructure. Meteorologists emphasize that residents must prepare for the potential of intense rainfall and high winds.