The recent historic storm that pummeled California's coast has left a lasting impact, causing record-breaking rainfall, powerful winds, and numerous mudslides. As we unpack the numbers associated with this extraordinary event, it becomes apparent just how severe the storm was.
To begin with, downtown Los Angeles experienced an astonishing deluge of rain, with over 8 inches falling in just three days. This amount accounts for more than half of the city's annual average rainfall of 14.25 inches. These figures, sourced from the National Weather Service's records dating back to 1877, highlight the significance of this rainfall event.
It is worth noting that February tends to be a rainy month for the city. With only six days into the month, it has already secured its place as the 13th wettest February on record. The relentless downpour not only hit downtown Los Angeles but also spread to other areas with Bel Air receiving an astounding 12.01 inches of rain. Additional locations in Los Angeles County such as Sepulveda Canyon, Topanga Canyon, Cogswell Dam, and Woodland Hills also received approximately a foot of rain during the same three-day period.
Besides the rainfall, the storm unleashed powerful winds that further disrupted the region. In Marin County, just north of San Francisco, a gust reaching a whopping 102 mph was recorded at Pablo Point, though it narrowly missed the record set in December 1995. The top 10 strongest gusts were observed in Marin and Santa Clara County, with speeds ranging from 102 to 89 mph. Napa and Monterey counties also experienced gusts exceeding 80 mph. Even major airports were not spared, as wind readings reached 77 mph at San Francisco Airport, 61 mph at Oakland Airport, and 59 mph at San Jose Airport.
The intense rainfall and strong winds resulted in numerous mudslides across Los Angeles, with emergency crews responding to a staggering 475 incidents by Tuesday night. Road closures were commonplace, particularly in canyon neighborhoods that had previously been impacted by recent wildfires. Additionally, fallen trees posed dangers and required the attention of emergency crews, leading to 390 tree-related incidents. As the rain persisted, the threat of more mudslides remained high, prompting ongoing evacuation orders.
The consequences of the storm extended to property damage as well, with at least four buildings deemed uninhabitable and nine yellow-tagged, indicating that residents could only retrieve their belongings temporarily. Inspections were in progress for dozens of other properties to assess the extent of the damage.
However, amidst the devastation, the storm brought a silver lining — a significant boost to the state's water supply. In Los Angeles alone, approximately 6 billion gallons of stormwater were captured for groundwater and local use. This serves as a stark contrast to the drought conditions that plagued California just two years ago, when water resources were strained, and cutbacks were necessary.
As the recovery efforts continue, authorities will focus on addressing the damage caused by the storm and supporting affected communities. The storm's impacts remind us of the immense power of nature and the importance of preparedness in the face of extreme weather events.
