Current:Home > ContactRecord rainfall, triple-digit winds, hundreds of mudslides. Here’s California’s storm by the numbers -RiskWatch
Record rainfall, triple-digit winds, hundreds of mudslides. Here’s California’s storm by the numbers
View
Date:2025-04-18 04:59:52
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The slow-moving atmospheric river that was finally moving out of California on Wednesday unleashed record rainfall, triple-digit winds and hundreds of mudslides.
Here is the historic storm by the numbers:
___
DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES
In four days, downtown Los Angeles got soaked by more than 8 inches (20 cm) of rain — more than half of the 14.25 inches (36 cm) it normally gets per year.
That is according to the National Weather Service’s Los Angeles office, which has records dating back to 1877.
February tends to be one of the city’s rainier months. Only seven days into the month, it is already the 13th wettest February on record.
___
RAINIEST SPOTS
Downtown Los Angeles wasn’t the only spot that received colossal amounts of rain. About 12 miles (19 kilometers) to the northwest, the hills of Bel Air got more than a foot — 13.04 inches (34 cm) — between Sunday and late Wednesday morning.
Several other locations in Los Angeles County received more than a foot of rain during the four-day span, including Sepulveda Canyon, Topanga Canyon, Cogswell Dam and Woodland Hills.
___
WIND
A gust of 102 mph (164 kph) was recorded Sunday at Pablo Point in Marin County, just north of San Francisco, at an elevation of 932 feet (284 meters).
While just missing the December 1995 record of 103 mph (166 kph) at Angel Island in San Francisco Bay, “102 is very, very impressive,” said meteorologist Nicole Sarment at the National Weather Service’s Bay Area office.
The top 10 strongest gusts — between 102 and 89 mph (164 and 143 kph) — recorded at the height of the weekend’s winds were all in Marin and nearby Santa Clara County, the weather service said. Gusts above 80 mph (129 kph) were also recorded in Napa and Monterey counties.
Other wind readings Sunday included 77 mph (124 kph) at the San Francisco airport, 61 mph (98 kph) at the Oakland airport and 59 mph (95 kph) at the San Jose airport.
___
MUDSLIDES
By Wednesday, crews had responded to 520 mudslides across Los Angeles, according to the mayor’s office. The mudslides closed roads across the city, smashed into homes and prompted evacuation orders in canyon neighborhoods with burn scars from recent wildfires.
Emergency crews also responded to more than 400 fallen trees.
Those numbers could rise because even though rain was diminishing, already sodden hillsides still threatened to give way.
So far, 12 buildings have been deemed uninhabitable, the city said. And at least 30 were yellow-tagged, meaning residents could go back to get their belongings but could not stay because of the damage. Inspections were ongoing at dozens more properties.
___
WATER
All the rain brought one silver lining: Helping to boost the state’s often-strapped water supply. More than 7 billion gallons (26.5 billion liters) of storm water in Los Angeles County were captured for groundwater and local supplies, the mayor’s office said. Just two years ago, nearly all of California was plagued by a devastating drought that strained resources and forced water cutbacks.
veryGood! (13683)
Related
- US appeals court rejects Nasdaq’s diversity rules for company boards
- Professor who never showed up for class believed to be in danger: Police
- Israeli troops launch brief ground raid into Gaza ahead of expected wider incursion
- Dozens sickened across 22 states in salmonella outbreak linked to bagged, precut onions
- Whoopi Goldberg is delightfully vile as Miss Hannigan in ‘Annie’ stage return
- Why TikToker Alix Earle Says She Got “Face Transplant” in Her Sleep
- Medical exceptions to abortion bans often exclude mental health conditions
- China and the U.S. appear to restart military talks despite disputes over Taiwan and South China Sea
- 'Most Whopper
- Rachel Zegler Brings Haunting Hunger Games: Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes Songs to Life in Teaser
Ranking
- Google unveils a quantum chip. Could it help unlock the universe's deepest secrets?
- Escaped Virginia inmate who fled from hospital is recaptured, officials say
- As world roils, US and China seek to ease strained ties and prepare for possible Biden-Xi summit
- As rainforests worldwide disappear, burn and degrade, a summit to protect them opens in Brazzaville
- Retirement planning: 3 crucial moves everyone should make before 2025
- Scientists discover hidden landscape frozen in time under Antarctic ice for millions of years
- No, 1 pick Victor Wembanyama is set to debut with the San Antonio Spurs and the world is watching
- Matthew McConaughey and wife Camila introduce new Pantalones organic tequila brand
Recommendation
NFL Week 15 picks straight up and against spread: Bills, Lions put No. 1 seed hopes on line
Swedish court acquits Russian-born businessman of spying for Moscow
Taliban free Afghan activist arrested 7 months ago after campaigning for girls’ education
Many in Niger are suffering under coup-related sanctions. Junta backers call it a worthy sacrifice
'Squid Game' without subtitles? Duolingo, Netflix encourage fans to learn Korean
2024 NBA All-Star Game will return to East vs. West format
UN Security Council fails again to address Israel-Hamas war, rejecting US and Russian resolutions
An increase in harassment against Jewish and Muslim Americans has been reported since Hamas attacks