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California Weather Forecasters Bolstered by Airborne Researchers Diving Into Atmospheric Rivers

/in , , /by /CBS Bay Areaby Jessica Burch

As the parade of storms hitting California leaves behind widespread damage and impacts, scientists are literally diving into these atmospheric river events to better predict and understand what’s coming on the horizon.

Flying over the Pacific Ocean on specially-equipped aircraft, the “hurricane hunters” of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration play a huge role in helping communities determine the severity of atmospheric river storms.

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California Went From Drought to ‘Epic’ Snow. What It Could Mean for Spring Flooding

/in , /by /The Sacramento Beeby Ryan Lillis

Nearly every square mile of California was in a severe drought four months ago. The first six months of 2022 were the driest on record and, in many corners of the state, the rest of the year wasn’t much better.

Now we’re worrying about whether we have too much water in some places.

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How Lake Mead Water Levels Look After Weeks of Heavy Rainfall

/in , , /by /Newsweekby Robyn White

California and Nevada have had extremely heavy rainfall in recent days, during one of the severest droughts the region has ever seen.

So what does that mean for the water levels at Lake Mead?

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Opinion: How California Can Prepare for Future Floods Before a Megastorm Hits

/in , , /by /CalMattersby Gerald Meral

Californians have suddenly turned their attention from drought to flooding.

The future likelihood of a series of huge atmospheric rivers in California, a so-called ARk storm scenario, seems to be a certainty. Atmospheric rivers channel moist tropical air towards the West Coast, where mountains condense it to rain and snow. Over the last few weeks, California has suffered through a sneak peak of its devastating potential.

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For All Their Ferocity, California Storms Were Not Likely Caused by Global Warming, Experts Say

/in , /by /Los Angeles Timesby Louis Sahagun

As California emerges from a two-week bout of deadly atmospheric rivers, a number of climate researchers say the recent storms appear to be typical of the intense, periodic rains the state has experienced throughout its history and not the result of global warming.

Although scientists are still studying the size and severity of storms that killed 19 people and caused up to $1 billion in damage, initial assessments suggest the destruction had more to do with California’s historic drought-to-deluge cycles, mountainous topography and aging flood infrastructure than it did with climate-altering greenhouse gasses.

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Opinion: Suddenly, Water is Everywhere. So Are Questions About Saving More of It.

/in , , /by /The San Diego Union-Tribuneby Michael Smolens Mentioned: San Diego County Water Authority

Many years ago, scientists predicted climate change would result in more intense weather swings, the likes of which California is currently experiencing: extended stretches of drought interrupted by periods of hard rains.

Now as before, people raise the same question when atmospheric rivers hit and massive storm runoff flows into the ocean: Why can’t we capture more of that and store it for the dry seasons?

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All the Rain and Snow in California May Result in a Big Year for Hydro — and That’s Good News for the Grid

/in , , /by /The San Diego Union-Tribuneby Rob Nikolewski

Torrential rain across California in recent weeks has caused plenty of misery, but it could also generate some good news on the energy front: If rain and snow totals hold up, all the precipitation will boost hydroelectric production — and that would help the Golden State’s electric grid, especially in the summertime when the system comes under strain.

“Based on the reservoir levels and what we’re seeing this year, we expect to have more hydroelectricity generated this year than we have for the last several years,” said Lindsay Buckley, director of communications at the California Energy Commission.

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Growers Brace to Give Up Some Colorado River Water

/in , , /by /CalMattersby Alastair Bland

Across the sun-cooked flatlands of the Imperial Valley, water flows with uncanny abundance. The valley, which straddles the U.S.-Mexico border, is naturally a desert. Yet canals here are filled with water, lush alfalfa grows from sodden soil and rows of vegetables stretch for miles.

Within this grid of greenery, near the desert town of Brawley, Mark McBroom grows 6,000 acres of hay crops, like alfalfa, and fruit orchards, all irrigated by water imported from the Colorado River.

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California Faces Catastrophic Flood Dangers — and a Need to Invest Billions in Protection

/in , , /by /Los Angeles Timesby Ian James

The storms that have been battering California offer a glimpse of the catastrophic floods that scientists warn will come in the future and that the state is unprepared to endure.

Giant floods like those that inundated the Central Valley in 1861 and 1862 are part of California’s natural cycle, but the latest science shows that the coming megafloods, intensified by climate change, will be much bigger and more destructive than anything the state or the country has ever seen.

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Here’s Where These Northern California Reservoirs’ Levels Stand After Weeks of Rain

/in , , /by /KCRAby Jonathan Ayestas

Without a doubt, weeks of rain and snow since late December are absolutely helping with California’s water supply.

But how much help exactly is a question many have been asking. KCRA 3 Chief Meteorologist Mark Finan goes over where water reservoirs in Northern California stand. Spoiler alert: It’s a lot of good news.

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