Powerful Storm Batters California, Leaving 900,000 Without Power

A powerful storm with hurricane-force winds up to 100 mph has struck the California coast, prompting a state of emergency and threatening major flooding in the Southern California mountains. Nearly 900,000 California residences are currently without power due to the storm, including nearly a quarter million in the San Francisco Bay Area.

The storm is bringing strong winds, heavy rain, and the potential for significant flooding, especially in the Southern California mountains. In Southern California, federal weather forecasters have put nearly 14 million people on notice for a rare high risk of flash flooding, with an "extremely dangerous situation" in the Santa Monica Mountains and Hollywood Hills area.

State and local officials have declared a state of emergency and are urging residents to take precautions and prepare for potential power outages and flooding. The National Weather Service has issued warnings for high winds, heavy rain, and potential flooding in the affected areas. The storm is expected to continue impacting the region over the next several days.

Why this matters: The powerful storm highlights the vulnerability of California's aging infrastructure, including its roads, power grid, and water systems, to extreme weather events exacerbated by climate change. As the planet grows hotter, rainfall in California could surge by 10-40%, underscoring the urgent need for investments in stormwater systems and other critical infrastructure.

The storm is part of a series of atmospheric rivers that have drenched the West Coast this winter, with more than twice the average number making landfall compared to a typical year. Scientists have found that more intense atmospheric rivers are more likely to occur in succession within a short period of time as the climate changes, resulting in more flooding and damage as the land has less time to recover between extreme rainfall events.

The National Weather Service has also issued high surf and coastal flood warnings for many areas along the coast, with waves expected between 5 and 15 feet and sets up to 20 feet in some locations. Several areas have already flooded, and 8 people were taken to local hospitals after being injured by a large surge wave. Flooding is likely in vulnerable low-lying coastal areas, and officials are encouraging people to stay out of the water and protect any flood-prone property.

Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency to support disaster response efforts, stating "The state is working around the clock with local partners to deploy life-saving equipment and first responders to communities across California. With more dangerous storms on the horizon, we'll continue to mobilize every available resource to protect Californians." Emergency crews are working to clear flooded areas and respond to storm-related incidents as the severe weather continues to impact the state.

Key Takeaways

• Powerful storm with hurricane-force winds strikes California, causing widespread power outages.
• Potential for significant flooding, especially in Southern California mountains, prompting state of emergency.
• Storm highlights vulnerability of California's aging infrastructure to extreme weather events.
• Intense atmospheric rivers more likely due to climate change, resulting in more flooding.
• Governor declares state of emergency, emergency crews responding to storm-related incidents.