During the October 20th Rio Vista City Council meeting, Director of Public Works Greg Malcolm made a presentation warning of a strong possibility of severe flooding, landslides, and wind damage between now and January of next year due to a Super El Niño.
Mr. Malcolm noted that a Super El Niño has a climate pattern that causes significant warming in the Pacific Ocean with effects well beyond the Pacific region. He warned that “El Niño causes higher than normal sea surface levels. Combined with King Tides or a winter storm, there is an increased chance of coastal and Delta flooding and erosion.”
He said that the US National Weather Service forecasts a strong El Nino this storm season, with a 98% chance of record floods along the California coast and inland. According to the weather service, this year’s El Nino storms have a 75% chance of breaking 1950’s flood damage records.
Because of this, in
September Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency to enable state agencies to “help sooner, as it directs them to begin protecting vulnerable communities, prepare roads and critical infrastructure, stage emergency supplies, and help local partners reduce flood, landslide, and coastal risks.”
While El Niño flooding is not 100% certain, Mr. Malcolm noted that Rio Vista’s emergency teams are preparing for any weather emergency and urging residents to be prepared as well. An important item in any emergency is a “go bag”.
There should be one for every person in the household. Each bag should include enough water for a gallon a day for 3 days, along with food and medical supplies. Power sources like fresh batteries or a generator should be on hand in case of an outage.
Residents should clear leaves and blockages from nearby gutters and drains to speed stormwater drainage. If it is safe to do so, trim low-hanging or dead tree branches on the property to avoid windborne missiles.
The Red Cross suggests that an emergency “go bag” should consist of the following items.
•A sturdy backpack containing food, drinking water, first aid, lighting, tools, and personal care supplies for an emergency.
•Food and water supplies, including high calorie food bars, three 4.225-ounce drinking water pouches, water purification tablets, and a 32-ounce water bottle.
•First aid and lighting, including a 33-piece first-aid kit and a hand-crank flashlight.
•Tools and shelter supplies, including a multi-function pocket tool, 5-in-1 survival whistle, emergency poncho, survival blanket, and waterproof matches.
•Personal care and portable storage, including a hygiene kit, bio-hazard bag, nitrile gloves and a dust mask.
•Keep the backpack at home, at work, or in a vehicle with convenient access.
Rio Vista residents should be especially watchful for King Tides in combination with heavy rain forecasts from November through January 2027.
According to the California Coastal Commission King Tides Project Forecasts, the following dates are important to watch.
•November 24 – 26,2026
•December 22–24, 2026
•January 20 – 23, 2027
Mr. Malcolm made clear that Rio Vista may not see flooding or storm damage this winter; however, it is the job of the Department of Public Works to “Plan. Prepare. Protect. Keep Rio Vista Ready.”
To see Mr. Malcolm’s presentation to the city council, log on to the city website at www.riovistacity.com and select AGENDAS & MINUTES. Then navigate to ARCHIVED VIDEOS and select the City Council Oct. 20th, 2026 AGENDA, then scroll down to INFORMATION ITEMS number 8.01– Super El Niño.
For more information regarding Super El Niño updates and valuable web sites see:
California Coastal Commission www.coastal.ca.gov/kingtides
California – Nevada River Forecast Center www.weather.gov/wrh
NOAA Climate www.climate.gov/enso
NOAA National Weather Service www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov
Climate Prediction Ce