Climate scientist Daniel Swain speaks at a free Beverly Hills Public Library virtual event on Wednesday, Sept. 2. The talk covers California's rapidly developing El Niño and what it could mean for extreme weather in winter 2026–27.

The event, co-presented with the California State Library, begins at 5:30 p.m. Pacific and is open for registration through the library's online calendar.

Swain holds joint appointments at University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources and the NSF National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR). He earned his Ph.D. in Earth System Science from Stanford University and completed postdoctoral work at UCLA. He also authors the Weather West blog, which tracks California weather and climate in real time.

The stakes are high. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Climate Prediction Center reported in August a greater than 90 percent chance of a "very strong" El Niño during fall and winter, according to Newsweek. The Los Angeles Times reported a 7-in-10 chance it will be the strongest such pattern since 1950.

Swain has discussed the El Niño's risks in interviews with several outlets. In an Aug. 29 interview with USA Today, he said, "We've never experienced an extreme El Nino in a climate as warm as the climate is today."

On Tuesday, Sept. 1, LA County emergency managers told county supervisors they are preparing for flooding, mudslides and coastal impacts ahead of winter 2026–27, LAist reported. Swain told LAist the risk of coastal flooding is "actually very high and almost guaranteed." LA County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath said at the same presentation that officials expect increased rain and wet weather impacts, according to KTLA.

In an Aug. 10 online talk, Swain said the heaviest impacts would likely arrive late in the rainy season, with wetter conditions most likely from late December into March, as reported by the Marin Independent Journal.

The Beverly Hills Public Library's September calendar includes several more events: a virtual author talk with Daniel Kraus on Tuesday, Sept. 8, at 4 p.m.; a virtual talk with Priya Parker on Tuesday, Sept. 15, at 1 p.m.; a virtual author talk with Lucky Diaz on Thursday, Sept. 24, at 4 p.m.; and an in-person talk and book signing with Dr. Rhae Lynn Barnes at 444 North Rexford Drive on Thursday, Sept. 24, at 7 p.m.