Winter Floods

The region is experiencing unusually warm and dry conditions, scientists find, and snowpack is at record lows for this time of year

Days of torrential rain in Washington state caused historic floods that stranded families on rooftops, washed over bridges and ripped at least two homes from their foundations, and experts warned that that flooding to come could be catastrophic

Some Northern California cities have been soaked with almost twice their average rainfall, while southern cities are bone-dry. This season’s huge — possibly unprecedented — disparity works in favor of the state’s water supplies.

Floodwaters devastated the small communities of Pajaro and Planada in early 2023. California gave each town $20 million to recover – but as residents face down another winter, much of the aid has yet to reach them.

There are a variety of weather warnings and advisories in place. The coast of Southern Oregon and far Northern California, especially Humboldt County, is expected to be hit the hardest.

People say they move to Los Angeles for the weather. As climate change makes extreme weather events like wildfire and flooding more common, some people wonder if they should stay or go.

The storm, an atmospheric river which is now in its second day, has claimed three lives. Meanwhile, the unrelenting deluge is soaking already saturated soil, threatening more floods and mudslides.

The ocean was less violent Friday but the National Weather Service warned that another round of extremely dangerous surf conditions would return Saturday.

This winter, researchers predicted record-breaking snowpack and precipitation would mean a reduced risk for massive wildfires. So far, that theory has held up.

After widespread, bipartisan criticism, the governor revised his budget proposal to bring back $40 million to restore San Joaquin Valley floodplains.

Many cannabis farms and undocumented farmworkers lost their homes and livelihood, yet they won’t qualify for federal help. Will legislators and Gov. Newsom, who’s expected to visit flooded areas Wednesday, commit state funds to remedy that?

Last week, Governor Gavin Newsom issued an executive order aimed at capturing more precipitation from recent storms and storing it in the state’s groundwater basins.