Key Facts Of The Day 1/11

Storms and Flooding

• More than 6 million people were still under flood alerts as the next in a barrage of atmospheric rivers was forecast to bring heavy rain and potentially more flooding to Northern California beginning Wednesday.
• Storms that battered California in recent weeks have left at least 17 people dead, and much of the state received rainfall totals 400% to 600% above average.
  • There were about 150-200 reports of flooding and mudslides across the southern region in 28 hours.
  • In the Los Angeles neighborhood of Chatsworth, several people had to be rescued after a sinkhole swallowed two vehicles Tuesday. Another sinkhole was reported in Santa Maria, where 20 homes were evacuated.
  • Flooding in Santa Barbara County damaged 10 to 15 homes.
  • Santa Cruz County officials reported widespread damage, including a collapsed bridge.
  • In Malibu, a massive boulder came crashing down, shutting down a key roadway.
• Four more atmospheric river events are expected to hit California in the next ten days.
  • The heaviest rain over the next seven days is expected in northern portions of the state, where the National Weather Service forecasts an additional 5 to 10 inches.
  • While the upcoming storms are not expected to be as impactful as the most recent ones, the cumulative effect could be significant since much of the soil is already too saturated to absorb any more rain, and streets are still flooded from previous storms.
• Hurricane Ian was the third costliest U.S. hurricane, with $112.9 billion in damage.

Wildfire

• As of January 6, 2023, there are currently 0 large active wildfires that have burned 0 acres. As of January 9, 2023, 78 wildfires have burned 549 acres across the country.

Extreme Heat

• In 2022, the Western and Midwestern drought caused $22.2 billion in damages.
• In 2022, more than 40% of the continental U.S. was under official drought conditions for 119 straight weeks, a record in the 22 years of the federal drought monitor.

New Reports and Data

• A January 2023 report confirmed that climate change drove unprecedented heat waves, floods, and droughts in recent years.
• A January 2023 study found that over 90% of the global population and gross domestic product could be exposed to increasing compound drought–heatwave event risks in the future, with more severe impacts in poorer and more rural areas.