Emergency services overwhelmed by floods and landslides
- Wind gusts of up to 75 mph (121 kph) toppled trees and power lines across the San Francisco Bay Area and California's central coast on Sunday, knocking out power to about 875,000 homes at the peak of the storm in those regions.
- At least two people were killed Sunday by trees that fell in the wind. An 82-year-old man died in the former gold rush town of Yuba City, and a 45-year-old man died in Boulder Creek on the coast of the Santa Cruz Mountains.
- The biggest flash flooding threat Monday was centered over Southern California as the system slowly rotated and pushed farther into the state's interior, the NWS said, but forecasters said “catastrophic” impacts were unlikely.
- A number of luxury homes worth millions of dollars in the Hollywood Hills were damaged as mud, rocks and debris swept through the area.
- Extreme weather has paralyzed emergency services. The Los Angeles Police Department has reported an alarming increase in traffic accidents, and the Los Angeles Fire Department is working hard to deal with more than 130 flooding incidents and numerous debris flows. Upscale communities such as Hollywood Hills and Beverly Hills were among the hardest hit areas, with landslides causing extensive damage to property and infrastructure. Beverly Hills resident Jeb Johening described the devastating situation as a “mudslide” in his neighborhood.
Crews clear a street after a tree fell on a car during a storm in Long Beach, California.
‘Rain once in 1,000 years’ event
According to a report in USA Today, the staggering 11.87 inches of rain recorded in 24 hours by the UCLA weather station represents an extremely rare weather phenomenon. Classified by meteorologist Jacob Feuerstein as a “1,000-year recurrence interval event,” this term refers to an event of a magnitude that is statistically expected to occur once in a thousand years. In other words, as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) explains, it is a way to quantify the likelihood of a significant amount of precipitation occurring in a particular location during a year, according to a USA Today report.
Cars sit in driveways amid debris from heavy rain in Los Angeles. (Jenna Schoenefeld/New York Times)
declare a state of emergency
As the crisis escalates, California Governor Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency in eight counties. The declaration aims to mobilize resources and support for the more than 20 million residents affected by the storm. The Governor's Office of Emergency Services (OES) has been actively involved in conducting rescue efforts and issuing evacuation orders in areas at high risk for flash flooding and landslides.
atmospheric river: meteorological phenomenon
Meteorologists believe that the torrential downpours are caused by atmospheric rivers, massive flows of moisture in the air that originate from the Pacific Ocean. This “Pineapple Express” transports dense moisture from subtropical waters near Hawaii, resulting in hurricane-force winds and heavy rain. The phenomenon has become widespread. blackoutAt the peak of the storm, about 875,000 homes were without power.
Water pours down Rockledge Road during a storm in Studio City, California. A second consecutive atmospheric river has taken aim at Southern California, causing landslides, flooding roads and causing power outages as the sodden state braces for another round of heavy rain.
need attention
As the typhoon continued to intensify, authorities urged residents to be especially careful. Daniel Swain, a meteorologist and climate scientist at the University of California, Los Angeles, emphasized the severity of the situation in his YouTube briefing. Despite the difficult conditions, Swain noted that rainfall is decreasing and last summer's mild fire season may have prevented more catastrophic landslides.
Historical Weather Patterns and Climate Issues
The “Pineapple Express” storm is part of a larger trend of extreme weather events. The storm, described by the NWS as “the biggest storm of the season,” highlights changes in weather patterns caused by human-caused climate change. These changes will result in more intense and unpredictable storms, exacerbating the challenges facing communities and emergency services.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass urged residents to get off the roads and put safety first. As cities brace for more rain and potential flooding, the resilience of communities and the effectiveness of emergency responses will be tested. This historic storm is a stark reminder of the power of nature and the importance of being prepared for increasingly unpredictable weather patterns.
(Based on the opinion of the institution)