Winter is months away, but the mere possibility that a major El Niño will whack places like San Diego late this year is stirring deep concern in the town square that is social media. A flood tide of people are saying they’re worried that warm water from the equatorial Pacific will produce a “super” El Niño that will enhance winds, waves and rain storms on the West Coast. … “Confidence is building, the trends are there,” said Brian D’Agostino, who oversees wildfire and climate science at San Diego Gas & Electric. “El Niño is on the way.” … There’s no guarantee of this. “The research is still being done on what impacts this will have,” said D’Agostino, who is responsible for spotting storms that could damage SDG&E’s delivery system.

Other weather and water forecast news:

• The Washington Post: Where summer-like, record-breaking heat will hit the U.S. this week
• San Francisco Chronicle: A record El Niño may be forming — and the forecast model is literally off the charts
• California Post: Video: El Nino explained, and what it means for Californians