Warming and marine heatwaves tropicalize rocky reefs communities in the Gulf of California

•The rocky reefs in the Gulf of California are important biodiversity hotspots.•Rocky reefs warmed 1 °C on average since 1982 and marine heatwaves increased 3-fold.•Fish and invertebrates were affected by these warming events.•Rocky reefs tropicalized as species with warm water affinities increased northward.•Long-term consequences of this reconfiguration are yet to be determined.