west coast

The New York Times reports that the current El Niño pattern is influencing storm activity on opposite sides of the United States. The climate phenomenon, marked by warmer Pacific Ocean waters, is altering jet stream behavior and steering weather systems, shaping storm tracks for both the West and East coasts this season.

Scientists are tracking a slow-moving kelvin wave, a vast pulse of warm ocean water travelling along the equatorial Pacific toward the US West Coast. The phenomenon is closely tied to El Niño-Southern Oscillation dynamics, and observers warn it could shift weather patterns, raise coastal sea levels and influence storm activity for California in the months ahead, sharpening fears of extreme conditions on the West Coast.

Tropical Storm Rachel has formed off Mexico's southwest coast, according to US forecasters. The storm's emergence comes as the Pacific hurricane season continues to be monitored closely, and residents along the Mexican coast are watching for updates on its projected path and strength. Details on expected landfall or impact were not immediately provided.

Scientists and weather watchers are tracking a vast, slow-moving Kelvin wave—a planetary-scale ocean or atmospheric pattern—that is heading toward California. The development is drawing attention because such waves can influence coastal conditions and extreme weather, and concern is mounting over what impact it could bring to the US West Coast.

Avanti West Coast, the operator of rail services on the West Coast Main Line between London, the Midlands, northern England and Scotland, will be brought back into public ownership in March. The move forms part of the UK government's wider programme of renationalising failing private rail operators under Great British Railways reform. The announcement is drawing attention from passengers and transport commentators, many of whom have long criticised the operator for delays, cancellations and poor service.

SpaceX is scheduled to launch a U.S. Space Force mission early Saturday from Vandenberg Space Force Base on California's central coast. Local outlets including the Santa Maria Times and Santa Ynez Valley News report on the planned liftoff, which adds to the company's growing slate of national security launches from the West Coast pad.

Melbourne veteran Jack Viney is at the centre of AFL trade speculation, with reports he is impressed by West Coast's pitch and weighing a move west. The Toowoomba Chronicle reports his decision could have a domino effect across the trade period, with Geelong reportedly watching closely as they eye their next big signing.

SpaceX launched a secretive mission for the US Space Force from California. Details about the payload and purpose have not been disclosed, consistent with classified military spaceflight. Photos released from the launch show the rocket lifting off from the West Coast, and the mission is drawing attention for the lack of public information about what was carried into orbit.

Two weak earthquakes have been recorded in southern Spain. A magnitude 2.8 quake struck with its epicentre east of Garrucha, shaking the eastern coast of Almería, while a magnitude 2.4 tremor hit 21 km west of Antequera in Málaga province early Thursday. Neither quake was strong enough to cause damage, but both were felt locally and are drawing attention across the region.

A massive Kelvin wave is reported to be moving toward California, raising questions about what it could mean for the state's coastline and weather patterns. Kelvin waves are large movements of warm water across the Pacific that can influence ocean temperatures and climate conditions along the West Coast. Coverage is focusing on the potential impacts for California as the wave approaches.

SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 rocket from the West Coast carrying a classified payload for the U.S. Space Force. The mission's contents were not disclosed, consistent with standard practice for national security spaceflights. The launch adds to SpaceX's growing cadence of government and military missions and drew attention from spaceflight watchers tracking the company's military work.

The UK government will not renew Avanti's West Coast rail contract when it expires in March 2027, returning the service to public ownership as part of the ongoing rolling renationalisation of Britain's railways. Observers say it will be interesting to see what impact the change has on the service and passengers.

Ottawa has formally designated a West Coast oil pipeline as a project of national interest, with Prime Minister Mark Carney and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith making the announcement in Fort McMurray. Carney pledged a 'true partnership' with Indigenous communities on major infrastructure projects. The fast-track move comes as Fort McMurray prepares for a potential economic boom, while Canadians also marked the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation with marches and gatherings in Montreal and Sudbury.

Andy Burnham's speech has drawn attention alongside rail announcements affecting the North West. The government confirmed Avanti West Coast will be nationalised within months, and Euston station is to receive a £50m upgrade. The moves affect services on the West Coast Main Line, a key route between London, Manchester and Glasgow, and follow sustained criticism of Avanti's performance and reliability from passengers and regional leaders.

California is accelerating preparations for a massive Kelvin wave and forecast sea level rise, according to the Guardian. The phenomenon, linked to El Niño–Southern Oscillation dynamics, raises concerns about coastal flooding along the West Coast. Officials are reportedly rushing to shore up defences as the state braces for the impacts of warmer ocean waters and higher water levels.

A state of emergency has been declared in California as the strongest El Niño on record drives severe storm conditions and is already disrupting weather patterns worldwide. Scientists warn the event could bring flooding and landslides to the West Coast while altering rainfall and temperature patterns across other continents, raising concerns about crop impacts and extreme weather globally.

Tropical activity is intensifying across the Pacific. Storm Nolo continues moving through the Hawaiian archipelago, while Polo has weakened to a tropical storm and is cutting across Mexico. Meanwhile Rachel is strengthening into a major hurricane off Mexico's west coast, veering away from land and out into open ocean.

Kyrgyz Republic President Sadyr Zhaparov watched a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. The visit was covered by the base, highlighting growing space-related engagement between Kyrgyzstan and US space organizations. The launch formed part of SpaceX's ongoing Falcon 9 mission schedule from the West Coast site.

Environmental activists gathered at West Beach in Santa Barbara, California, for a rally in defence of the coastline. Organisers and attendees called attention to threats facing the local shore and urged stronger protection of coastal resources. The event drew local coverage, with participants stressing that community action is needed to keep the beach and surrounding waters safe from development and pollution.

Scientists warn that a warm 'Kelvin wave' driven by El Niño is moving along the equatorial Pacific toward the West Coast, potentially raising sea levels in the San Francisco Bay Area. The warmer water expands sea surface height and, combined with winter storms and high tides, could increase coastal flooding risk in low-lying Bay Area communities in the coming months.

The Naval Academy women's tennis team is traveling to the West Coast to compete in the San Diego Veterans Tennis Classic. The event gives the Midshipmen early-season matches against a varied field while tying in with the tournament's tribute to veterans. Navy athletics announced the trip as part of the team's fall schedule.

A hiker on the west coast shared scenes from a morning walk, where a fogbow was only partly forming because the fog was too thin. The moon, positioned above the fog near an electrical tower, was also difficult to make out. The images have drawn a small amount of attention among weather and outdoor photography enthusiasts.

Nearly 10,000 Boeing workers on the West Coast have ratified a new labor contract, avoiding a strike. The vote ends the threat of a work stoppage that could have disrupted production at Boeing facilities, a relief for the company as it works to stabilize output and meet delivery commitments. The ratification secures terms accepted by union members without industrial action.

West Coast Conference Commissioner Stu Jackson issued a statement responding to the US Senate's passage of the Protect College Sports Act, a bill affecting the governance of college athletics. Jackson, a former NBA executive who leads the conference, welcomed the legislation. The statement is drawing attention from college sports watchers tracking how federal law may reshape the NCAA landscape.

Environmental activists gathered at Santa Barbara's West Beach for a rally in defense of the coastline. The event, covered by the Santa Barbara News-Press, brought together campaigners calling for protection of the local coast. Details on the specific demands, organizers, and size of the crowd remain limited.

Private Eyes West Coast, a new TV series debuting in 2026, is registering on ratings trackers as viewers begin looking up its performance data. The show, a continuation of the Private Eyes franchise, is attracting curiosity about its audience numbers in its early run. Comment on its reception remains limited so far, with interest focused on whether the spin-off can match the popularity of the original series.

A Kelvin wave, a pulse of unusually warm water moving eastward along the equatorial Pacific, is reported to be heading toward the US West Coast and California. Such waves are closely watched because they can influence ocean temperatures, marine ecosystems and coastal weather patterns, and they sometimes foreshadow El Nino conditions. Coverage so far is limited to environmental outlets, with no detailed regional response reported yet.

An amateur weather station at Marybank on the Isle of Lewis in Scotland's Outer Hebrides is reporting a temperature of 12.3°C, humidity of 97% and a light southerly-southwesterly wind of 2 km/h. The readings point to a mild, very damp and almost windless day on the island, conditions typical of the wet Atlantic climate of Scotland's north-west coast.