California Airports Face Holiday Flood Risk

California's busy airports, critical for holiday travel, are under threat of flooding this season. This risk is amplified by ongoing sea level rise and a powerful El Niño climate pattern. San Francisco International Airport, situated on reclaimed marshland, faces a heightened vulnerability to flooding exceeding three feet, which could disrupt flight operations.

While Oakland International Airport has seen improvements to its levee systems, San Francisco's airport has implemented flood defenses like seawalls and berms. Airport staff are also performing maintenance on drainage systems and pumps. However, concerns have been raised that these measures may not provide adequate long-term protection against escalating climate threats.

Recent weeks have seen record-breaking high tides along the California coast, with San Diego and Los Angeles experiencing their highest coastal water levels in over a century. These events, fueled by warm ocean temperatures and El Niño-driven waves, are seen as a precursor to more severe flooding. Experts predict that December tides could be one to two feet higher than those experienced recently.

The peak intensity of El Niño is anticipated between November and December. This confluence of factors, including sea level rise and marine heatwaves, suggests that coastal flooding events between November 2026 and January 2027 could be significantly more severe and widespread than current occurrences.