California Storm: Flash Floods Kill At Least 17 People, Millions Under Evacuation Orders

California flash floods combined with torrential rain and strong winds have killed at least 17 people, with millions of Californians under evacuation orders, according to the latest reports.

The fatalities are a result of recurring adverse weather as part of a Pacific storm train driven by atmospheric rivers, also known as rivers in the sky.

The situation remains volatile until further notice as the week-long storms continue.

The California storm also caused widespread disruption, leaving thousands of customers without electricity and making roads to be impassable due to the high levels of flood waters.

Both residential and business establishments have been affected, with some schools and commercial buildings being closed, due to the life-threatening and disruptive weather hazards.

California Flooding Fatalities

(Photo : Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)
APTOS, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 10: Gulls fly above breaking Pacific Ocean waves on January 10, 2022 in Aptos, California. The San Francisco Bay Area and much of Northern California continues to get drenched by powerful atmospheric river events that have brought high winds and flooding rains. The storms have toppled trees, flooded roads and cut power to tens of thousands. Storms are lined up over the Pacific Ocean and are expected to bring more rain and wind through the end of the week.

California Governor Gavin Newsom on Tuesday, January 10, confirmed the deaths of at least 17 people with over 200,000 homes and businesses without power during his visit in the town of Capitola along the Santa Cruz coast.

The area which was hit hard by high surf waves and massive flooding creek waters last week, Fox News reported.

Initial reports showed that only a 5-year-old boy was among the casualties after being swept away by raging floodwaters.

Over the past 24 hours, the death toll figure has increased to 14 prior to the current number of fatalities mentioned earlier.

Newsom said California had less people who died in the last two years from major wildfires across the state than the ones died since New Year's Day due to the current extreme weather, adding that it is a proof that the climate crisis exists and people need to take it seriously.

In a recent tweet, the governor posted that megadroughts, wildfires, historic floods, and atmospheric rivers are all part of climate change, relating the extreme weather events or climate phenomenon to climate change.

In recent years, climate scientists have linked climate change to the increasing frequency and intensity of storms in the US, including in the North Atlantic Ocean.

Also Read: Heavy Rain to Continue in Portions of California This Week; Flooding and Mountain Snow Possible, Forecast Warns

NWS Flood Alerts

The National Weather Service (NWS) issued a regionwide flood watch for most areas of California and noted that most of the state has witnessed an increase in rainfall by 400% to 600% since the past few weeks.

AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Mike Doll recalled that it was during late December when the train of storms started and examined the pattern of the adverse weather during the winter season for California.

This intense inclement weather has resulted in tens of millions of people under flood watch, as cited by TIME.

As of Tuesday afternoon, the NWS through its Weather Prediction Center (WPC) placed a flood advisory for over 22 million people across California, including a small part of Oregon.

In 2022, various reports mentioned that California is in need of precipitation in the form of rain due to its prolonged drought, dry conditions, and devastating wildfires.

While the torrential rain refilled some depleted water reservoirs, the ongoing storm onslaught proved to be excessive for millions of Californians.

Related Article: US Weather Forecast: California Braces for Severe Rains, Storms, and Possible Flooding As US Nears Halfway of Meteorological Winter