Storm in California: "The rain will finally stop"

Status: 01/16/2023 11:14 a.m

Mudslides, flooded streets, interrupted power supply: Severe storms have been sweeping across the US state of California for about three weeks. According to forecasts, however, an end to the series of storms is in sight.

Over the weekend, wind, rain and snowfall once again made things difficult for people in the US state of California. Authorities ordered evacuations for fear of flooding.

At least 19 people have died in the storms so far. There was a flood warning for around 25 million residents, thousands of households were without electricity. President Joe Biden called the Disaster for California the end.

Storms and rain – California now disaster area

Torben Börgers, ARD Washington, daily news at 12:00 p.m., January 16, 2023

dry period is imminent

But now an end to the series of storms is in sight: “The rain will finally stop on Monday evening,” said a statement from the National Weather Service. In the night of Tuesday, the storm will then move east. “It looks like a dry spell like we haven’t seen since the day after Christmas when it all began,” the Los Angeles Times quoted meteorologist Eric Kurth as saying.

Before that, the otherwise sun-drenched state is facing another storm. In California and other states in the south-west of the USA, further rains and snow in the mountain ranges are to be expected on Monday. Particularly heavy precipitation is expected in southern California and in the state of Arizona bordering to the east.

The weather service there warned of further flooding given the already wet soil. After the rains have stopped, longer-term reconstruction work can then begin in the severely affected areas.

Rocks lie on a road in California’s Plumas County in the Sierra Nevada mountains after a landslide.

Image: AP

connection with climate change

“It’s been a wild few weeks,” a meteorologist told the Los Angeles Times, referring to the series of winter storms. According to experts, this is also related to the jet stream, which is what the high-altitude winds around the globe are called, which has been changed by climate change.

This jet stream is currently parked over the Pacific, so to speak, and has attracted several low-pressure areas in recent weeks, the newspaper quoted meteorologist Eric Boldt of the National Weather Service as saying.

Continued strong winds and rain

Up to two inches of rain was forecast for the already soaked Sacramento Valley region. There is the small town of Wilton, whose residents, along with local residents, have been called upon to prepare for a possible evacuation. The reason was the increase in water masses in the Consumnes River.

Gusty winds and up to 91 centimeters of snow were expected for the Sierra Nevada, the weather service warned of dangerous conditions for drivers in the mountainous region. An avalanche warning was also in effect for parts of the area until Monday.