Recent Storms Spark Talk of ‘Miracle March’ in Central California
The recent rain and snow are much needed for Central California’s water supply.
The latest set of storms is already sparking talk of a “Miracle March.”
The recent rain and snow are much needed for Central California’s water supply.
The latest set of storms is already sparking talk of a “Miracle March.”
The water outlook in California is bright, with major reservoirs exhibiting strong levels and a near-average snowpack, according to the latest data.
The state’s three largest reservoirs – Trinity, Shasta and Oroville – are currently holding more than 75% of their capacity, a significant boost compared to typical levels for this time of year.
A new, more powerful storm is heading toward San Diego County this week and has the potential to bring multiple inches of rain and flash floods to communities throughout the region.
With its Mediterranean climate, California receives most of its annual precipitation in just a few months, with the bulk of it falling from December to February.
Weeks of heavy rain and snowfall in California have given experts “cautious optimism” about the state’s water year and a snowpack to help boost water reserves recovering from years of drought.
Despite forecasts of heavy rain and possible flooding in the coming days, state water managers are warning that the “snow drought” in California’s Sierra Nevada could remain for the rest of the winter and into the spring.
The atmospheric river storm that was bearing down on the Bay Area Wednesday night and Thursday morning raised concerns about mudslides, power outages and other problems. And a series of new storms headed our way this weekend means the end is not yet in sight.
An atmospheric river taking aim for California was expected to bring heavy rains to an already-drenched San Diego County overnight Thursday, creating the possibility for flooding, downed trees and big waves for the first week of the New Year. The atmospheric river, which is a term used to describe heavier-than-normal rains that pull moisture from the tropics, inundated Northern and Central California on Wednesday, prompting evacuations, causing power outages and other damage.
The atmospheric river storm hitting California this week presents a test for an experimental waste-capturing system that’s intended to keep plastic bottles, diapers and other trash from flowing into the Pacific. It has even captured a couch. The solar-powered system, designed to work mostly autonomously, was introduced in October at the mouth of Ballona Creek near Playa del Rey.
In a world getting used to extreme weather, 2023 is starting out more bonkers than ever and meteorologists are saying it’s natural weather weirdness with a bit of help from human-caused climate change. Much of what’s causing problems worldwide is coming out of a roiling Pacific Ocean, transported by a wavy jet stream, experts said.