At Least Three Deaths, Devastating Landslides, and State of Emergency in Eight Districts as Unprecedented Storm Ravages California.
California is experiencing an unprecedented weather catastrophe triggered by a powerful atmospheric river. Record-breaking precipitation has led to fatal incidents, massive flooding, and landslides. How is the Golden State coping with this historic crisis? 🚨
The Disaster Unfolds
California was recently hit by a powerful storm triggered by the effect of an “atmospheric river.” This phenomenon, where water vaporizes into the air and is carried by the wind, forms long streams flowing in the sky, similar to rivers on land. This slow-moving storm marked the second atmospheric river to hit California within two weeks. The consequences were devastating: record rainfall led to floods, landslides, and power outages, with at least three people losing their lives to falling trees.
State of Emergency and Rescue Operations
The fire department reported over 130 flood-related incidents and conducted multiple rescue operations since the heavy rain began. Predictions indicated ongoing heavy rainfall with life-threatening flash floods continuing into Tuesday. The governor declared a state of emergency in eight districts. Particularly affected were hilly residential areas in the south of the state, including Los Angeles, where city officials declared a state of emergency. LA Mayor Karen Bass appealed to the public on Monday to prioritize safety and only leave their homes when absolutely necessary.
Dramatic Incidents
North of there, San Francisco, one of the hilliest cities in the world, experienced landslides along with the surrounding areas. Three men died from tree falls, including one in the Sacramento Valley and another when a tree fell on a house in Santa Cruz County. An elderly man lost his life in Yuba City in Northern California when a giant tree in his yard fell. The same storm front also brought very heavy snowfall to the region. On Monday, an avalanche hit a ski resort in Lee Canyon near Las Vegas, Nevada, fortunately, with no injuries reported.
Landslides and Evacuations
In the Los Angeles area, landslides and debris flows were reported. On Sunday, 16 residents had to leave their homes in the Hollywood Hills after landslides flowed through the houses, dislodging buildings from their foundations and damaging gas lines. Witnesses reported refrigerators and pianos flowing along with the debris through the streets. Damage was also recorded in the upscale neighborhoods of Bel Air and Beverly Hills in LA. Motorists stranded in floods in Los Angeles and San Bernardino County had to be rescued by emergency services.
Rescue Operations and Warnings
The storm conditions forced a family in San Bernardino to abandon their car early Monday and climb a tree to escape rising floods. Coastguard services came to the aid of 19 sailors stranded on rocks near the Long Beach Pier after losing their mast in storm-force winds. Lifeguards reached the group, who were then assisted into rescue boats, with one person suffering non-life-threatening injuries.
A Historic Storm
The storm that led to these floods underwent a bombogenesis process, where colder air mixed with warmer sea air, resulting in a rapid drop in atmospheric pressure and creating a so-called “bomb cyclone.” This led to wind speeds of over 160 km/h in the Bay Area. The National Weather Service (NWS) reported 10.4 cm of rain falling in downtown Los Angeles on Sunday, a new record since the previous high of 6.35 cm in 1927. By Monday afternoon, parts of LA County had received over 27.9 cm of rain since.
California faces an unprecedented challenge as the state deals with the aftermath of the fierce storm. While communities begin to recover from the immediate impacts, the long-term tasks of rebuilding and strengthening infrastructure against future atmospheric rivers remain.