United States: California is facing torrential rainfall as a slew of storms left much of the state in chaos. Power outages collapsed roads, landslides, and dangerous flooding were all throughout much of the state.
Southern California has been hit particularly hard the last 24 to 48 hours with more than a foot of rainfall. “Nearly all of California has seen much above average rainfall totals over the past several weeks, with totals 400-600 percent above average values,” as per the report.
In a matter of days, California went from being in a severe drought to being in an extreme flood, with 90 percent of the state’s population being placed under flood risk.
According to several climate experts, the use of levees to avoid floods during the rainy season reduces the amount of water that is accessible to infiltrate underground aquifers. These aquifers, which provide water for drinking, bathing, and agriculture in the Central Valley of California, are rapidly depleting.
California Highway Patrol in Moorpark released photos of vehicles including a semi-truck stuck in 3 feet of mudflow and rocks. The CHP noted that Highway 126 was completely closed.
?SR-126 is CLOSED from Fillmore City limits to Fairview Canyon for mud flows across ALL lanes? Multiple vehicles stuck in the flow. @CHPMoorpark is working to rescue stranded drivers. Use I-5 to detour.@CityofMoorpark @MoorparkSheriff @fillmoresheriff @VCFD @CaltransDist7 pic.twitter.com/InfW6R44BO
— CHP Moorpark (@CHPMoorpark) January 10, 2023
The rash of storms that started in late December 2023 had been blamed by authorities for at least 17 fatalities. T the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services had reported 15 fatalities in nine counties, five of which were in the Sacramento area. The California Highway Patrol reported that another two persons died in a collision on Highway 99 near Visalia, halfway between Fresno and Bakersfield, when a tree fell on the highway.
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