California's storm siege: Unprecedented rain, wind, and destruction

Southern California remains in the grip of a relentless atmospheric river storm, marking its third day of unyielding rains. This weather phenomenon threatens to unleash further devastation through floods and mudslides as it makes its way to the Desert Southwest.

As rain fell throughout Los Angeles, work crews and residents were cleaning up damage from 475 mudslides and nearly 400 fallen trees reported across the nation’s second-most populous city as of Tuesday evening, authorities said.

Downed trees and utility lines knocked out electricity to hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses, including 156,000 utility customers who remained without power in Los Angeles as of Tuesday morning. Service had been restored to most of those by nightfall, city officials said.

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‘Once-in-a-lifetime scenario’

Barry Blocker, a 55-year-old retired police officer, devoted several hours on Monday to excavating his vehicle from a mass of mud that had slid down a hillside onto his driveway in the early hours. Fortunately, his residence in the Baldwin Hills area of L.A., where he has resided for 23 years, remained intact.

“Hopefully, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime scenario,” Blocker told Reuters while he was in his garage, tending to the cleanup of water and debris left in the wake of the incident.

The city has been grappling with intense rainfall, receiving 6-12 inches (15-30 cm) citywide and even exceeding a foot in the Hollywood Hills. This has resulted in the ground becoming extremely “super-saturated,” a condition that Ariel Cohen, the lead forecaster at the Los Angeles office of the National Weather Service (NWS), warns could lead to more landslides and debris flows with just a small amount of additional rainfall.

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Big numbers

• Downtown Los Angeles experienced extraordinary rainfall, receiving over 7 inches (18 cm) in just two days, nearing half its annual average of 14.25 inches (36 cm).
• Historical data from the National Weather Service’s Los Angeles office, dating back to 1877, indicates the severity of the rainfall. As of early February, this month ranks as the 13th wettest February on record for the city.
• Intense wind gusts were recorded, with a peak of 102 mph (164 kph) at Pablo Point in Marin County, closely rivaling the December 1995 record of 103 mph (166 kph) at Angel Island.
• The weekend’s severe weather included the top 10 strongest gusts recorded in Marin and Santa Clara County, with speeds ranging from 102 to 89 mph (164 to 143 kph).
• The storm’s impact extended to Los Angeles, where over 380 mudslides were reported, leading to road closures, evacuation orders, and significant property damage.
• The city declared seven buildings uninhabitable and issued yellow tags to at least ten more, signaling severe damage and restricting occupancy.

Cleanup amidst chaos

Los Angeles battles the aftermath with 475 mudslides and nearly 400 fallen trees reported. The damage has led to power outages for hundreds of thousands, with 156,000 Los Angeles utility customers in the dark as of Tuesday morning. Efforts have largely restored power by evening.

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Building safety under scrutiny

With the relentless downpour, structural safety is a concern. LA Fire Chief Kristin Crowley reports over three dozen buildings needing inspection due to mudslide damage, with seven deemed unsafe for occupancy. Mayor Karen Bass urges continued caution, highlighting the storm’s ongoing threat.

Pineapple Express

This storm, part of an atmospheric river, is a dense moisture current from the Pacific, also known as a “Pineapple Express” due to its Hawaiian origins. Meteorologists warn that such events may intensify with climate change. The El Niño weather pattern and a rapidly strengthening low-pressure system contribute to the storm’s severity.

Atmospheric rivers (ARs) are relatively narrow corridors of concentrated moisture in the atmosphere. Acting as giant conveyor belts of water vapor, these systems can carry an amount of water vapor roughly equivalent to the average flow of water at the mouth of the Mississippi River. When they make landfall, they often release this water vapor in the form of rain or snow.

Key characteristics and impacts

• Atmospheric rivers form over the oceans, primarily in the tropics or subtropics, and can extend thousands of miles in length. They are a key component of the Earth’s hydrological cycle.
• Upon reaching land, ARs often release intense, sustained rainfall or snow over the same area, which can last for several days.
• While they are crucial in replenishing water supplies and ending drought conditions, their intensity and persistence can lead to disastrous consequences, such as severe flooding, mudslides, and destruction of property and infrastructure.
• Understanding and predicting ARs are vital for weather forecasting, especially in regions such as the west coast of North America, where these events can significantly impact the regional water resources and weather-related hazards.
• Researchers are studying how climate change might affect the frequency, intensity, and geographical distribution of atmospheric rivers. A warmer atmosphere can hold more water vapor, potentially leading to more extreme AR events.
• Atmospheric rivers are a testament to the dynamic and powerful nature of Earth’s climate system. As our understanding of these phenomena improves, so does our ability to prepare for and mitigate their effects, safeguarding communities and managing water resources more effectively.

(With inputs from agencies)

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