California Declares State of Emergency as Severe Storm Brings Floods, Outages

Los Angeles: Severe flooding and widespread power outages hit swaths of the US state of California on Monday, prompting Governor Gavin Newsom to declare a state of emergency in eight affected areas, including Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, and Santa Barbara. Approximately 700,000 customers were left without power, with disruptions in flights at Los Angeles airport.

The National Weather Service issued a warning about a potent Pacific storm system, labelled the “largest storm of the season,” causing life-threatening impacts such as flash floods, urban and river flooding, debris flows, and mudslides. The storm, associated with the “Pineapple Express” phenomenon originating in Hawaii, brought gusts exceeding 60 miles per hour.

Last year, the US West Coast faced challenges due to atmospheric rivers, causing extensive rain and snowfall, leading to flooding, travel disruptions, and power grid issues. Despite the difficulties, it played a crucial role in replenishing depleted reservoirs after years of intense drought.

While California experiences wet winters, scientists attribute shifts in weather patterns to human-induced climate change. The situation reflects the ongoing challenges posed by extreme weather events in the region.