Climate Realities

Plants—and people—have had a tough long hot summer 2026. And according to weather forecasters, there are more to come. We in Del Mar, lucky to have enjoyed mellow Mediterranean weather, are in for a climate change. Our future: more “extreme” weather with hotter summers. We are not alone. This year record breaking temperatures were reported around the globe.

Along with this new climate reality is the fact that water in the West, always a precious commodity, is drying up. California’s supply from the Colorado River was cut by 10-12% through 2028.  While San Diego currently has an adequate supply of water through 2050, this vital resource’s cost will continually rise along with the temperature.

However, there will be water, a lot, soon. This is an El Niño year. El Niño translates to the sweet sounding “little boy,” a term first used by Peruvian fishermen in the 1600s to describe the warm stormy ocean waters. According to the city “a ‘super’ El Niño is gaining strength in the Pacific Ocean” and is “95% likely to develop between October and December” bringing high winds, heavy downpours of rain (hopefully some can be captured) and big waves. Sea levels could rise to the highest ever recorded on our California coast— predicted at 13” above our current norm. The impact: erosion of our bluffs, damage from flooding along the beachfront, train tracks and adjoining properties from mudslides resulting from saturated soil.

Will this El Niño prove to be as “super” as predicted? Maybe. Maybe not.  But after whatever comes with our winter weather, temperatures are on the rise and the drought may continue. Looking ahead, check out water savvy plants for landscaping. For now the city has an El Niño Webpage to help property owners to prepare for the near future: delmar.ca.us/964/El-Nino