SAN FRANCISCO – While Southern California’s famed sunshine returned Wednesday, counterparts in the northern region were not so lucky as rain covered flooded areas.
“An atmospheric river has rerouted over northern and central California,” the National Weather Service said. “Heavy rain and gusty winds on saturated soil can cause flooding, damaged or downed trees and power outages.”
The service has issued a severe weather warning for the San Francisco Bay Area and southern Monterey Peninsula. A wind advisory was in effect until Wednesday evening and a high surf warning was in effect on Thursday.
All this has added to the woes of the region, which has endured a relentless series of atmospheric rivers since the last week of 2022. The 12.37 inches of rain that fell in San Francisco from Dec. 26 through Monday is more than half of its normal annual total. overall and the city’s third-highest 15-day total, wrote meteorologist Ian Null.
WHAT IS AN ATMOSPHERIC RIVER?These rivers of water vapor can stretch for thousands of kilometers.
At least 17 people were killed in the storm. According to experts, the loss may exceed 1 billion dollars. And yes, that’s exactly what happens.
Governor Gavin Newsom warned: “We are not far ahead.”
Storms on the Way:Newsom warns that 4 more storms will hit California in the next 10 days
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Other developments:
►Ventura and Santa Barbara counties northwest of Los Angeles had a combined 13 counties with at least 13.2 inches of rainfall over two days as of 3 p.m. Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service’s Los Angeles bureau.
►Snow remains in the Northern California mountains and parts of the Sierra, the weather service said. Some areas have received more than 10 feet of snow in the past two weeks.
►The storm that hit California earlier has moved east, and severe thunderstorms are possible in the Southeast on Thursday, forecasters said. Showers and thunderstorms are possible along the East Coast through Thursday evening; Heavy snow is possible across northern New England early Friday.
ACCIDENT COSTS:Last year, the $18 billion disasters killed nearly 500 people, according to NOAA
Forecast: 4 more storms in Oregon, Washington and California
Officials urged California residents to be vigilant as rain and storm surge continue. The National Weather Service’s Bay Area office tweeted that rain would continue into Wednesday night and further flooding is possible in the North Bay.
“Weather conditions will remain active throughout the next week, with additional thunderstorms possible Friday into the weekend,” the weather service said. This was reported by the Bay Area office. Rain is also expected to return to the Los Angeles area on Saturday.
Gov. Gavin Newsom has warned that four more atmospheric rivers will head toward the state in the next 9 to 10 days, ahead of an expected dry spell on Jan. 20. Newsom said more than half of the state’s 58 counties have been declared disaster areas.
The first of these storms is expected to start in the northwest, according to AccuWeather meteorologists. Parts of Oregon, Washington and northern California will see the heaviest rain and snow by the end of this week.
The second, according to AccuWeather, is likely to affect California over the weekend and bring the risk of flooding and high winds.
“Mega-drought. Field fires. Historical floods and atmospheric rivers. This weather is not an anomaly,” Newsom tweeted. “California is proof that the climate crisis is real and we need to take it seriously.”
Positive signs amidst the gloom
Amid gloomy weather across much of California, there was some good news Wednesday: power outages across the state were down sharply. About 62,000 houses and businesses were left in the dark. About four times as many people were without power on Tuesday.
Santa Barbara County has lifted all evacuation and shelter-in-place orders. That includes Montecito, home to Prince Harry, Oprah Winfrey and other celebrities, when a landslide five years ago killed 23 people and destroyed more than 100 homes.
In addition, forecasters see a dry day for the state at the end of next week.
“An extended break is coming, but we still have 7 to 10 days,” said a climatologist at the University of California, Los Angeles. Daniel Swain tweeted.
Thousands of Californians are still displaced
Thousands of people across the state who live near stormwater and rivers remain under evacuation orders. In the San Joaquin Valley, Bear Creek flooded parts of the town of Merced and nearby Planada along the highway to Yosemite National Park. Planada’s 4,000 residents were ordered to leave on Tuesday. Neighborhoods were flooded, with cars on their roofs, and some residents took what they could save.
Further evacuations were ordered after flooding broke out in parts of Monterey County. Repairs were underway.
Monterey County Sheriff Tina Nieto said, “We understand that people want to go home, but we appreciate your patience while we keep these areas open for contractors.”
EPIC STORM GRAPHICS:The charts show how the coastal state is getting wet
Is the drought over? Not yet
Six atmospheric rivers and three or four more have flooded California in recent weeks, easing concerns about a drought now entering its fourth year. But the parade of storms alone won’t end the state’s long streak of below-average rainfall.
First, California’s reservoirs reached extremely low levels during the drought and are just beginning to recover. Lake Shasta, the largest of those reservoirs, was at 55% of its historical average on Christmas before rising 70% on Tuesday, still well below normal levels.
Furthermore, an impressive first part of the rainy season does not guarantee continued rainfall. Residents of the state received the warning last year when powerful storms in October and December signaled the end of the drought, only for California to experience its driest January-March period on record.
When measured at its traditional peak in early April, the Sierra snowpack, which serves as a natural water reservoir until the spring melt, was only 38% of the historical average.
“We’re not out of the drought yet,” said Laura Feinstein, who directs climate resilience and environmental work at public policy nonprofit SPUR.
Sacramento’s “Tree City” is in shambles amid the storm
The capital of California is known for the many trees that fill its parks and line its streets. But the lingering storm, dubbed the “Tree City” in Sacramento and battering other parts of the state, damaged homes, cars and power lines, and toppled trees.
More than 1,000 trees have fallen in Sacramento since the New Year’s storm, said Gabby Miller, spokeswoman for the city’s Department of Public Works. Urban trees help cool temperatures during hot, sweltering summers and also control flooding.
Two trees fell outside the home of Niki Goffard and her boyfriend early Sunday morning, including one on their roof. A section of the ceiling in their bedroom collapsed and landed on Goffard’s boyfriend, causing minor scratches and bruises.
“You never think something like this can happen to you,” Goffard said. “It was very shocking and traumatizing.”
Contributor: Associated Press
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