2022–2023 California floods explained

2022–2023 California floods
Date:December 26, 2022 – March 25, 2023
Fatalities:22+
Damages:$4.6 billion (2023 USD)[1]
Affected:California
Nevada
Arizona
Utah

Periods of heavy rainfall caused by multiple atmospheric rivers in California between December 31, 2022, and March 25, 2023, resulted in floods that affected parts of Southern California, the California Central Coast, Northern California and Nevada.[2] [3] The flooding resulted in property damage and at least 22 fatalities.[4] At least 200,000 homes and businesses lost power during the December-January storms[5] and 6,000 individuals were ordered to evacuate.[6]

The floods were widely reported by media as an example of how climate change is increasing extreme changes in weather, especially cycles of precipitation and drought.[7] [8] Scientists interviewed by Los Angeles Times said that further study is needed to determine the connection and California has recorded similar events almost every decade since records started in the 19th century.[9] Other scientists have emphasized that floods were caused by ocean warming, directly related to climate change.[10] Scientist Kevin Trenberth declared that "the interaction between the warming ocean and the overlying atmosphere (...) is producing these prodigious rainfalls that have occurred in so many places around the world recently".[11] Climate change is intensifying the water cycle. This brings more intense rainfall and associated flooding, as well as more intense drought in many regions. It has been both predicted by scientists and observed in the last years and documented by the IPCC (International Panel for Climate Change 6th assessment report).[12] Before the rains started, California had been in an extreme drought.[13]

Due to the storms, Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency on January 4, 2023.[14] President Joe Biden then declared a state of emergency in 17 California counties on January 9, 2023.[15] That same day, two lawmakers sent a letter urging President Biden to declare a state of emergency for San Luis Obispo County and Santa Barbara County.[16] Biden approved a major disaster declaration for Santa Cruz, Sacramento and Merced counties on January 14. Monterey, San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties were added a few days later to the declaration.[17] Later, Ventura County was approved disaster relief.[18] Biden surveyed the damage with Newsom on January 19.[19]

Impacts

The storms causing the 2022–2023 California floods reached Nevada, Arizona, and Utah.

California

Over 40 state parks in California were completely closed in January, and one national park was also closed, Redwood National Park.[20] [21] [22] Dozens of Amtrak trains were delayed, ran on modified schedules, or cancelled entirely due to the floods as well.[23] [24]

San Francisco Bay Area

Oakland set a record for 24 hour rainfall at 4.75inches of rain on December 31, while San Francisco recorded its second wettest day with 5.46inches of rain.[25] [26] The Santa Cruz Branch Rail Line sustained major damage.[27] US 101 was flooded in South San Francisco, California, while SR 84 was closed due to landslides and flooding in Fremont.[28] [29] This forced the Oakland Zoo to close until at least January 17.[30] Flooding and road washouts were widely reported.[2] Flooding was exacerbated by the series of storms as they exceeded the soil's capacity to soak up water.[31]

A 2-year-old boy in Occidental died from his injuries in January after a tree fell on his family house.[32] A weather station in Nicasio recorded a wind gust of 101mph during what forecasts described a "bomb cyclone" on January 4.[33] [34]

On March 11, 2023, SR 84 between Portola Road and Skyline Boulevard was closed indefinitely due to damage from a landslide,[35] resulting in the road buckling and leaving behind large cracks.[36] Trocadero was severely damaged as a result of the storm.[37] A shelter-in-place order was issued for the area around 555 California Street after glass panels started being blown off the side of the building.[38]

Flooding shut down US 101 in Gilroy,[39] as well as I-580 in Oakland.[40] It was reported that trees and power lines had been downed by the storm with an Amtrak commuter train hit by a tree and derailed near Porta Costa, though the train remained upright and no one was injured according to officials.[41] On March 21, a ground stop was imposed at San Francisco International Airport.[42]

The North Bay was also severely impacted by flooding. In Novato, a levee along Novato creek broke, leading to severe inundations up to NaNfeet deep. In total, 3.45mi2 of fields and pastures in Novato were flooded, and SR 37 was shut down for a period of time.[43] The Brazos subdivision of the Northwestern Pacific Railroad between Schellville and Novato was also temporarily shut down due to the tracks being underwater, and Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit had to run a replacement bus service between Novato Downtown and Novato Hamilton.

Sacramento Valley

A levee along the Cosumnes River broke in January, resulting in the SR 99 being flooded. Evacuations were ordered in Wilton.[44] Several people were trapped in their cars and had to be rescued. Three people were killed from flooding on the roads.[45] The levee failures were traced to a private property.[46]

Wind gusts of over 60mph knocked down trees and caused widespread power outages that affected over 500,000 SMUD and PG&E customers.[47] On January 10, a brief EF1 tornado caused extensive damage to softwood and hardwood trees northeast of Milton.[48] On January 14, a brief EF0 tornado near Clay damaged the roofs of two garages and uplifted a wall-less RV structure, which caused it to collapse.[49] Two people were killed when trees fell on them due to the high winds.[50] A total of five people died from the December-January storms in Sacramento County, making it the hardest-hit county in the state. The Sacramento Zoo closed on January 10 due to storm damage.[51]

Owens Valley

Owens Valley also experienced flooding which resulted in Owens Lake being flooded for the first time in over a century.[52] [53]

Southern California

Evacuations were issued in January for Ventura County and Santa Barbara counties, including Montecito (which had experienced the deadly 2018 mudflows).[54] [55] Multiple highways, including I-5, SR 126, and US 101, were closed, and a sinkhole that swallowed two cars opened up near Chatsworth.[56] [57] The SoFi Stadium, which hosted the 2023 College Football Playoff National Championship, experienced rain.[58] In Los Angeles, Union Station's main concourse flooded. A waterspout moved ashore as an EF0 tornado in Carpinteria on March 21, inflicting minor damage to trees as well as about 25 homes in mobile home park and injuring one person.[59]

A high-end EF1 tornado struck Montebello on March 22, damaging 17 structures were damaged, 11 of which sustained significant damage, damaging or flipping vehicles, and snapping trees and power poles. One person was injured. This was the strongest tornado to strike the Greater Los Angeles metro area since March 1983.[60] [61] [62] SR 74 through the San Bernardino National Forest was closed.[63]

Twelve fatalities occurred in San Bernardino County.[64]

Central California

The Central Coast experienced widespread flooding in January. A flash flood outside of Paso Robles swept away a five-year-old boy who was on his way to school. He and his mother had exited their vehicle and rescuers were only able to reach his mother. After a seven-hour search, only one of his shoes was found.[65] The main coastal rail line that connects the San Francisco Bay Area to Los Angeles was closed down when a bridge at Honda Point within Vandenberg Space Force Base had to undergo several weeks of repairs due to the flooding that had eroded the earth that supports the bridge's footings.[66] A section of the bridge over Sespe Creek near Fillmore washed away on January 10, preventing the movement of freight trains on the Santa Paula Branch Line.[67] SR 33 was closed after a washout damaged the roadway. Several portions of the highway were also covered in muddy debris along with other local highways in Ventura County.[68] The Santa Barbara Municipal Airport was closed due to flooding.[69] The Salinas River filled above flood levels, resulting in road closures of bridges in Paso Robles and causing a levee to break near Salinas.[70]

On March 10, the levee on the Pajaro River failed, triggering flooding and forcing nearly 2,000 residents to evacuate.[71] Another breach was discovered March 13, though authorities believed that breach may have helped ease flooding as it gave the river another outlet.[72] Experts said the levees had been weakened by poor material selection, earthquakes and rodent activity.[73] In Soquel, about 450 people were stranded in their homes after a creek washed out the only road leading to their neighborhood on March 10. A water main break also deprived residents of access to clean water.[74]

In the Central Valley, the flooding caused nearly 180 square miles of Tulare Lake to flood for the first time since 1997.[75] In Tulare County, a levee on Deer Creek north of the town of Allensworth breached the night of March 17, forcing residents of Allensworth and nearby Alpaugh to evacuate.[76] Officials said an individual had used machinery to deliberately breach the levee.[77] In Merced, evacuations were ordered throughout the area because of an overflow at the nearby Bear Creek.[78] In Bishop, the city exceeded its annual precipitation average by January 11 due to the floods.[79] In Tuolumne County, a brief low-end EF1 tornado, the first tornado ever recorded in the county, uprooted trees and snapped power poles near Yosemite Junction on March 11.[80] [81]

The flooding is helping to spread a deadly fungal disease called coccidioidomycosis, or Valley fever. The California Department of Public Health said the 9,280 new cases of Valley fever with onset dates in 2023 was the highest number the department has ever documented. The Coccidioides flourishes due to the oscillation between extreme dryness and extreme wetness.[82]

Other states

Nevada

Flood watches were issued for Northern Nevada in December.[83] In parts of the Sierra Nevada, 7.5inches of snow fell in just one hour.[84] Reno, Nevada recorded its third wettest day on record.[85] The initial wave of storms in Nevada caused a fatality and $10 million in damage.[86] In addition, 35,000 customers in the state lost power.[87]

Arizona

Flooding from Oak Creek impacted the community of Cornville in Yavapai County, Arizona, on January 1 due to heavy rain hitting the area. Water from the creek rose to more than, prompting flood warnings to be issued for the area.[88] On January 2, Phoenix set a daily rainfall record of 0.43inches, with snow falling north of the suburbs.[89]

Utah

The city of Draper, Utah, experienced flooding on the night of January 10 when heavy rains moved through the city. More than 30 homes were inundated as several inches of rain fell.[90]

Precipitation totals

Total precipitation of affected areas
from December 26, 2022 to January 11, 2023[91] ! State ! Location ! Amount!
CaliforniaSan Francisco13.59inches
CaliforniaOakland12.9inches
CaliforniaSanta Barbara12.1inches
CaliforniaSan Francisco
International Airport
11.59inches
CaliforniaNapa11.21inches
CaliforniaRedding10.8inches
CaliforniaSacramento9.58inches
CaliforniaStockton8.1inches
NevadaReno5.03inches
Total snowfall of affected areas
from December 26, 2022 to January 11, 2023[92] ! State ! Town ! Amount!
CaliforniaMammoth Mountain190inches
CaliforniaDonner Pass122.6inches
CaliforniaMono City76.7inches
CaliforniaTahoma65.6inches
NevadaDaggett Pass48inches
CaliforniaTahoe City47inches
NevadaReno11.6inches

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Billion-Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters . National Centers for Environmental Information . 9 May 2023 . January 10, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230110020022/https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/billions/events . live .
  2. News: Heavy rain and snow falls across California in atmospheric river storm, It has been flood since 1996-1997 New Year's Day Flood in Northern California. . NPR News . 2022-12-31 . 2023-01-03 . January 3, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230103234017/https://www.npr.org/2022/12/31/1146443609/california-storm-rain-snow-floods-landslides . live .
  3. News: A truly 'brutal system': Atmospheric river to slam California . . 2023-01-03 . 2023-01-03 . January 4, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230104100206/https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2023/01/03/california-west-coast-atmospheric-river/ . live .
  4. News: Castleman . Terry . Smith . Hayley . Toohey . Grace . January 10, 2023 . Tracking the deaths from California's winter storms . en-US . . January 10, 2023 . January 10, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230110232437/https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2023-01-10/tracking-the-deaths-from-californias-winter-storms . live .
  5. News: Betz . Bradford . 2023-01-10 . California flooding: At least 17 people dead, more than 200,000 homes, businesses without power . 2023-01-11 . Fox News . en-US . January 12, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230112030145/https://www.foxnews.com/us/california-flooding-people-dead-more-than-200000-homes-businesses-without-power . live .
  6. News: Soaked California prepares for more flooding as thousands remain without power . 15 January 2023 . The Guardian . Associated Press . 13 January 2023 . en . January 15, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230115072035/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/jan/13/california-storms-flooding-rain-weather . live .
  7. 2023-01-12 . California's Devastating Storms Are a Glimpse of the Future . 2023-01-13 . The New Yorker . en-US . January 13, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230113132336/https://www.newyorker.com/news/annals-of-a-warming-planet/californias-devastating-storms-are-a-glimpse-of-the-future . live .
  8. News: Kaplan . Sarah . January 10, 2023 . California's paradox: Confronting too little water, and too much . Washington Post . January 13, 2023 . January 11, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230111004751/https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2023/01/10/california-climate-atmospheric-rivers-drought/ . live .
  9. News: Sahagún . Louis . 2023-01-19 . For all their ferocity, California storms were not likely caused by global warming, experts say . 2023-01-24 . Los Angeles Times . en-US . Although the media and some officials were quick to link a series of powerful storms to climate change, researchers interviewed by The Times said they had yet to see evidence of that connection. Instead, the unexpected onslaught of rain and snow after three years of punishing drought appears akin to other major storms that have struck California every decade or more since experts began keeping records in the 1800s . January 20, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230120164903/https://www.latimes.com/environment/story/2023-01-19/california-storms-more-hype-than-climate-change . live .
  10. Cheng . Lijing . Abraham . John . Trenberth . Kevin E. . Fasullo . John . Boyer . Tim . Mann . Michael E. . Zhu . Jiang . Wang . Fan . Locarnini . Ricardo . 11 January 2023 . Another Year of Record Heat for the Oceans . Advances in Atmospheric Sciences. 40 . 6 . 963–974 . 10.1007/s00376-023-2385-2 . 36643611 . 9832248 . 2023AdAtS..40..963C .
  11. News: Weisbrod . Katelyn . 2023-01-11 . Relentless Rise of Ocean Heat Content Drives Deadly Extremes . 2023-01-29 . Inside Climate News . en-US . January 29, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230129165853/https://insideclimatenews.org/news/11012023/relentless-rise-of-ocean-heat-content-drives-deadly-extremes/ . live .
  12. Web site: Climate change widespread, rapid, and intensifying – IPCC — IPCC . January 29, 2023 . August 11, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210811070140/https://www.ipcc.ch/2021/08/09/ar6-wg1-20210809-pr/ . live .
  13. News: Jones . Benji . 2023-01-11 . Welcome to the era of weather whiplash . 2023-01-13 . Vox . en . January 13, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230113132338/https://www.vox.com/energy-and-environment/23550073/california-floods-rainfall-weather-climate-change-whiplash . live .
  14. Governor Newsom Proclaims State of Emergency and Mobilizes State Government Ahead of Winter Storms . January 4, 2023 . 11 January 2023 . State of California . January 11, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230111102158/https://www.gov.ca.gov/2023/01/04/governor-newsom-proclaims-state-of-emergency-and-mobilizes-state-government-ahead-of-winter-storms/ . live .
  15. News: January 9, 2023 . Biden declares emergency for California due to winter storms . en . . January 9, 2023 . January 9, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230109122054/https://www.reuters.com/world/us/biden-declares-emergency-california-due-winter-storms-2023-01-09/ . live .
  16. News: 2023-01-10 . Lawmakers urge Biden to include Central Coast counties in disaster declaration . 2023-01-10 . KSBY News . en . Lozano . Nina . January 10, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230110165300/https://www.ksby.com/homepage-showcase/central-coast-representatives-urge-pres-biden-to-include-slo-sb-counties-in-federal-disaster-declaration . live .
  17. News: Lopez . Estevan . Aguilar . David . January 17, 2023 . FEMA approves major disaster declaration for 3 more counties including Monterey . 2023-01-18 . KSBW . en-US . January 18, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230118051443/http://www.ksbw.com/article/fema-approves-monterey-county-for-major-disaster-declaration/42544804 . live .
  18. News: Carlson . Cheri . February 7, 2023 . Disaster recovery center opens in Ventura County . 2023-02-08 . Ventura County Star . en-US . February 8, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230208232852/https://www.vcstar.com/story/news/2023/02/07/disaster-recovery-center-opens-in-ventura-county/69879082007/ . live .
  19. News: Luna . Taryn . Rust . Susanne . 2023-01-19 . Biden visits California to survey storm damage . 2023-01-20 . Los Angeles Times . en-US . January 20, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230120174407/https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2023-01-19/la-me-biden-california-storms . live .
  20. Web site: Significant Incidents Updates . 2023-01-10 . CA State Parks . en . October 23, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171023212933/https://www.parks.ca.gov/ . live .
  21. News: Brooks . Eric . 2023-01-07 . Many California state parks remain closed as more storms hit . 2023-01-16 . SFGATE . en-US . January 10, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230110212216/https://www.sfgate.com/california-parks/article/many-California-state-parks-remain-closed-storms-17700997.php . live .
  22. News: Osius . Alison . 2023-01-05 . Atmospheric Rivers Pound California, Closing These Major Parks and Recreation Sites . 2023-01-16 . Outside Online . en-US . January 9, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230109145434/https://www.outsideonline.com/adventure-travel/news-analysis/atmospheric-rivers-california-national-park-closings/ . live .
  23. News: Lane . Katherine . January 10, 2023 . Amtrak's Pacific Surfliner canceled between Los Angeles and San Luis Obispo . . live . February 2, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230110103334/https://www.ksby.com/news/local-news/amtraks-pacific-surfliner-canceled-between-los-angeles-and-san-luis-obispo . January 10, 2023.
  24. News: Melley . Brian . Weber . Christopher . January 11, 2023 . Landslides, sinkholes, floodwaters plague soggy California . . live . February 2, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230127133330/https://apnews.com/article/floods-weather-natural-disasters-landslides-and-mudslides-storms-21b103e791710f4af6ca0ce45c6030b5 . January 27, 2023.
  25. News: Historic storm hits San Francisco, more rain on the way . https://web.archive.org/web/20230104205655/https://www.axios.com/local/san-francisco/2023/01/03/historic-storm-san-francisco-flooding-winds . January 4, 2023 . Axios . January 3, 2023 . Bastone . Nick.
  26. News: Salahieh . Nouran . Yan . Holly . Brink . Haley . Epic flooding leads to water rescues and highway closures in California as the storm system threatens more states . 18 March 2023 . . 1 January 2023 . en . https://web.archive.org/web/20230104205651/https://www.cnn.com/2023/01/01/us/california-flooding-bay-area-evacuation-warning-sunday/index.html . 4 January 2023.
  27. News: Hattis . PK . 2023-02-02 . Santa Cruz Regional Transportation Commission digs in to storm damages . 2023-02-02 . Santa Cruz Sentinel . en-US . February 2, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230202235231/https://www.santacruzsentinel.com/2023/02/02/santa-cruz-regional-transportation-commission-digs-in-to-storm-damages/ . live .
  28. News: 2022-12-31 . Level 2 storm causing flooding on Bay Area roads, highways . 2023-01-05 . ABC7 San Francisco . en . January 5, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230105034400/https://abc7news.com/bay-area-storm-flooding-highway-101-south-san-francisco-heavy-rain/12635472/ . live . Campbell . Tara . Hassan . Anser . Barnard . Cornell .
  29. News: 2023-01-08 . CA-84 closed in both directions due to a landslide and flooding . 2023-01-11 . KRON4 . en-US . Gaines . Tori . January 11, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230111043050/https://www.kron4.com/news/ca-84-closed-in-both-directions-due-to-a-landslide-and-flooding/ . live .
  30. https://www.oaklandzoo.org/news/zoo-closure-sinkhole Oakland Zoo Announces Extended Closure Due to Major Sinkhole Damage Caused by Rain
  31. News: Salzano . Miabelle . 2023-01-26 . Rising groundwater table levels could put these inland areas under water . 2023-01-27 . KRON4 . en-US . January 27, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230127155411/https://www.kron4.com/news/bay-area/rising-sea-levels-could-put-these-inland-areas-under-water/ . live .
  32. News: Graham . Andrew . 2023-01-05 . 'The light of our life': Family grieves Occidental boy, 2, killed by storm-toppled tree . 2023-01-27 . Santa Rosa Press Democrat . en-US . January 27, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230127155823/https://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/news/family-grieves-occidental-toddler-killed-by-storm-toppled-tree/ . live .
  33. Web site: Time Series Viewer for Nicasio Hills . National Weather Service . 5 January 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230105041515/https://www.weather.gov/wrh/timeseries?site=PG133&hours=72 . 5 January 2023 . dead.
  34. https://apnews.com/article/weather-storms-california-climate-and-environment-b83bb05fa2d21796a85be9bfc690cf17 California gets brief lull after damaging 'bomb cyclone'
  35. News: Highway 84 closes after landslide as entire Bay Area braces for more rain . 4 April 2023 . KTVU . 11 March 2023 . April 4, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230404040351/https://www.ktvu.com/news/bay-area-storms-flooding-forces-road-closures-levee-breaks-as-another-storm-develops . live .
  36. News: Highway 84 closed in Woodside after slide buckles roadway near Skyline Boulevard . 4 April 2023 . CBS Bay Area . 15 March 2023 . April 4, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230404041828/https://www.cbsnews.com/sanfrancisco/news/highway-84-sinkhole-slide-woodside-portola-road-skyline-boulevard-slide/ . live .
  37. News: San Francisco's historical Trocadero Clubhouse severely damaged by falling tree . March 11, 2023 . Mauhay-Moore . Sam . . March 11, 2023 . March 11, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230311223922/https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/sf-trocadero-clubhouse-damaged-falling-tree-17833881.php . live .
  38. News: Shelter-in-place order lifted after glass falls from San Francisco skyscraper in storm. Andrew. Chamings. 2023-03-14. 2023-03-21. SFGATE. April 8, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230408171329/https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/sf-shelter-in-place-glass-falls-from-skyscraper-17839613.php. live.
  39. News: Bay Area Storm-Related Problems: Flooding, Road Closures, Fallen Trees . March 9, 2023 . . March 11, 2023 . March 10, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230310232603/https://www.nbcbayarea.com/weather/bay-area-storm-related-problems-2/3175561/ . live .
  40. https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/i-580-in-oakland-closed-due-to-flooding-17831320.php I-580 in Oakland reopens after flooding closure
  41. News: California faces more flooding after strong Pacific storm. Martha. Mendoza. 2023-03-22. 2023-03-22. AP News. April 8, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230408150413/https://apnews.com/article/california-storm-atmospheric-river-flooding-8ff2e22bb0bf121704a41aa879c27353. live.
  42. News: Valentino . Silas . 2023-03-22 . SFO flight delays, cancellations mount as FAA issues ground delay . 2023-04-11 . SFGATE . en-US . April 11, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230411153839/https://www.sfgate.com/travel/article/sfo-flight-delay-wind-event-march-21-17852721.php . live .
  43. Web site: 2023-01-09 . Marin storm updates: Highway 37 westbound reopens in Novato . 2024-03-14 . Marin Independent Journal . en-US.
  44. News: 1 person found dead in flooded car as California county faces major flooding . ABC News . 2023-01-02 . 2023-01-03 . January 3, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230103234921/https://abcnews.go.com/US/1-person-found-dead-flooded-car-california-county/story?id=96062705 . live .
  45. News: Anguiano . Dani . 'It's horrifying': storm deaths of unhoused people highlight California crises . 11 January 2023 . 10 January 2023 . January 11, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230111110639/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/jan/10/california-winter-storm-unhoused-deaths-sacramento . live .
  46. News: Sharp . Ashley . Ming . Kurtis . Two breaks along Cosumnes River that flooded Highway 99 traced to private land owner, county has no jurisdiction to repair . CBS Sacramento . 2023-01-03 . 2023-01-03 . January 3, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230103234008/https://www.cbsnews.com/sacramento/news/breaks-that-flooded-hwy-99-traced-to-private-land-owner-county-no-jurisdiction/ . live .
  47. News: De La Cruz . Maricela . Damaging winds knock down trees, power lines across Northern California . 11 January 2023 . 8 January 2023 . January 11, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230111102149/https://www.kcra.com/article/northern-california-wind-storm-damage-january-8/42425867 . live .
  48. Web site: National Weather Service in Sacramento, California. Preliminary Local Storm Report. Iowa Environmental Mesonet. January 11, 2023. January 11, 2023. January 11, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230111200223/https://mesonet.agron.iastate.edu/wx/afos/p.php?pil=LSRSTO&e=202301111923. live.
  49. News: National Weather Service in Sacramento, California. Preliminary Local Storm Report. Iowa Environmental Mesonet. January 15, 2023. January 16, 2023. January 16, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230116220645/https://mesonet.agron.iastate.edu/wx/afos/p.php?pil=LSRSTO&e=202301152006. live.
  50. News: Clift . Theresa . What we know about homeless people killed in Sacramento storms; one had five kids . 11 January 2023 . 9 January 2023 . January 9, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230109211329/https://www.sacbee.com/news/local/article270959772.html . live .
  51. Sacramento Zoo . Sacramento Zoo . SacramentoZoo . 1612523271664066586 . January 9, 2023 . The zoo will be closed through Tuesday, January 10 as the team continues to clean-up storm damage. All animals and staff are safe, but it will take a couple of days to get through all of the downed limbs and do some necessary tree work. Stay safe out there, Sacramento! https://t.co/PWZ2cKpxRm . en . January 14, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230110162648/https://twitter.com/SacramentoZoo/status/1612523271664066586 . January 10, 2023 . live.
  52. News: Historic winter leads to severe problems for LA water supply operations at Owens Lake . June 15, 2023 . August 11, 2023 . September 9, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230909070046/https://abc7.com/owens-lake-flooding-dust-control-sierra-nevada-snowpack/13378704/ . live .
  53. News: Runoff Heats up . August 11, 2023 . August 11, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230811183449/https://thesheetnews.com/2023/07/14/runoff-heats-up/ . live .
  54. News: 2023-01-09 . Mass evacuations in Montecito as storm pounds L.A. with intense rain, flooding . 2023-01-10 . Los Angeles Times . en-US . January 9, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230109203942/https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2023-01-09/weather-storm-rain-southern-california . live . Martinez . Christian . Goldberg . Noah . Money . Luke . Petri . Alexandra . Lin . Rong-Gong II.
  55. News: Freedman . Andrew . 2023-01-10 . Major atmospheric river with "relentless" rains leaves 90% of California under flood watch . 2023-01-10 . Axios . en . January 9, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230109135621/https://www.axios.com/2023/01/09/california-atmospheric-river-storm-flooding-winds . live .
  56. News: 2023-01-10 . Drivers rescued after mud, debris bury Highway 126 . 2023-01-10 . KTLA . en-US . January 10, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230110154140/https://ktla.com/news/local-news/portion-of-state-route-126-closed-due-to-mud-flow/ . live . DuBose . Josh . Kiszla . Cameron . Spillman . Eric.
  57. News: 2023-01-08 . Winter storm brings evacuations, mudslides, flood warnings in parts of Los Angeles, Ventura counties . 2023-01-10 . FOX 11 . en-US . January 10, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230110154152/https://www.foxla.com/news/california-storm-montecito-evacuation-emergency . live .
  58. News: Schultz . Nick . 2023-01-10 . WATCH: SoFi Stadium experiencing rain during national title game despite being indoor stadium . 2023-01-10 . On3 . en . January 10, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230110154135/https://www.on3.com/news/sofi-stadium-experiencing-rain-national-title-game-despite-indoor-stadium-georgia-bulldogs-tcu-horned-frogs-pat-mcafee/ . live .
  59. National Weather Service in Los Angeles/Oxnard, California. NWS Damage Survey for 03/21/2023 Tornado Event. Iowa Environmental Mesonet. March 22, 2023. March 23, 2023. March 23, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230323043119/https://mesonet.agron.iastate.edu/wx/afos/p.php?pil=PNSLOX&e=202303230315. live.
  60. Web site: Public Information Statement . mesonet.agron.iastate.edu . March 22, 2023 . March 23, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230323041619/https://mesonet.agron.iastate.edu/wx/afos/p.php?pil=PNSLOX&e=202303230405 . live .
  61. News: 'Craziest thing I've ever seen': Tornado damages buildings in Montebello . Kiszla . Cameron . March 22, 2023 . KTLA . March 23, 2023 . March 23, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230323034809/https://ktla.com/news/local-news/montebello-california-tornado/ . live .
  62. March 23, 2023 . Witnesses detail moments tornado swept through Montebello . . . March 25, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230323034811/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9JAJlaZRgLQ . March 23, 2023 . live.
  63. https://patch.com/california/lakeelsinore-wildomar/eastbound-highway-74-closed-san-bernardino-national-forest Eastbound Highway 74 Closed In San Bernardino National Forest
  64. https://www.accuweather.com/en/winter-weather/12-found-dead-in-snowed-in-san-bernardino-as-residents-seek-answers/1492897 12 found dead in snowed-in San Bernardino as residents seek answers
  65. News: 2023-01-09 . California storm: Five-year-old boy swept away as residents told to flee . en-GB . BBC News . 2023-01-10 . January 9, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230109185539/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-64213900 . live . Drenon . Brandon.
  66. News: Gillman . Alex . January 18, 2023 . Union Pacific's line on California coast remains shut down because of unstable bridge . 2023-01-19 . Trains . en-US . January 19, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230119151852/https://www.trains.com/trn/news-reviews/news-wire/union-pacifics-line-on-california-coast-remains-shut-down-because-of-unstable-bridge/ . live .
  67. News: Wilson . Kathleen . January 20, 2023 . Debris in Sespe Creek may have undermined railroad bridge supports during storms . 2023-01-24 . Ventura County Star . en-US . January 21, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230121025724/https://www.vcstar.com/story/news/2023/01/20/repairs-to-broken-fillmore-train-bridge-could-cost-1-5m/69822832007/ . live .
  68. News: Carlson . Cheri . February 6, 2023 . 'We're still not finished:' 5,000 truckloads of debris removed from storm-battered roads . Ventura County Star . February 8, 2023 . March 18, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230318164644/https://www.vcstar.com/restricted/?return=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.vcstar.com%2Fstory%2Fnews%2F2023%2F02%2F06%2Fwashouts-slides-cause-millions-in-damages-to-local-roads-highways%2F69860765007%2F . live .
  69. News: Andrew Gillies . 2023-01-09 . Santa Barbara airport grounds all flights and closes air traffic control tower due to flooding . 2023-01-10 . News Channel 3-12 . en-US . January 10, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230110154126/https://keyt.com/news/santa-barbara-s-county/2023/01/09/santa-barbara-airport-grounds-all-flights-and-closes-air-traffic-control-tower-due-to-flooding/ . live .
  70. News: 2023-01-10 . 13th Street Bridge is closed as storm fills Salinas River . 2023-01-10 . Paso Robles Daily News . en-US . January 10, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230110154153/https://pasoroblesdailynews.com/13th-street-bridge-is-closed-as-storm-fills-salinas-river/168684/ . live .
  71. News: Levee breach in Monterey County triggers massive flooding, prompts evacuations, rescues . March 11, 2023 . Rust . Susanne . Mejia . Brittny . Dillon . Liam . . March 11, 2023 . March 11, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230311180959/https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2023-03-11/communities-along-central-coast-to-southern-sierra-hit-hardest-by-latest-storm . live .
  72. News: Cortez . Felix . Pajaro residents get clearer picture of flooding . 14 March 2023 . KSBW . 13 March 2023 . March 18, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230318143333/https://www.ksbw.com/article/watsonville-track-damage-halts-amtrak-service-to-paso-robles/43318577 . live .
  73. News: Rust . Susanne . James . Ian . Age, drought, rodents and neglect weaken California levees, heightening flood danger . 14 March 2023 . Los Angeles Times . 14 March 2023 . April 7, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230407013748/https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2023-03-14/storms-reveal-growing-weaknesses-of-californias-levees . live .
  74. News: Handa . Robert . Soquel Residents Without Water After Heavy Rain, Storm Debris Wash Out Road, Water Main . 14 March 2023 . NBC Bay Area . 10 March 2023 . March 28, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230328165013/https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/soquel-road-washout-no-water-service/3176919/ . live .
  75. News: Bush . Evan . 2023-07-06 . A dormant California lake that reappeared isn't going anywhere fast . 2023-07-07 . NBC News . en . August 11, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230811095646/https://www.nbcnews.com/science/science-news/dormant-california-lake-reappeared-isnt-going-anywhere-fast-rcna92452 . live .
  76. News: CAL FIRE rushes to fix levee breach threatening Allensworth and Alpaugh communities . 19 March 2023 . ABC30 . 18 March 2023 . April 11, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230411190138/https://abc30.com/cal-fire-levee-breach-allensworth-alpaugh/12975321/ . live .
  77. News: James . Ian . 'We need to stop the water': A California town's frantic fight to save itself . 19 March 2023 . Los Angeles Times . 18 March 2023 . April 7, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230407013657/https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2023-03-18/california-towns-frantic-fight-floods . live .
  78. News: 2023-01-10 . Central Valley sees significant rain, snowfall and flooding . 2023-01-10 . ABC30 Fresno . en . January 10, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230110154201/https://abc30.com/central-california-weather-storm-watch-rain/12684088/ . live .
  79. Brettschneider . Brian . Climatologist49 . 1613368907854934016 . January 12, 2023 . Bishop, CA, is the fist station in the U.S. to reach the 2023 normal full year precipitation. Their normal annual precipitation is 4.84". They already have 5.00" for 2023. #cawx https://t.co/iWMrvQuFyv . en . January 14, 2023.
  80. Web site: ...NWS DAMAGE SURVEY FOR 3/11/2023 TORNADO... . Iowa Environment Mesonet . National Weather Service Sacramento CA . March 14, 2023 . March 14, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230314005200/https://mesonet.agron.iastate.edu/wx/afos/p.php?pil=PNSSTO&e=202303131742 . live .
  81. Web site: Storm Events Database . ncdc.noaa.gov . 1 May 2023 . May 4, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230504175906/https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/listevents.jsp?eventType=(C)+Tornado&beginDate_mm=01&beginDate_dd=01&beginDate_yyyy=1950&endDate_mm=12&endDate_dd=31&endDate_yyyy=2022&county=TUOLUMNE:109&hailfilter=0.00&tornfilter=0&windfilter=000&sort=DT&submitbutton=Search&statefips=6,CALIFORNIA . live .
  82. News: Teirstein . Zoya . 2024-02-12 . Intensifying atmospheric rivers are leading to a surge in Valley fever cases in California . 2024-02-14 . Grist . en-us.
  83. Web site: Region braces for storms, possible flooding . This Is Reno . 2022-12-30 . 2023-01-03 . January 3, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230103234018/https://thisisreno.com/2022/12/region-braces-for-storms-possible-flooding/ . live .
  84. News: Forecasters predict more rain this week . https://web.archive.org/web/20230104205816/https://www.kpbs.org/news/local/2023/01/02/forecasters-predict-more-rain-this-week-across-southland . January 4, 2023 . KPBS . January 2, 2023 . Alvarado . Kitty.
  85. News: Schilling . Angela . Records Broken and Snow Totals . 18 March 2023 . 2 News KTVN . 1 January 2023 . en . January 14, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230114163709/https://www.2news.com/news/records-broken-and-snow-totals/article_95d30124-8a66-11ed-8825-7f2470aaaa7a.html . live .
  86. https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/listevents.jsp?eventType=ALL&beginDate_mm=12&beginDate_dd=26&beginDate_yyyy=2022&endDate_mm=01&endDate_dd=11&endDate_yyyy=2023&county=ALL&hailfilter=0.00&tornfilter=0&windfilter=000&sort=DT&submitbutton=Search&statefips=32%2CNEVADA Storm Events Database: Nevada Event Reports
  87. https://www.rgj.com/story/news/2022/12/31/flood-risk-increasing-in-reno-sparks-areas-for-new-years/69768694007/ 35,000 in Northern Nevada remain without power; temps expected to be in teens Sunday night
  88. Web site: Torres . Jorge . January 3, 2023 . Winter storm brings flooding to Arizona's high country . 11 January 2023 . . January 11, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230111021142/https://www.abc15.com/news/state/winter-storm-brings-flooding-to-arizonas-high-country . live .
  89. "Rain sets new record in Phoenix, snow hits Arizona's high country", KTAR, January 2, 2023. .
  90. Web site: 2023-01-12 . Draper community recovering after groundwater flooding damages over 30 homes . 2023-01-18 . FOX 13 News Utah (KSTU) . en . Tencer . Emily . January 12, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230112033809/https://www.fox13now.com/news/local-news/draper-community-recovering-after-groundwater-flooding-damages-over-30-homes . live .
  91. NWSWPC . NWS Weather Prediction Center . 1613255501076385793. UPDATED total precipitation for the series of atmospheric rivers that have affected California since December 26, a period of 16 days. In this time California averaged 8.61 inches of precipitation and the San Francisco-Oakland metropolitan statistical area averaged 13.34 inches . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230715102949/https://twitter.com/NWSWPC/status/1613255501076385793 . Jul 15, 2023 .
  92. NWSWPC . NWS Weather Prediction Center . 1613255513726390272. Extremely heavy snow fell in the Sierra Nevada during the sequence of atmospheric rivers dating back to December 26, 2022. Over 10 feet of snow was observed at the highest elevations. Lower, but still significant, snow totals were observed in the mountains of northern California. . live . https://archive.today/20240221194116/https://twitter.com/NWSWPC/status/1613255513726390272 . 21 Feb 2024 .