2022–2023 California floods
Regional natural disaster event / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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.[3][4] The flooding resulted in property damage[5][6][7] and at least 22 fatalities.[1] At least 200,000 homes and businesses lost power during the December-January storms[8] and 6,000 individuals were ordered to evacuate.[9]
This article is missing information about any rainfall and flooding events in February and early March. (April 2023) |
Date | December 26, 2022 – March 25, 2023 |
---|---|
Location | California Nevada Arizona Utah |
Deaths | 22+[1][2] |
Property damage | $4.6 billion (2023 USD)[2] |
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.[10][11] 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.[12] Other scientists have emphasized that floods were caused by ocean warming, directly related to climate change.[13] 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".[14] 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).[15] Before the rains started, California had been in an extreme drought.[16]
Due to the storms, Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency on January 4, 2023.[17] President Joe Biden then declared a state of emergency in 17 California counties on January 9, 2023.[18] 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.[19] 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.[20] Later, Ventura County was approved disaster relief.[21] Biden surveyed the damage with Newsom on January 19.[22]