The Weather Prediction Center is warning of potentially deadly and dangerous flooding expected to develop today in parts of central and southern California.
The center issued a rare level 4 of 4 risk of excessive rain for Los Angeles, Santa Barbara and Oxnard on Sunday. There is a more widespread Level 3 risk across much of the California coast, including San Francisco, where the National Weather Service also issued its first hurricane-force wind warning for the region.
In central and southern California, widespread rainfall totals of 3 to 6 inches are expected, more than a month of rain for most. Los Angeles averages just 2.99 inches of rain in February, the wettest month of the year on average. In the mountains and foothills of Southern California, the weather service is predicting up to a foot of rain.
The National Weather Service in Los Angeles warns that the multi-day rain event could be dangerous and life-threatening. It could cause major road flooding and significant debris flow over areas that have previously burned in wildfires, possibly triggering landslides on higher ground. Streams and streams will grow.
Putting this rare warning into context: It is difficult to emphasize how important the issue is and how rare a Level 4 “high risk” alert is. They are issued on less than 4% of days a year on average, but are responsible for more than 80% of all damage related to floods and 39% of all flood-related deaths.
This event is part of an atmospheric river: a column of moisture that pumps from the Pacific Ocean and is fed by warmer-than-average waters.
Dr. Daniel Swain, a climate scientist known for his work in the far west, notes that heavy rains like the one now occurring are becoming 10% more intense thanks to more fuel coming from a warmer climate. warm.
