El Niño, the weather pattern that has brought welcome rain to parched California, has also brought something less positive to the state – the erosion of its beaches.

Big Sur, California.

Big Sur, California. Image by Allie_Caulfield / CC BY 2.0

While many counties have seen much-needed above average rainfall since El Niño blew in from the Pacific late in 2015, the downside has been a loss of sand from many Southern California beaches. Strong waves, a recognised feature of the weather pattern, have washed away 25-50% of the sand on some Los Angeles County beaches, leaving just piles of rocks behind. Read more: laist.com