Sea levels along the U.S. West Coast, including California, are expected to rise by as much as a foot in the coming days as a Kelvin wave moves along the shoreline, raising concerns about coastal flooding and beach erosion.
The wave, also called a coastal trapped wave, is a sustained bulge of warm water associated with El Niño. Reports say it is unlike a tsunami and does not break on beaches; instead, it lifts sea levels as it travels along the coast. The elevated water could extend 12 to 18 miles offshore, according to the New York Post and Yahoo.
PBS reported that a series of pulses will move north this month and that this year’s El Niño could increase their effects. Yahoo reported the wave could continue north to Alaska.