By Blessing Nweke
California is on high alert as it prepares for what officials are calling the “largest storm of the season,” set to bring heavy rain and snowfall from Santa Barbara to Los Angeles over the weekend. The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued flood alerts for more than 22 million people to take immediate precautions against potential “damaging, life-threatening flooding.”
The impending weather phenomenon, known as an “atmospheric river,” is expected to result from airborne currents of dense moisture, a system colloquially referred to as the “Pineapple Express.” This term originates from the warm subtropical moisture it carries across the Pacific, resembling a river in the sky flowing from near Hawaii. The NWS warns that this atmospheric river could generate 24 to 36 hours or more of continuous rain starting Saturday evening.
Residents are advised to stock up on supplies, fuel, and sandbags to mitigate the impact of potential flooding. The Los Angeles River is particularly highlighted as a potential danger zone, with the NWS cautioning that it “will fill quickly and become a raging river.”
Compounding the threat, remnants of the previous storm, which caused significant damage and prompted water rescues, could exacerbate flooding and travel problems. The iconic Pacific Coast Highway, already affected by the prior storm, may face further closures.
The first of the two storms has already wreaked havoc, halting cable car service in the San Francisco Bay area before drenching Los Angeles and San Diego with torrential rain. Northern California, around San Jose, witnessed a 100ft redwood tree crashing onto a car, trapping a girl inside. Fortunately, firefighters were able to free her, and she suffered only minor injuries. In San Diego, a resident, Ruben Gomez, reported firefighters rescuing his parents from a home flooded with 6ft of water.
This recent bout of severe weather follows a record-breaking daily rainfall earlier in the week, with 3.37 inches recorded at Los Angeles International Airport, surpassing the 1960 record of 1.55 inches. Parts of the Sierra Nevada have already reported substantial snowfall, and the upcoming storm could add four feet to mountainous regions.
Last year, similar atmospheric river storms claimed over 20 lives in California, causing $4.6 billion in damages., US partner reported that the weather service is warning that this year’s storm could be comparable or even more severe, underscoring the urgent need for residents to heed precautionary measures.