California Declares Emergency Ahead of El Niño Storms

California's governor declared a state of emergency on September 21, 2026, as the state prepares for record El Niño storms and major flooding risks this winter. The emergency declaration covers the entire state and allows officials to mobilize resources before the severe weather arrives. El Niño is a recurring climate pattern that warms Pacific Ocean waters and often brings heavier rainfall to California. Separately, two pilots died in a helicopter crash while fighting a California wildfire, and the state acquired 640 acres near Pioneertown for western Joshua tree conservation.