Gov. Gavin Newsom proclaimed a state of emergency Monday to prepare California for what state officials say could be a historic El Niño season, directing agencies to stage equipment, protect infrastructure, and prepare communities for severe weather.

The proclamation is intended to speed preparations for potential winter storms, flooding, landslides, debris flows, coastal flooding, and other impacts as the developing El Niño continues to strengthen.

State agencies were directed to protect vulnerable communities, prepare roads and critical infrastructure, stage emergency supplies, and help local governments reduce risks from flooding, landslides, and coastal conditions.

“We are preparing for this El Niño early because every Californian deserves to be safe in their home, connected to their community, and protected when severe weather comes,” Newsom said.

The proclamation streamlines procurement and directs agencies to lead flood-risk reduction efforts, stage sandbags and pumps, and position other equipment before storms arrive. Caltrans will place traffic-control, road-closure, and snow-removal equipment along highways considered most vulnerable.

The California National Guard is also being prepared to assist with flood response, search and rescue, engineering, and logistics if needed. Environmental and natural resources agencies were directed to support local preparations for flooding, landslides, and debris flows, including by accelerating permitting.

Expanding Accessible and Multilingual Preparedness

The Governor’s Office of Emergency Services was directed to expand accessible and multilingual preparedness information covering flooding, emergency alerts, evacuation plans, power outages, and other severe-weather risks.

The governor’s office said federal forecasters are projecting a greater than 90% chance of a very strong or “super” El Niño this fall and winter and a 75% chance the event could reach historic strength.

El Niño is marked by warmer-than-average ocean temperatures in the tropical eastern Pacific and can alter weather patterns, sometimes bringing more frequent and intense storms to California. The state cautioned that El Niño does not guarantee a wet winter or any particular storm.

Officials said possible impacts include repeated heavy rain, strong winds, mountain snow, flooding, landslides, debris flows, large waves, and coastal flooding.

Newsom also proclaimed separate states of emergency Monday to support recovery from previous severe weather in Glenn, Humboldt, Kern, Mendocino, and Santa Barbara counties, as well as a major sewage spill in Lake County.

The governor additionally terminated 34 states of emergency related to fires, storms, and other events in 2023 and 2024 that officials determined were no longer needed for response and recovery efforts.

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