California leaders officially declared a State of Emergency on Monday. The reason? El Niño and its potential to influence a stormier than normal winter on the West Coast. This declaration allows emergency response resources to be readied and allocated ahead of any storm damage. … In general, the impacts of a major El Niño pattern are felt more strongly in Southern California than in Northern California. … The combination of El Niño and a marine heat wave closer to the California coast has ocean temperatures running much warmer than normal. That warmer water takes up more space than cooler water, so water levels at the coast are also running higher than normal. That is likely to be the case through winter.

Other El Niño news:

• San Francisco Chronicle: California is bracing for a historic El Niño. Here’s how to prepare for what’s coming
• KVPR (Fresno, Calif.): A ‘very strong’ El Niño triggers statewide emergency in California even before it fully arrives
• CNN: Newsom declares state of emergency for California ahead of super El Niño storm season
• USA Today: Newsom declares state of emergency to prepare for El Niño in Calif.