The planetary wave headed for California isn’t what you think it is

An aerial view of equipment moving fresh sand during an emergency replenishment project along eroding shoreline at North Beach on August 15th, 2024, in San Clemente, California. | Photo: Getty Images A rather strong "planetary wave" recently slammed into South America and is making its way toward California. In case you're worried about headlines warning of the supposedly "freak" phenomenon "bringing trouble," it's worth understanding what this wave really is and isn't. Called a Kelvin wave, it's carrying warm water to the Americas that's typically trapped farther west. That's raising sea leve