Newsom declares state of emergency to prepare California for a potentially historic El Niño

Governor Gavin Newsom proclaimed a state of emergency on September 21, 2026, to mobilize state resources and accelerate preparations for an El Niño that the governor’s office says is strengthening and could be historic.

The governor’s office cited federal forecasts it described as giving a greater than 90% chance of a very strong El Niño this fall and winter, and a 75% chance it could reach historic strength; the office also referenced a recent Science study it said found El Niño events are now more than 36% stronger than before the industrial era.

The proclamation directs state agencies to stage flood-fighting supplies such as sandbags and pumps; position Caltrans traffic-control, road-closure, and snow-removal equipment along vulnerable highways; ready the California National Guard for flood response, search-and-rescue, engineering, and logistics missions; and fast-track permitting for environmental and natural-resources work to reduce flood, landslide, and coastal risks, according to the governor’s office.

Cal OES Director Caroline Thomas Jacobs is quoted in the release saying the agency is conducting advance planning and pre-identifying needs; Natural Resources Secretary Wade Crowfoot is quoted saying the order will cut red tape and mobilize partners to protect people, infrastructure, and natural resources before storms arrive.

The proclamation also asks Cal OES, in consultation with other agencies, to expand accessible, multilingual public preparedness communications on severe weather, flooding, alerts, evacuation readiness, and power outages; the release urged residents to sign up for alerts, know their flood risk, prepare an evacuation plan, and avoid driving through floodwaters.

The governor’s office additionally issued states of emergency to support recovery from prior storms affecting Glenn, Humboldt, Kern, Mendocino, and Santa Barbara Counties and from a major sewage spill in Lake County; the office said it terminated 34 older emergency proclamations that it judged no longer necessary for response and recovery.

Observed fact: the proclamation was published by the Office of the Governor of California on September 21, 2026. Source claims: the odds and study findings cited above were presented in the governor’s release; the Journal has not independently verified the forecast probabilities or the study’s characterization beyond the governor’s statement.

What is not yet known: the release does not specify expected storm tracks, the timing or location of the heaviest precipitation, or estimated damages; federal and regional forecasts give general odds but cannot predict specific local impacts. El Niño increases the risk of stronger, wetter storms for California; it does not guarantee a wet winter or precise local outcomes.

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