Copenhagen, Denmark, is expected to receive 30% more rainfall by the end of the century. The city is responding with a massive long-term adaptation plan. Enghaveparken, pictured here, is part of that plan. The park was redesigned after a 2011 flood to be able to transform into a massive reservoir in the event of heavy rain.
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Claire Harbage
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NPR
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Topline:
Europe is the fastest-warming continent, according to scientists from the United Nations and the European Environment Agency. Temperatures are increasing at twice the global average rate, leading to more fires and flooding. That means cities built centuries ago, including Copenhagen, Denmark, are racing to adapt.
The background: As the planet warms, the atmosphere can hold more moisture, which can lead to more intense rainfall events. "The typical rule of thumb is that for 1 degree Celsius of warming, the atmosphere holds 7% more water," a climate scientist says.
Copenhagen's plan: Meteorologists predict the city will receive 30% more rainfall by the end of this century. After a massive flood in 2011, city officials adopted a "Cloudburst Management Plan," a $1.3 billion public works project to complete 300 flood-mitigation projects over two decades. It includes tunnels to move rainwater under the city and "sponge parks" to soak it up.
Why does it matter? The scale of the city's long-term climate adaptation planning has gained admirers among urban planners throughout the world, a city official says. In addition to penning a collaboration with New York City on climate adaptation, Copenhagen has also consulted with cities in South Africa, China, Germany and beyond on how they can build similar infrastructure to mitigate the increased flooding that comes with climate change. The key is "intense planning," the official says.
Read on ... to learn more about the city's adaptations.
COPENHAGEN, Denmark — Sometimes, a single storm can change a city. For Copenhagen, that storm hit on July 2, 2011.
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"It was over 100 millimeters of rain in a couple of hours. It fell directly on the city of Copenhagen," recalls Mark Payne, a climate researcher at the Danish Meteorological Institute.
Sewers overflowed, and the streets filled with raw sewage, causing more than $1 billion in damage to property. Video from the weather event shows city streets transformed into waterways and passing city buses generating waves that broke against storefronts, while the rain persisted, relentless and torrential.
In July 2011, Copenhagen was hit by a "cloudburst" — an extreme rain event. The storm dumped more than 5 inches of rain on the city in a few hours.
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Martin Lehmann
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Polfoto via Associated Press
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Climate scientists like Payne call these storms "cloudbursts," or extreme rain events. As the planet warms, the atmosphere can hold more moisture, which can lead to more intense rainfall events.
"The typical rule of thumb is that for 1 degree Celsius of warming, the atmosphere holds 7% more water," Payne says.
That means cities built centuries ago are racing to adapt.
As the atmosphere warms, it can hold more moisture. This can lead to more intense rainfall events. "The typical rule of thumb is that for 1 degree Celsius of warming, the atmosphere holds 7% more water," says Mark Payne, a climate researcher at the Danish Meteorological Institute.
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Claire Harbage
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NPR
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In Copenhagen, meteorologists predict the city will receive 30% more rainfall by the end of this century. Just a year after the flood, city officials adopted a "Cloudburst Management Plan," a $1.3 billion public works project to complete 300 flood-mitigation projects over two decades.
Tunnels beneath the city
Construction work on the Kalvebod Brygge tunnel project in Copenhagen. When completed, tunnels like this one will hold excess rainwater during extreme rain events like the 2011 cloudburst.
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Claire Harbage
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NPR
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One of the plan's most high-profile projects is nearly complete: the Kalvebod Brygge Cloudburst Tunnel.
To show it off, engineer Jes Clauson-Kaas carefully descends down nine stories of rickety scaffolding along the edge of a massive concrete hole bored into the earth.
When he arrives at the bottom, he lifts his head and brings two fingers to his lips to produce a loud whistle, its screech echoing along the curved concrete walls above.
"An opera singer's dream," he says, smiling.
Clauson-Kaas is chief consultant for the Copenhagen waterworks utility HOFOR, which is overseeing the construction of the tunnel.
Jes Clauson-Kaas is chief consultant for the Copenhagen waterworks utility HOFOR, which is overseeing the construction of the Kalvebod Brygge Cloudburst Tunnel.
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Claire Harbage
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NPR
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As he walks the perimeter of a cathedral-sized vault that will soon be the pump room, he motions to a hole in the wall just above his head: It's the terminus of a tunnel that's nearly a mile long and 10 feet in diameter and can hold 10,000 cubic meters of water, equal to the volume of four Olympic swimming pools. It's one of seven new tunnels dug under Copenhagen to hold excess rainwater during cloudburst events.
Clauson-Kaas explains how it works: Once the tunnel is full, he says, the pumps are switched on, "and they can simply suck out this water into the harbor."
Collecting rain in 'sponge parks'
Just blocks away from the Kalvebod Brygge tunnel is Enghaveparken, a century-old park that was redesigned after the 2011 flood to transform into a massive reservoir in the event of heavy rain.
Today, neighborhood children play on a soccer field carved deep into the ground. The park itself is enclosed by a 3-foot-high concrete wall with gates that automatically emerge from the ground, sealing the park so that it can hold floodwater.
Storing rainwater on the surface makes more sense than expanding the sewer system, says Jan Rasmussen, director of climate adaptation for the city of Copenhagen.
"You can't expand a pipe as easily as this area can be expanded," he says. "[It's] also much cheaper if we can use areas like this to store rainwater."
Rasmussen says Copenhagen has transformed 20 green areas like Enghaveparken into what the city nicknames "sponge parks." When full, he says, Enghaveparken can hold 25,000 cubic meters of water. When it's not raining, a 2,000-cubic-meter storage tank underneath a rose garden in the park holds rainwater collected from the neighborhood's storm drains, used to irrigate the park's lawns, trees and flowers.
Karens Minde Park in Copenhagen has built-in areas for rainwater retention. It's one of the hundreds of projects that Copenhagen is taking on to prevent damage from flooding.
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Claire Harbage
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NPR
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In addition to the sponge parks and cloudburst tunnels, Copenhagen has also just broken ground on a human-made island off its coast, named Lynetteholm. The island will house 35,000 people and protect the city against storm surges, another weather phenomenon happening more often here as the climate warms and sea levels rise. The island is expected to be finished by 2070.
The scale of the city's long-term climate adaptation planning has gained admirers among urban planners throughout the world, says Rasmussen. In addition to penning a collaboration with New York City on climate adaptation, he says, Copenhagen has also consulted with cities in South Africa, China, Germany and beyond on how they can build similar infrastructure to mitigate the increased flooding that comes with climate change.
"The trick to make all of this a success," says Rasmussen, "is intense planning."
Evidence of Copenhagen's plan to fight flooding can be seen all over the city — like this catchment basin in a green space along Scandiagade street.
Whether you’re craving pumpkin spice or something different, these Eastside cafes have plenty of drinks and pastries to choose from.
Why it matters: Fall is here, and so are the cozy, seasonal drinks. If you’re looking to skip out on chain lattes and support local instead, this guide is for you.
Cafe Niña: What started as a home-based coffee shop in Boyle Heights has now expanded to a brick-and-mortar location in East Los Angeles. Find their fall menu at both locations. If you’re looking for spooky vibes, ask for a ghost design on the inside of your cup.
Read on... for more Eastside cafes to check out this fall.
Fall is here, and so are the cozy, seasonal drinks. If you’re looking to skip out on chain lattes and support local instead, this guide is for you.
Whether you’re a pumpkin spice lover or not, these Eastside cafes have a variety of drinks and pastries to choose from.
Cafe Niña
Add a ghost design to your drink at Cafe Niña.
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Courtesy of Cafe Niña
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What started as a home-based coffee shop in Boyle Heights has now expanded to a brick-and-mortar location in East Los Angeles. Find their fall menu at both locations. If you’re looking for spooky vibes, ask for a ghost design on the inside of your cup.
Pumpkin pillon latte: Pumpkin with piloncillo
Durazno Latte: Peach cobbler-inspired latte
Location #1: Boyle Heights: 3264 E. 4th St., Los Angeles, CA 90063
Hours: Tuesday-Friday 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday-Monday 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Location #2: East Los Angeles: 3923 1/2 E. Olympic Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90023
Hours: Monday-Friday 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday-Sunday 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The pumpkin spice latte is made with fresh pumpkin and espresso at Acurrúcame Café.
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Courtesy of Acurrúcame Café
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This cafe is known for specialty drinks available only to customers who order in person. Its pumpkin spice matcha and latte are available now, while the Franken-Berry latte and the Beetlejuice matcha will be available starting September 26.
Pumpkin spice matcha or latte: Made with fresh pumpkin and either matcha or espresso
Franken-Berry latte: Made with espresso and blueberries
Beetlejuice: Matcha made with blackberries
Location: 2609 E. Cesar E. Chavez Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90033
Hours: Monday-Friday 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Looking for a vegan alternative this fall season? Cake Girl has a variety of pumpkin spice desserts, including cupcakes, donuts, cookies and more. For a fall drink, try the pumpkin spice cold brew.
Yusra Farzan
reports on issues affecting current and future college students, their families and communities.
Published October 9, 2026 5:00 AM
California Community Colleges signed a new deal to make it easier for students to transfer to Arizona State University.
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Dania Maxwell
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Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
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Topline:
California Community Colleges announced an agreement Thursday with Arizona State University that creates a guaranteed transfer pathway for students.
Why it matters: In recent years, ASU has been rapidly expanding, “growing with no end in sight and expanding well beyond the state's borders,” as AZ Central put it. For California community colleges, the new agreement offers a new option for students who struggle to transfer to the California State University and University of California systems.
Why now: The transfer process from community colleges to CSU is not an easy one. A state audit of the transfer process in 2024 found that only 21% of students who started at a California community college between 2017 and 2019 transferred to a four-year university within four years of starting their ADT program. The audit pointed to “financial insecurity, family responsibilities, and an inability to relocate.”
Another reason: CSU and UC had complicated transfer requirements that were difficult for students to navigate.
What's next: Enter ASU with a golden ticket, literally.
At a signing ceremony at their center downtown, ASU officials demonstrated — printed-out tickets in hand — how ASU was going to guarantee a degree pathway for every student who completes the ADT.
”The plan here is to try to increase transfer, increase completion of baccalaureates in equitable ways for Californians,” said James Todd, chief academic officer at the California Community Colleges.
California Community Colleges announced an agreement Thursday with Arizona State University that creates a guaranteed transfer pathway for students.
In recent years, ASU has been rapidly expanding, “growing with no end in sight and expanding well beyond the state's borders,” as AZ Central put it. For California community colleges, the new agreement offers a new option for students who struggle to transfer to the California State University and University of California systems.
For over a decade, California community college students could enroll in a two-year associate degree of transfer after it was codified in law. There are about 60 ADT options students can do. The law envisioned that if students completed that program, they were guaranteed admission to a California State University campus. In recent years, that guaranteed transfer degree has also let students transfer to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).
What transfer options do students have?
But the transfer process is not an easy one.
A state audit of the transfer process in 2024 found that only 21% of students who started at a California community college between 2017 and 2019 transferred to a four-year university within four years of starting their ADT program. The audit pointed to “financial insecurity, family responsibilities, and an inability to relocate.”
Another reason: CSU and UC had complicated transfer requirements that were difficult for students to navigate. And transfer students weren’t always offered their first-choice CSU or UC school — so even if they got into a CSU or UC school, sometimes they didn’t go because it was not in the region they were applying to.
The audit also found:
every community college did not offer all ADTs
all CSU campuses did not accept all the ADTs
not all community colleges offered counseling to make sure students had the required number of units to transfer.
The Arizona State option
Enter ASU with a golden ticket, literally.
At a signing ceremony at their center downtown, ASU officials demonstrated — printed-out tickets in hand — how ASU was going to guarantee a degree pathway for every student who completes the ADT.
”The plan here is to try to increase transfer, increase completion of baccalaureates in equitable ways for Californians,” said James Todd, chief academic officer at the California Community Colleges.
“ What makes this unique is this is the most comprehensive ADT partnership that has existed for the California Community Colleges,” said Jeff DeFranco, special advisor to the provost at ASU. “Arizona State University is accepting all 60 associate degrees for transfers. So we're saying we're accepting all these, and those 60 actually lead and open you up to nearly ... 100 different degree options.”
Students who choose to transfer to ASU can enroll on campus in Arizona, do the program online or opt for ASU Local, where you do your coursework online but you have a weekly meeting with your fellow students and ASU staff.
“ What ASU could provide is, for instance, let's say you can't leave your community, and this was the case for many students: childcare, supporting an intergenerational household, work commitments, whatever was going on — sometimes they can't leave,” he said. “ASU has more than 200 bachelor's degrees online, and that is very unique.”
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AirTalk host Larry Mantle, left, speaks with a panel of experts to guide us all through the 14 state propositions on the Nov. 3 ballot.
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James Van Evers for LAist
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LAist.com
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Californians will decide on more than a dozen ballot initiatives this November, covering a wide range of proposals focused on housing, taxes, recall elections, voter identification and more. LAist is here to help with our Voter Game Plan and a series of "ballot cram sessions" where we ask the experts for insight and answer your questions. The one thing we don't do? We don't tell you how to vote. That part is up to you.
Read on ... for details about how LAist is helping you get ready for Nov. 3.
Californians will decide on more than a dozen ballot initiatives this November, covering a wide range of proposals focused on housing, taxes, recall elections, voter identification and more.
It’s a lot of information to wade through on your own.
That’s why LAist unveils its Voter Game Plan each election season, with guides to help you cast a ballot that aligns with your values and beliefs. (The one thing we don’t do? Tell you how to vote. That is up to you.) For the Nov. 3 general election, LAist is also hosting a series of ballot cram sessions focused on helping you make informed decisions.
The series kicked off on Wednesday with AirTalk Host Larry Mantle and a panel of experts focused on the long list of statewide propositions in a one-hour cram session.
Michael Alvarez, professor of political and computational social science at CalTech; Sara Sadhwani, associate professor of politics at Pomona College, and Lee E. Ohanian, a professor of economics at UCLA and senior fellow at the Hoover Institution, provided an overview of each ballot measure. The trio described the pros, cons and stakes of every decision Californians face this November, including the confusing and conflicting trio of tax measures you’ll see on your ballot as Props. 40, 41 and 42.
“There’s a lot of uncertainty as to how much revenue this might generate. There’s a lot of uncertainty, in particular, if it’s going to generate revenue in sufficient time to help the Californians who are really in need of having healthcare,” said Alvarez on Prop. 40, which would create a one-time tax on billionaires to fund healthcare.
Lee and Sadhwani both noted that there's a question of whether the tax would drive billionaires out of the state. “If you think that super high wealthy people should be paying more in taxes, there’s better ways to do this,” said Lee.
As for Prop. 41, which would require audits of new tax programs, and Prop. 42, which would ban new taxes on personal property, the panel agreed the measures are confusing.
Both propositions would nullify Prop. 40 if they receive more votes in support than the billionaire tax measure. That’s the big thing to remember, said Sadhwani: “They’re really the poison pills of Prop. 40, the billionaire’s tax. So a yes on 41 or a yes on 42 is a no essentially for Prop. 40.”
“I’ll be honest, Prop. 41 as well as Prop. 42 kind of makes my eyes glaze over,” said Sadhwani. Alvarez added that the measures make his head spin. Experts — they’re just like us!
Lucas Brady Woods
covers the weather and disasters, among other climate and science topics.
Published October 8, 2026 5:18 PM
Officials are urging Southern California residents in flood-prone areas, including in burn scar zones like Altadena (seen in this December 2025 photo), to get sandbags and learn how to use them ahead of El Niño rains.
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Gina Ferazzi
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Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
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Topline:
Peak El Niño season will hit in the next few months, and emergency management officials are urging residents to prepare their homes for possible flooding, mudslides and debris flows.
Know your flood risk: Officials say it’s crucial for residents to understand the flood risks to their property, their neighborhood and the important routes they travel. Know if your property has flooded before and be aware if you’re below a hillside that’s susceptible to landslides or in an area that’s vulnerable to coastal flooding.
Prepare your home: Consider buying flood insurance now if you’re in a high risk zone. Clear out gutters and storm drains. Make sure important documents are in waterproof storage. And think about stockpiling sandbags. But when it comes to sandbags, make sure you know how to properly use them.
Read on … for sandbag tips and our full guide on how to prepare your home for El Niño.
Elevated sea levels are already rolling into Southern California waters, leading to coastal erosion and other damage. An El Niño-driven Kelvin wave is further exacerbating conditions along the coast. And Tropical Storm Rachel could bring rain across the region this weekend.
But all of this is probably just the beginning of a very wet Southern California rainy season.
Authorities have been sounding the alarm.
“ Residents need to hear this information, and they need to hear it repeatedly, enough times so that they too can act,” L.A. County Supervisor Hilda Solis said during a recent presentation about El Niño preparations.
Heavy rain, flooding and debris flows can pose serious threats to homes and infrastructure. Officials and climate scientists say the best way to protect yourself and your property is to make preparations now, well before peak El Niño conditions arrive.
Here’s what you can do to prepare your home.
Preparing your property
One of the first steps to getting your home ready for El Niño is to understand how vulnerable it is to flooding when heavy rain or surging surf hits your neighborhood.
“It really is incumbent upon people to pause, evaluate where they live, where they travel and to really think about what would happen if those areas were flooded out,” said Kerjon Lee, spokesperson for the L.A. County Department of Public Works. “ Knowing your community, your neighborhood, where mud and debris flow might occur — is really critical.”
You can review your risks using California’s MyHazard tool, which allows you to input your address and cycle through potential risks.
Floodwaters and the landscape
Knowing if your property or neighborhood has flooded in the past can be helpful, and you can learn a lot from simply looking at the landscape in and around your home.
If your house is at the bottom of a hillside, for example, it’s probably more susceptible to debris flows, especially if the slope burned in a wildfire in the last several years. Burn scars are especially vulnerable to landslides and flooding because they lack the established vegetation that helps hold soil in place and absorbs water during heavy rain.
Other landmarks to look out for near your property are creeks, canals, drainage channels, debris basins and even low-lying roadways.
It’s also a good idea to understand how rainwater flows onto your property, where it collects and how it leaves. The goal should be for water to flow through your property safely and efficiently, without causing damage to neighbors.
That means clearing debris and overgrowth from gutters and drains now, before extreme weather hits.
Officials are also urging residents to report clogged or blocked storm drains to their local public works department.
If your property is at high risk of flooding, consider stockpiling sandbags. Many fire departments and public works departments offer sandbags to their local communities.
You can check sandbag distribution locations and availability here:
Be prepared to fill the sandbags yourself, as most places only offer empty ones. Never fill sandbags with beach sand or empty used ones onto the beach.
Once you have sandbags, make sure you know how to use them properly.
Here are a few tips:
Only fill sandbags half-full, not all the way full.
Do not place sandbags directly against the outer wall of a building as wet bags can create added pressure on the foundation.
Sandbags should be placed parallel to the direction of water flow.
The open ends of sandbags should be folded underneath and face upstream so they aren’t forced open as water flows around them.
Sandbags should be used to redirect floodwater rather than create a dam or block its path.
Sandbags can be used to protect doorways, but to do so, they should have a waterproof layer like heavy plastic or waterproof canvas placed behind them.
This diagram shows the proper way to place sandbags so that they are parallel to the flow of water or debris and redirect it away from structures.
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Los Angeles County Department of Public Works
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Local agencies offer thorough instructions on how to use sandbags online. L.A. County Public Works offers a breakdown in its Homeowners Guide.
Sandbags and other materials for protecting your home, including plywood, lumber or plastic sheeting, should be stored in a dry location away from potential flooding.
More resources
Here are some other helpful resources for preparing your home for possible flooding.
If valuables could be damaged or destroyed by floodwaters, consider moving them away from the ground or, if possible, to upper floors. Keep important documents in waterproof containers or sealed bags, and make sure to create digital copies.
Another recommendation is to check trees on your property for dead branches, cracks or other issues that might make them unstable, especially those that hang over structures. If you’re unsure or concerned about your trees, you can hire an arborist to inspect them. To trim or remove them, you will likely have to hire a professional. Cities and counties generally do not handle tree maintenance on private property.
Standard homeowners insurance policies typically do not cover flood damage, and new flood insurance plans can take at least 30 days to kick in. If you want to consider signing up for a plan, the National Flood Insurance Program is a good place to start.
If floodwaters do enter your home, public health officials recommend drying wet areas as quickly as possible, as saturation can lead to mold. If mold does take hold, clean the area using a disinfectant. Also, wear gloves and a mask to protect your skin and lungs and throw away moldy items that can’t be cleaned.
