Kelvin wave to raise California ocean level a foot by October Play

A Kelvin wave — a massive pulse of water being pushed up against the South American continent down near the equator — is approaching, and it will raise the baseline ocean level one foot in the next four weeks.

El Niño has caused trade winds to blow the opposite from normal, and that is pushing the Pacific Ocean up against the South American continent.

The water is getting squished up to the north along the Central American coast, and the water level has already gone up as much as 14 inches.

Satellites are tracking the Kelvin wave pushing to the north at about 6 mph.

This surge will hit the tip of Baja California in late September and eventually reach Malibu around the first or second week of October.

Water temperatures along the California coast are expected to increase as the wave arrives. It is predicted to weaken coastal upwelling — the process that normally brings cold, deep water to the ocean surface near California.

The water down in San Diego is already 6 degrees above normal to begin with. The Kelvin wave will increase that.

This whole process takes months. Kelvin waves have been observed before, but never in real time.

Bottom line — higher water, warmer oceans, stronger storms, a real mess this fall.