California storm

2023 - 1 - 4

Post cover
Image courtesy of "NPR"

California holds its breath as an atmospheric river and bomb ... (NPR)

The powerful system was seen "undergoing bombogenesis" off California's coast, the NWS office in Sacramento said, referring to its rapid intensification.

In 2017, one of the storms [toppled](https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/01/09/508919216/iconic-sequoia-tunnel-tree-brought-down-by-california-storm) the legendary "Pioneer Cabin Tree" sequoia in Calaveras Big Trees State Park. "The most intense part of this weather event will occur later this evening and last through noon Thursday," the NWS office in Los Angeles said. [NPR has reported](https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/02/20/515838078/new-research-shows-how-atmospheric-rivers-wreak-havoc-around-the-globe). To people asking, "Where's the storm?" Forecasters are urging people to show particular care in areas where fires recently burned vegetation, citing the heightened risk of flash flooding and mudslides. But they also predicted it would move slowly; as of late Wednesday morning, the system was still approaching the West Coast. What is a "Bomb Cyclone"? [Los Angeles](https://www.weather.gov/wrh/TextProduct?product=afdlox) to [Eureka, Calif.,](https://www.weather.gov/wrh/TextProduct?product=afdeka) and [Medford](https://www.weather.gov/wrh/TextProduct?product=afdmfr) and [Portland, Ore.,](https://www.weather.gov/wrh/TextProduct?product=afdpqr) alerted people to the threat of damaging winds, with peak gusts expected to top 60 and 70 mph in some areas. As California is poised to absorb its third hit from an atmospheric river since Dec. [NWS office in Sacramento said on Wednesday](https://twitter.com/NWSSacramento/status/1610691574895382528), referring to the rapid intensification of a [midlatitude cyclone](https://glossary.ametsoc.org/wiki/Bomb). "We anticipate that this may be one of the most challenging and impactful series of storms to touch down in California in the last five years," said Nancy Ward, the new director of the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services, at a 26, the National Weather Service is warning people to prepare for a major storm with high winds, snow, and "heavy to excessive rainfall, flooding with debris flows and landslides."

Post cover
Image courtesy of "Bloomberg"

Soaked California Girds for Further Drenching as Next Band Nears (Bloomberg)

A powerful storm with hurricane-force gusts is winding down after ripping across California, leaving behind power outages, flood threats and road closures ...

Post cover
Image courtesy of "KCRA Sacramento"

California statewide storm updates: Child killed after tree falls into ... (KCRA Sacramento)

Damaging winds and heavy rains from a powerful atmospheric river pounded California on Thursday, knocking out power to tens of thousands, causing flash ...

Post cover
Image courtesy of "SFGate"

Calif. storm updates: Massive waves batter Santa Cruz's West Cliff Dr. (SFGate)

Live updates on the atmospheric river storms that are sweeping the San Francisco Bay Area and Northern California.

The providers of these cookies may use the data as explained in their privacy policies. You can opt out of these analytics cookies by unselecting the boxes below. You can continue to the site without accepting these cookies but certain features may not be available or function properly.

Post cover
Image courtesy of "Los Angeles Times"

A lull in the chaos after Northern California slammed by storm (Los Angeles Times)

A powerful winter storm that blasted Northern California with strong winds and heavy rain continued its march through the region Thursday.

Pacific Gas & Electric CEO Patti Poppe [said in a statement](https://twitter.com/PGE4Me/status/1611070915856695296?s=20&t=QeXyeGuym2KiyN8SCIdCWA) that more than 170,000 lost power across Northern and Central California in what she called “one of the most powerful storms in recent memory.” “Jiminy Christmas, I’ve never seen the winds so strong,” said Richard Cappell, 68, who lives on a ridge above the town of Occidental. “It’s going to remain wet and unsettled for the coming days,” he said. There’s that threat of exceeding flood stages at quite a few locations across the northern coast and the Sacramento valley system.” 26 and Wednesday, three storms dumped 10.33 inches of rain in the downtown area, according to the weather service. Forecasters no longer expect the river in Guerneville to flood Friday. The storm has already dumped 2 to 3 inches of rain across the San Francisco Bay Area, and isolated showers were expected to add to that total through Thursday evening. Here’s how to prepare and what to have ready to go if you may need to evacuate during the rainstorms hitting California. In Capitola, high tides and massive waves inundated businesses with water and prompted officials to evacuate thousands of residents. Forecasters are keeping watch over flooding triggered by massive waves along the coast and in inland areas where water continues to rise along creeks, streams and rivers. Down at the Boardwalk, logs and debris were pushed up to the fence line, just below the amusement park platform — making the beach seem more Olympic Peninsula in Washington state than California surf haven. The Santa Cruz Wharf was evacuated Thursday morning as waves reaching up to 20 feet pummeled the structure and officials warned spectators to seek shelter.

Explore the last week