Newsom Declares State of Emergency Ahead of Potentially Historic El Niño — What It Means for Flood Preparedness

September 22, 2026

On September 21, 2026, Governor Gavin Newsom proclaimed a statewide state of emergency in anticipation of a developing El Niño event that NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center projects has a greater than 90% chance of reaching “very strong” intensity this fall and winter, with a 69% chance of surpassing every El Niño on record since 1950.