Kelvin Wave to Raise West Coast Sea Levels by Up to One Foot

Sea levels along the U.S. West Coast are expected to rise by up to one foot starting this month due to Kelvin waves—pulses of warm water moving north along the coast. These waves, common during El Niño events, will travel from California to Washington at about 6 mph, potentially increasing beach erosion and flooding risks through February. Experts say the waves raise baseline sea levels but do not directly cause flooding.

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