El Nino, the warming of Pacific Ocean waters, is expected to inflict heavy financial damage on the U.S. state of California this winter, according to experts who assess natural disaster risks.
Flooding and landslides triggered by El Nino this winter could cost California between $2 billion and $3 billion, according to estimates by Climate X, an analytics firm backed by Google Ventures.
Flood damage in the state typically averages around $500 million a year, according to Climate Central, a nonprofit research group. That means the losses expected from El Nino would be significantly higher than usual.
State authorities have already declared a state of emergency in California over the threat of severe storms.
El Nino is a natural climate pattern marked by unusually high water temperatures in the equatorial Pacific Ocean. It can bring significant shifts in temperature patterns and rainfall.
