January 2018 Western United States floods explained

Date:[1]
Location:Western United States
Type:flood
Cause:rain after drought
Reported Deaths:21 (in California)
Reported Injuries:163 (in California)
Reported Missing:2 (in California)
Reported Property Damage:>$207 million (2018 USD)[2] [3]
65 residences destroyed, 462 residences damaged, 8 commercial buildings destroyed, 20 commercial buildings damaged (all in California)

The January 2018 American West floods occurred due to heavy precipitation in the Western United States. While wildfires in Southern California exacerbated the rain's effects there, other states, like Nevada, also experienced flooding.[4]

Effects

Gusts as high as, hurricane-force, were reported, and scattered power outages were expected. The storm brought much-needed rain to places in the desert like Las Vegas and Phoenix—with the risk of flash floods.[5] Also, mountain snow was expected throughout the area, even into Canada,[6] providing much-needed replenishment to snowpacks.[7]

California

18inches of snow was reported on Mammoth Mountain.[8]

See main article: 2018 Southern California mudflows. The heavy rains caused flooding and mudflows in regions burned by recent wildfires, killing at least 23 people.

Nevada

Cities like Las Vegas experienced heavy flooding. Roads and highways underwater lead to road closures.[9] At least two people had to be rescued from a flooded highway in Las Vegas. 6inches-12inchesin (-in) of snow were expected in the mountain of southern Nevada, causing winter warnings to be issued.[10]

Oregon and Washington

The Portland area experienced heavy flooding, which interfered with transportation.[11] In addition, the Northwest Avalanche Center issued a high danger warning for much of the mountainous areas of Oregon and Washington, excluding ski areas, as 4- of snow were expected. 2inches of rain, as well as tropical storm-force wind gusts as high as, were expected on the Oregon coast.[12]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Belles. Johnathan. Evacuations Ordered for Southern California Burn Scar Areas Ahead of Expected Rainfall. weather.com. The Weather Channel. 10 January 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180108233047/https://weather.com/forecast/regional/news/2018-01-05-california-soaking-early-january-flood-threat. 8 January 2018. English. 5 January 2018. The steadiest rain will fall Monday in northern and central California, with lighter rain in southern California. A band of heavier rain will move into central California tonight, then slide into parts of southern California overnight. Thunderstorms embedded in that heavier rainband may produce rain rates up to 1 inch per hour. Snow will pick up in the Sierra, generally above 7,000 feet, and in the mountains of southern California above 8,000 feet. High wind warnings are posted in parts of central California and the mountains of southern California, where gusts at least to 60 mph with the cold front through tonight and Tuesday..
  2. Web site: The Economic Impacts of the Montecito Mudslides: A Preliminary Assessment. Robert D. Niehaus, Inc.. March 2018. 26 May 2018.
  3. Web site: County Estimates $46 Million Cost for Thomas Fire, Montecito Debris Flow Response, Repairs. Giana Magnoli. Noozhawk. 27 February 2018. 26 May 2018.
  4. Web site: Floodwaters Surge Through Vegas Parking Garage. weather.com. The Weather Channel. 10 January 2018. 9 January 2018. English.
  5. Web site: Storm to heighten flooding, mudslide risk in fire-scarred Southern California. Duff. Renee. 9 January 2018. accuweather.com. AccuWeather. English. 14 January 2018.

    Sporadic power outages are possible. Gusts between 50 and 75 mph have occurred over the Coast Ranges.

    Into Tuesday night, soaking rain, along with gusty winds, will spread into the Desert Southwest, including in Las Vegas and Phoenix. Localized flash flooding is possible in the arid landscape.

    "While there will be plenty of negatives with this storm, it will also prove to be beneficial as it will provide some much-needed rain," Root said.

    All of Southern California is abnormally dry or experiencing a moderate drought, according to the United States Drought Monitor. Conditions have been even drier across the Four Corners region, where severe drought is occurring.

    The rainfall will put a dent in precipitation deficits, as well as put an end to the wildfire season.

    .
  6. Web site: AccuWeather: Mountain snow through Wednesday . accuweather.com . AccuWeather . 14 January 2018. English. Image.
  7. Web site: Storm to heighten flooding, mudslide risk in fire-scarred Southern California. Duff. Renee. 9 January 2018. accuweather.com. AccuWeather. English. 14 January 2018.

    This past week, measurements by California’s Department of Water Resources revealed that the Sierra Nevada snowpack is around 3 percent of normal for this point in the winter season, according to the Associated Press.

    As the storm pushes inland, locally heavy snow will spread across the various ranges of the Intermountain West into Wednesday.

    .
  8. Web site: Storm Dumps 18 Inches of Snow, Heavy Rain in Sierra Nevada. usnews.com. U.S.News. 13 January 2018. English. 9 January 2018. The National Weather Service in Reno reported Tuesday that 18 inches (46 centimeters) of snow fell on the top of Mammoth Mountain south of Yosemite National Park..
  9. Web site: Storm Dumps 18 Inches of Snow, Heavy Rain in Sierra Nevada. usnews.com. U.S.News. 13 January 2018. English. 9 January 2018.
  10. Web site: News 3 Staff.
    1. WeatherAuthority: Heavy rain, flood waters sweep the Las Vegas valley
    . news3lv.com. 3 NEWS Las Vegas. English. Winter storm warnings have also been issued for the Sheep and Spring Mountains with an expected 6-12 inches of snow above 7,000 feet..
  11. Web site: Heavy Rain Snarls Traffic, Floods Streets in Portland. nbcnews.com. NBC News. 13 January 2018. Video.
  12. Web site: Portland metro Thursday weather: Brisk winds and heavy rain; avalanche danger on Mount Hood. oregonlive.com. The Oregonian. 13 January 2018. English. 11 January 2018. The Oregon coast will be windy today with gust up to 60 mph and heavy rains totaling up to 2 inches in some areas. Winds in the valleys will gust up to 40 mph according to the National Weather Service. Screen Shot 2018-01-11 at 5.32.59 AM.png NOAA The Weather Service has issued a winter weather advisory beginning 4 p.m. Thursday for dropping snow levels and snow amounts on the Cascade passes from 4-8 inches..

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