California’s wet season is starting off with a bang. The first significant storm of the season is forecast to bring heavy rain to vulnerable burn scars near Big Sur, coastal tornado risk to the Los Angeles area, and a half-foot of snow or more to high-elevation areas in the Sierra. Wednesday is expected to be the rainiest day along the coast, and Thursday the snowiest in the Sierra. … Ocean temperatures along the California coast are up to 10 degrees above normal, which could add heat and moisture to storms as they approach the shore. With a historically strong El Niño in place, downpours, waterspouts and tornadoes are more likely along the coast this winter. … A winter weather advisory is in effect for the central and southern Sierra Nevada, where a half-foot of snow could fall above 8,000 feet.

Other El Niño and weather forecast news:

• The New York Times: A storm will bring rain to California this week
• Yale Climate Connections: Blog: Climate change plus a super El Niño could add up to a record-wet winter for California
• The Desert Sun (Palm Springs, Calif.): El Niño and a Kelvin wave are brewing — what that means for California
• Santa Cruz Sentinel (Calif.): Santa Cruz County prepares for potential impact from El Niño
• Reuters: El Niño could be strongest in 40 years, UN weather agency chief says​
• FarmPress: Opinion: New water year requires more than hope
• Surfer magazine: California surf goes absolutely berserk as monster El Niño swells arrive