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Opinion: Why Rain-On-Snow Floods From Atmospheric Rivers Could Get Much Worse

/in , , /by /Los Angeles Timesby Keith Musselman

California’s latest atmospheric rivers are sending rainfall higher into the mountains and onto the state’s crucial snowpack. The rain alone is a problem for low-lying areas already dealing with destructive flooding, but the prospect of rain on the deep mountain snow has triggered widespread flood warnings.

When rain falls on snow, it creates complex flood risks that are hard to forecast. Those risks are also rising with climate change.

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Soggy California Drenched Anew as Nor’easter Buries New England, New York

/in , , /by /Reutersby Steve Gorman and Julia Harte

The latest in a series of atmospheric river storms soaked California on Tuesday, bringing another deluge of rain to the already-saturated state, while a Nor’easter swirling over New York and New England prompted emergency orders and closed roads.

Several inches of rain was forecast in some areas of California, while as much as 3 feet (0.9 m) of fresh snow was expected in high-mountain elevations where snowdrifts already reach rooftops, according to the National Weather Service.

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Photos: Ski Resorts So Buried in Snow They Have to Dig Out Frozen Chairlifts

/in , , /by /San Francisco Chronicleby Annie Vainshetein

Glacial temperatures, battering rainfall and historic levels of snow are complicating conditions at ski resorts around Lake Tahoe, leaving crews to work around the clock to dig out chairlifts — usually suspended high above the slopes — that are now buried in snow.

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Santa Monica Has Captured Most of Its Rain This Winter

/in , /by /Spectrum News 1by Susan Carpenter

As yet another atmospheric river descends on Southern California this week, Santa Monica is prepared. Since November, the city has been using a first-of-its-kind water recycling facility to capture rain and store it underground for future use.

“Instead of this water flowing into the ocean, we’re taking that back and keeping it locally to replenish water supplies,” Santa Monica water resources manager Sunny Wang told Spectrum News 1, as he stood atop the stealthy infrastructure that makes it possible: a parking lot.

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California, Battered by Atmospheric Rivers, Faces a Big Melt This Spring

/in , , /by /Inside Climate Newsby Bob Berwyn

The latest atmospheric river surging into California probably won’t result in worst-case flooding, state water officials and scientists said Monday. But as global warming shifts the range of possibilities, this winter’s often record levels of snow and rain could set the stage for deluges in spring if there are more strong storms or an early heatwave, they warned.

The series of intense storms started on the last day of 2022, resulting in early January floods that killed 22 people and a federal emergency declaration in 17 counties.

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Water Use Restrictions Eased

/in , /by /Antelope Valley Pressby Allison Gatlin

As atmospheric rivers continue to pummel the state and reservoirs are filling beyond their historical levels, the Palmdale Water District is rolling back mandated water use restrictions.

The Board of Directors on Monday voted to change mandated water conservation measures to voluntary, removing fines and patrols for landscape watering outside the prescribed schedules.

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San Diego Cliffs Likely to Collapse as Rain Continues

/in , /by /NBC 7 San Diegoby Mari Payton

It’s a race against the rain as Encinitas city workers try to stabilize a growing sinkhole on Lake Drive. Rainfall last Friday totaling 1.3 inches caused the pre-existing sinkhole on Lake Drive to expand.

Patricia Dunlap, who lives nearby said, “It’s getting bigger and bigger with more rains coming. It’s a scary thing.”

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Here’s How Much Rain Fell in 43 San Diego County Communities Through Early Wednesday

/in , /by /The San Diego Union-Tribuneby Gary Robbins and Karen Kucher

As the rainfall figures below show, San Diego County received heavy precipitation overnight and early Wednesday from a Pacific storm that was enhanced by moisture from the sub-tropics. The system also has kicked up 26 mph winds at San Diego International Airport. And it created fog that reduced the carrier Carl Vinson to a silhouette in San Diego Bay.

The National Weather Service said that an additional 0.50 inches to 0.70 inches could fall by Wednesday night.

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San Diego County Water Authority Hosts Colorado River Board of California

/in , , /by /Water News Network Mentioned: San Diego County Water Authority

The San Diego County Water Authority will host water leaders from throughout Southern California March 15 for the monthly meeting of the Colorado River Board of California. On Tuesday, March 14, before the formal meeting, CRB board members will tour projects in the region that promote water resiliency.

The CRB will consider the complex water supply issues facing the Southwest U.S. during its meeting. San Diego Congressman Scott Peters is also scheduled to address the CRB.

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Relay Race: How ‘Zanjeros’ Get Colorado River Water to California Farms

/in , , /by /Christian Science Monitorby Sarah Matusek

In the right light, Jeff Dollente seems to make the sun rise. Standing over a canal, he cranks a wheel as the sun ascends and the sky yawns off the dark.

Mr. Dollente doesn’t deliver the morning, but in southeastern California’s Imperial Valley, his job is just as big. He delivers Colorado River water – a vital resource at risk – to farms that feed the rest of the United States.

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