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A pacific storm that drew energy from the subtropics unleashed ferocious winds and intense rain across San Diego County on Friday, causing fatal accidents, power outages affecting thousands of residents and damage to homes when uprooted trees fell on them. The precipitation was part of a broad, fast-moving system that generated even wilder winds and heavier rainfall across other parts of Southern California, including a 72 mph gust in the Long Beach Harbor area.

Climate change did not produce California’s winter flooding that abruptly ended a devastating drought. That weather swing is just how California works. California has endured rotating cycles of wet and dry periods throughout its history. If there are weeks of deluge, a severe drought is on the way. It happens every decade or so. But climate change will bring more frequent and robust cycles of extreme weather. Bet on it. “All of our climate change calculations suggest wetter wets and drier dries,” says Jeffrey Mount, a water expert at the Public Policy Institute of California.

Rainwater erosion alongside the Oroville Dam’s main spillway appears to have contributed to the heavy damage that prompted a crisis, forcing more than 100,000 to be evacuated from their homes, a report reviewed by The Times showed. A summary of the incident, prepared by state water officials four days after the crater in the concrete chute appeared, said water from heavy rains hit the hillsides where the massive concrete spillway runs. Flowing water during heavy rains was “diverted … effectively eroding and undermining the spillway, causing a section to collapse,” said the incident summary.

Good morning. It’s Thursday, Feb. 16, and here’s what’s happening across California: TOP STORIES Will Oroville hold? Tons of rain will be dumped on Northern California this week, but state officials are confident that this inclement weather won’t break the Oroville Dam or its damaged spillways. “It’s holding up really well,” said Bill Croyle, acting director of the state Department of Water Resources.

Eastern Municipal Water District dropped most water restrictions Wednesday – moving from measures taken to meet the state’s mandatory conservation orders to encouraging voluntary savings among customers. While state bans on wasteful water use remain, the district board voted unanimously to end its own restrictions and return the water rate structure to pre-drought emergency order levels after supplies increased following heavy rain and snowfall, especially in Northern California. Western Riverside County remains in a moderate drought.