It's no secret, most of us would like to stay in our own home as we age. Yet, sometimes our loved ones just need a little extra help to remain comfortable at home. That's where Always Best Care can help....we are dedicated to exceeding expectations....always.
They say that your golden years are the best years of your life. For most older Americans, that's how it should be - a time to relax, reflect, and live life in a familiar place. After all, senior citizens in the U.S. have worked tirelessly to build a better economy, serve their communities, and raise families.
However, as seniors grow older, completing daily tasks like showering and enjoying activities such as visiting San Mateo County History Museum in San Mateo, CA gets harder without someone by their side. Unfortunately, many older Americans aren't able to rely on their adult children for help. The reality in today's world is that family members do not have the skills or time to dedicate to caring for their parents. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.
Our in-home care services are for people who prefer to stay at home as they grow older but need ongoing care that family or friends cannot provide. More and more older adults prefer to live far away from long-term, institutionalized facilities and closer to the place where they feel most comfortable - their home. Home care in San Mateo, CA is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.
Home Care Services
Service AreasSince 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they get older. We are proud to have helped more than 25,000 seniors maintain higher levels of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of in-home care available so that they may live happily and independently.
Unlike some senior care companies, we genuinely want to be included in our clients' lives. We believe that personalized care is always the better option over a "one size fits all" approach. To make sure our senior clients receive the best care possible, we pair them with compassionate caregivers who understand their unique needs. That way, they may provide care accordingly without compromising their wellbeing.
The Always Best Care difference lies in life's little moments - where compassionate care and trustworthy experience come together to help seniors live a fruitful, healthy life. Whether you are an aging adult that can't quite keep up with life's daily tasks or the child of a senior who needs regular in-home services, Always Best Care is here to help.
“ABC has been super amazing taking care of my dad. He looks like clean cut”
“One of the best places to work my supervisor and my boss are the best”
“Shuil be q great experience!”
“Andrea has been excellent to work with in accessing our needs and Eseta is providing”
“ABC was wonderful to work with. They were able to connect caregivers who worked well”
“I am a past client of this provider Always Best Care was great to work with!”
“I am a current client of this provider I love the team. Happiness expertly coordinates caregivers”
“I love working with Tyler and his team. They are all very passionate about their”
“This is a great company to work for, everyone is extremely considerate and maintains open”
“I required 2 months of live-in care after a bone marrow transplant. I was put”
“Work with the senior people is wonderful ????????”
“I love to work in Always Best Care they nice”
“One of the best Senior Care Services I’ ve known and joined. The management and”
“We're very fortunate to have ABC assist us with our caregiving needs. They worked with”
“I am a current client of this provider Can I give 10 stars? Angela has been”
“Can I give this agency 10 stars? Angela has been wonderful to work with and”
“Carrie is wonderful, She always puts 100% effort in everything she does.”
“Been with them two months and already seeing excellent results. Can't wait to see what”
“matt and carrie are seo superstars i highly recommend them. Great experience.”
“Highly recommend Mr. Marketing SEO. Experts in the marketing space and their team is great”
“Mr. Marketing SEO team gets the job done. we have seen an enormous increase in”
“Been with them two months and already seeing great results. can't wait to see what”
“Matt and Carrie are seo superstars I highly recommend them.”
“Carrie's fantastic she always puts 100% effort in everything she does”
“Very professional and knowledgeable.”
“ABC has been super amazing taking care of my dad. He looks like clean cut and shaved. The house is spotless. The schedule is consistent with a low number of folks in the rotation. That helps immensely for my dad and myself (not having to explain everything again and my dad gets stability/comfort) All the ladies have been lovely and very helpful. Liz has even helped my dad celebrate his birthday with a small cake! He looked really happy too. 10/10 would recommend! ❤️”
“One of the best places to work my supervisor and my boss are the best one day I will be part of you’ll again it was so hard leaving all does nice and loving people behind”
“Shuil be q great experience!”
“Andrea has been excellent to work with in accessing our needs and Eseta is providing the "in home care" services like she is part of our family. We are very happy having found Always Best Care.”
“ABC was wonderful to work with. They were able to connect caregivers who worked well with my mother. The caregivers were professional, friendly, caring and just wonderful. Thank you ABC for helping my mother’s last days be has comfortable as possible.”
“I am a past client of this provider Always Best Care was great to work with! I started out with a few hours a day for two days a week for my dad‘s care and in the end we were doing 24 hour care Seven days a week. When the time came that I needed to find a place to put my dad they even provided the service to help me find a home for him to go into. The whole team at Always Best Care were great to work with. Their caregivers were wonderful and Angela and Happiness were good to work with.”
“I am a current client of this provider I love the team. Happiness expertly coordinates caregivers WITHOUT A GAP - Making sure that you are stress free. The amazing caregivers including Cyprean, Debora Sonora Adra and Kevin, are always professional kind and wonderful to work with, The process is easy It is about the people and I will say, these people are WONDERFUL, Highly recommend this service”
“I love working with Tyler and his team. They are all very passionate about their business and how they help their clients.”
“This is a great company to work for, everyone is extremely considerate and maintains open communication :)”
“I required 2 months of live-in care after a bone marrow transplant. I was put up at a little apartment near Stanford Hospital. I absolutely loved my caregivers! They had to drive me to appointments, assist with grocery shopping, drive me to pick up prescriptions, etc. Plus do the housework around the apartment. They made a long stay away from my husband, pets and home very pleasant.”
“Work with the senior people is wonderful ????????”
“I love to work in Always Best Care they nice”
“One of the best Senior Care Services I’ ve known and joined. The management and staff are really nice, caring, supportive and approachable. You feel like home with them.”
“We're very fortunate to have ABC assist us with our caregiving needs. They worked with us to find the right fit of caregivers who can attend to my parents' needs and had the essential cultural background.”
“I am a current client of this provider Can I give 10 stars? Angela has been so kind and thoughtful in assisting me. Her staff of caregivers have been caring and responsive.”
“Can I give this agency 10 stars? Angela has been wonderful to work with and her staff of caregivers have been professional and responsive. We're still clients and very happy with the care provided.”
“Carrie is wonderful, She always puts 100% effort in everything she does.”
“Been with them two months and already seeing excellent results. Can't wait to see what the next few months are like.”
“matt and carrie are seo superstars i highly recommend them. Great experience.”
“Highly recommend Mr. Marketing SEO. Experts in the marketing space and their team is great to work with.”
“Mr. Marketing SEO team gets the job done. we have seen an enormous increase in sales”
“Been with them two months and already seeing great results. can't wait to see what the next few months are like.”
“Matt and Carrie are seo superstars I highly recommend them.”
“Carrie's fantastic she always puts 100% effort in everything she does”
“Very professional and knowledgeable.”
Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it is especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.
When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.
The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.
At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one gets older, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.
To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:
If your senior loved one has specific care needs, our personal care services are a great choice to consider. Personal care includes the standard caregiving duties associated with companion care and includes help with tasks such as dressing and grooming. Personal care can also help individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes.
Common personal care services include assistance with:
Sometimes, seniors need helpful reminders to maintain a high quality of life at home. If you or your senior has trouble with everyday tasks like cooking, our home helper services will be very beneficial.
Common home helper care services include assistance with:
Using this kind of care is a fantastic way to make life easier for you or your senior loved one. At Always Best Care, our talented caregivers often fill the role of a companion for seniors. That way, older adults can enjoy their favorite local activities, such as visiting San Mateo Central Park in San Mateo, CA with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.
Common companionship services include:
According to AARP, more than 53 million adults living in the U.S. provide care to someone over 50 years old. Unfortunately, these caregivers experience stress, exhaustion, and even depression. Our respite care services help family caregivers address urgent obligations, spend time with their children, and enjoy nearby activities. Perhaps more importantly, respite care gives family members time to recharge and regroup. Taking personal time to de-stress reduces the risk of caregiver burnout. So, if you've always wanted to eat at the local All Spice or visit San Mateo Japanese Garden, don't feel bad. Doing so is great for both you and your loved one.
At the end of the day, our goal is to become a valuable part of your senior's daily routine. That way, we may help give them the highest quality of life possible. We know that staying at home is important for your loved one, and we are here to help make sure that is possible.
If you have been on the fence about non-medical home care, there has never been a better time than now to give your senior the care, assistance, and companionship they deserve.
Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:
According to AARP, 9 out of 10 seniors prefer to age in place within the comfort of their own home. With in-home care, seniors have a way to stay at home, receive the care they need, and maintain a sense of independence, improving overall wellness.
If you or a member of your family have assumed the role of caregiver for your senior loved one, you know how stressful the job can be. Between caregiver burnout and constant worry, being a family caregiver is hard. In-home care relieves your burden and gives you peace of mind knowing that your older family member is in expert hands.
Unlike nursing homes, where the staff and residents rotate frequently, seniors can foster new friendships and build bonds with their caregiver. Seniors who socialize on a regular basis are often happier, which fosters positivity and leads to increased wellbeing.
No two seniors need the same kind of in-home care assistance. That is why each of our Care Plans is tailored to meet our client's individual needs. We offer plans that cover everything from light housekeeping to more involved duties like transportation to doctor's appointments. Our Care Coordinators will work closely with you to develop a personalized plan to ensure your senior's needs are exceeded.
Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.
Request More Information
While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit - something that is unavailable to many older people today.
In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a strange nursing home, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.
How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?
A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.
With the help of elderly care in San Mateo, CA, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.
Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors.
Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.
For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like a nursing home. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.
More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier and more affordable to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, seniors who age in the comfort of their homes can save thousands of dollars per month.
In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, are often less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.
With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.
In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.
Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.
At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.
In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:
When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.
Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.
At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in San Mateo, CA understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.
Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.
Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.
While it's true that many seniors prefer to age at home, sometimes in-home care isn't the best fit. For those seniors and their families, choosing an assisted living facility makes more sense. Unfortunately, finding the optimal care facility is easier said than done in today's day and age. That's when Always Best Care's assisted living referral services begin to make a lot of sense.
Assisted living is a form of housing intended for seniors who require varying degrees of medical and personal attention. Accommodations may include single rooms, apartments, or shared living arrangements. Assisted living communities are typically designed to resemble a home-like environment and are physically constructed to encourage the independence of residents.
At assisted living communities, seniors receive help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They may also benefit from coordination of services with outside healthcare providers, and monitoring of resident activities to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Caregivers who work at assisted living communities can also provide medication administration and personal care services for older adults.
Other services offered within assisted living communities can include some or all of the following:
At Always Best Care, our representatives can match your senior's emotional, physical, and financial needs with viable assisted living communities nearby. Results are based on comparative data, so you can select the best choice for you or your loved one.
Always Best Care works closely with local senior living communities to gain valuable knowledge that we then use to help seniors and their loved ones make informed decisions. This information can include basic care and rent, resident availability, and services provided. Because Always Best Care is compensated by these communities, we provide senior living referral services at no extra cost to you.
Some of the most popular assisted living communities to consider in our area include the following:
For many seniors, moving into a senior living community revolves around how and when they want to make a transition to more involved care. Some seniors are more proactive about transitioning to independent living. Others choose to remain home until their care needs or other requirements are satisfied. Remember - our staff is here to help. Contact our office today to learn more about assisted living communities and how we can find a facility that exceeds your expectations.
The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Always Best Care Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:
A discussion of your needs and how our trained caregivers can offer assistance in the most effective way
A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive
Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider
Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.
If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.
At the end of the day, we only hire the best of the best at Always Best Care. Whether you need home care in San Mateo, CA 24-hours a day or only need a respite for a couple of hours, we are here to serve you.
When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.
The mile-long beach protected by Peninsula Open Space Trust in 2017 is now environmentally sound and safe for all to enjoy.August 13, 2026HALF MOON BAY, Calif. -San Mateo County will open Don Horsley County Park at Tunitas Creek Beach on Monday, August 17 at 8 a.m., transforming a once-private stretch of the coast into the County’s first newly created park in more than a decade.Located on Highway 1, midway between Half Moon Bay and Pescadero, the 58-acre Don Horsley County Park at Tunitas Creek Beach is desi...
The mile-long beach protected by Peninsula Open Space Trust in 2017 is now environmentally sound and safe for all to enjoy.
August 13, 2026
HALF MOON BAY, Calif. -
San Mateo County will open Don Horsley County Park at Tunitas Creek Beach on Monday, August 17 at 8 a.m., transforming a once-private stretch of the coast into the County’s first newly created park in more than a decade.
Located on Highway 1, midway between Half Moon Bay and Pescadero, the 58-acre Don Horsley County Park at Tunitas Creek Beach is designed to give visitors of all backgrounds a unique coastal experience. It features scenic overlooks, picnic areas, interpretive exhibits, accessible trails and direct access to nearly a mile of sandy beach.
"This new park is a jewel,” said San Mateo County Supervisor Ray Mueller, whose district includes the park. “What was once a privately owned property, through the vision of former Supervisor Don Horsley and his team, has become a place where people can enjoy a day at the beach with truly spectacular views. It is also a place where we can protect sensitive coastal natural resources while creating new opportunities for people to connect with nature.”
Monday’s opening caps nearly a decade of land conservation, environmental restoration and park development. Although the beach itself was public, Tunitas Creek Beach previously lacked official public access points. Visitors instead used a network of unofficial trails to reach the shore, and the unmanaged area became known for parties, illegal camping, litter and environmental damage to the creek delta. At the urging of then Supervisor Don Horsley, for whom the park is now named, Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST) acquired and protected the property in November 2017 and partnered with San Mateo County Parks to create this breathtaking new park.
“Don Horsley County Park at Tunitas Creek Beach is a testament to what can be accomplished when a community comes together around a shared vision,” said Interim San Mateo County Parks Director Emma Gonzalez. "The late County Supervisor Don Horsley recognized the importance of protecting this remarkable stretch of coastline while creating lasting public access for future generations. He was instrumental in bringing POST to the table and securing the State and County funding needed to turn that vision into reality. Today, we're opening more than a new park: We are welcoming everyone to experience the beauty of our coast while protecting the natural resources that make it so special. San Mateo County Parks is proud to welcome Tunitas Creek Beach as the newest addition to our park system, and we look forward to seeing families, friends, and visitors enjoy it for generations to come.”
The property’s transformation included extensive environmental restoration work to protect sensitive coastal habitats. The beach, with the Tunitas Creek estuary at its northern end, is a seasonal resting spot for the western snowy plover, a threatened coastal bird species that winter on the beach. Tunitas Creek itself offers habitat for the California red-legged frog, a species listed as threatened by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, as well as native steelhead trout. The beach is framed by soaring yet fragile sandstone cliffs that have taken shape over the past five million years and support numerous, biodiverse coastal ecosystems.
“From the moment we saw this property in 2017, we knew we had to jump on the opportunity to preserve this special place. It is our close public-private partnership with the County that has turned the ambitious vision we sparked more than nine years ago into a reality,” said Gordon Clark, president of POST. “Residents and visitors alike will be wowed by the beauty and amazing natural resources of this new park. Knowing that both people and wildlife will be able to thrive here for decades to come is one of the great outcomes of this project. POST is very grateful for the outpouring of support from the many contributors who helped make this happen.”
Tunitas Creek Beach is located on the ancestral lands of the Ohlone peoples. The site was used for centuries as a village and was a stopping point on the Spanish Portolá Expedition. The entire property was in private ownership for more than 100 years before POST protected it in 2017. In prior decades, environmental degradation and unsanitary conditions generated by unsafe and unmanaged use had damaged the beach and sensitive bluffs. Through an extensive public process, San Mateo County Parks worked with local community members to outline the vision, values and priorities that have informed the park’s design and construction. They also designed and implemented an ecological restoration plan.
The total cost of this project was roughly $24M, of which more than $12 million was funded by generous individual and foundational gifts to POST, including from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation. The remainder was funded by the State of California, San Mateo County, the California State Coastal Conservancy, the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District and California Prop 68 funds.
“Opening access to places like Don Horsley County Park at Tunitas Creek Beach is what the Coastal Conservancy was created to do,” said Amy Hutzel, executive officer of the California State Coastal Conservancy. “Safe, public access to our state’s beaches is a deeply held Californian value. Over the last 50 years, the Coastal Conservancy has opened over 2,000 public accessways to help more people enjoy the coast; today we are proud to celebrate public access coming to a jewel of the San Mateo County coast."
The public may access Don Horsley County Park at Tunitas Creek Beach starting Monday, August 17. The park will be open year-round, opening daily at 8 a.m., with closing times changing seasonally; visitors should check the website and posted signage. There is no entrance fee. County Parks rangers will staff and patrol the site as time permits. No lifeguards are on duty. Park officials urge visitors to be safe around water and never to turn their backs on the ocean.
Visitors to the park will find:
Visitors can also experience a free audio tour of Tunitas Creek Beach, available in English through the TravelStory app; a Spanish-language version is forthcoming. Funded by POST, the guided tour allows listeners to learn about Tunitas Creek Beach’s rich history and biodiversity while on location or at any time through an easily downloadable mobile app. For information about this and other parks, booking a group visit with a ranger, or for more information, visit the San Mateo County Parks website or check the hours of operations for Tunitas Creek Beach on the park website.
San Mateo County Parks manages parks, preserves, trails, and historic sites to preserve public lands and provide opportunities for education and recreation. The Department’s 24 sites are located throughout San Mateo County and encompasses more than 16,000 acres that represent the region’s wondrously diverse natural settings. Learn more about San Mateo County Parks.
POST protects open space on the Peninsula and in the South Bay for the benefit of all. As a private nonprofit land trust, POST has been responsible for saving more than 97,000 acres since its founding in 1977. POST works with private landowners and public agencies to create a network of protected lands so that present and future generations may benefit from the careful balance of rural and urban landscapes that makes our region extraordinary. Visit openspacetrust.org for more information on POST.
How will this year’s very strong El Niño affect San Mateo County? Despite its reputation for bringing wetter, rainier winters to California, residents may need to wait and see for sure what impacts the weather pattern has on the region.The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration declared that an El Niño had formed in June, and temperatures in the tropical, equatorial Pacific that push the Pacific jet stream east and are used to measure the phenomenon were the highest ever recorded this year, National Weathe...
How will this year’s very strong El Niño affect San Mateo County? Despite its reputation for bringing wetter, rainier winters to California, residents may need to wait and see for sure what impacts the weather pattern has on the region.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration declared that an El Niño had formed in June, and temperatures in the tropical, equatorial Pacific that push the Pacific jet stream east and are used to measure the phenomenon were the highest ever recorded this year, National Weather Service meteorologist Joe Merchant said.
Typically, the push of warmer water toward the West Coast of the Americas, which is generated by weakened trade winds, means that the southern third of California gets a wetter fall and winter and the northern third of the state has a drier season, Merchant said.
In California’s middle portion, where San Mateo County is situated, El Niño isn’t as strong of a predictive tool, however, NWS meteorologists said previously it favors a slightly wetter winter.
“In the middle third, we basically there’s no signal either way,” he said. “We’ve had both. We’ve had both dry conditions during El Niños and above normal precipitation during El Niños and strong El Niños. So the signal for our area is actually pretty weak.”
Although the area’s atmosphere has been more moist than usual in the summer season, Merchant was reluctant to say that could mean anything for the upcoming winter. An increase in atmospheric rivers and heavy rain will be the real indication, he said
“If we start seeing really strong atmospheric rivers, one after another, then that will give us confidence that we’re being impacted in that way,” he said.
The National Weather Service isn’t using the “super” El Niño qualification that’s already been colloquially given to the weather pattern, though there’s a 97% chance it will extend through the spring of 2027 and an 81% it’s going to be a very strong El Niño. Given the temperature recordings, Merchant said there are indications it will be one for the books.
The stronger an El Niño is, the more likely it is to bring extreme and disruptive weather events worldwide.
“We already have indications that this is going to be the strongest on record, given that we already have recorded the highest water temperatures,” Merchant said.
650-634-8270
