Once predicted to bring historic rainfall totals to Southern California, this year's El Niño has turned out to be a pretty big disappointment. Still, while the weather event failed to bring much rain to the region, it looks like it has managed to deliver one thing: crabs. Thousands of tiny crabs. For the last week, the critters have been washing up in scores on the beaches of Orange County, and experts say that El Niño may be delivering them.
As the Laguna Beach Coastline Pilot reports, scientists have speculated that the warmer ocean temperatures that precipitate El Niño events also cause these red tuna crabs to wash ashore more frequently. Last year, tens of thousands of the crabs arrived on Orange County beaches in June, covering huge swaths of shoreline.
Sadly, most of the crustaceans arriving on Laguna Beach and other nearby shores are no longer living. They also do not appear to be very good for snacking on, if you were wondering. Still, they have certainly given the beaches of Orange County a striking new look—and beachgoers some nice opportunities for social media fodder. That's not quite as helpful as some badly needed rainfall, but at least El Niño didn't show up to SoCal completely empty-handed.
- Tiny red crabs wash up on Orange County shores [Laguna Beach Coastline Pilot]
- With red crabs on beaches, how did they get there? How do you get rid of them? Can you eat them? [Orange County Register]
- Underwhelming LA Rain Totals From the El Niño Winter Are In [Curbed LA]
- Here's How Bad the Southern California Drought Still Is [Curbed LA]
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