The already strong El Niño conditions in the Pacific Ocean continue to grow stronger, federal scientists said Thursday, with a 69% chance that this year’s event will be the strongest since modern records began in 1950. Scientists at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in College Park, Maryland announced there is a 90% chance of a very strong El Niño through this fall and winter as water temperatures along the equator off South America continue to rise. But while El Niño increases the odds of wet winters in California, it doesn’t mean what many people assume: That flooding is imminent later in the year for residents who live along rivers and creeks.

Other El Niño and flood risk news:

• Los Angeles Times: ‘Super’ El Niño is super likely as California braces for impact
• The Salt Lake Tribune: Utah could be in for a whale of a ski season. There’s just one problem.
• SFGate: Here’s what the ‘extraordinary’ new El Niño forecast means for California
• KQED (San Francisco): Strong El Niño may bring record sea level and coastal flooding to Bay Area
• The Pajaronian (Watsonville, Calif.): PRFMA eyeing potentially wet El Niño season
• The Hill: ‘Super’ El Niño may be strongest since 1950. When will it peak, hit the US?
• The Washington Post: We’ll soon get a glimpse of future temperatures, thanks to this record El Niño
• UC Berkeley: Blog: Can ‘digital twins’ help California manage its growing flood risk?