Nine powerful atmospheric rivers delivered about 24.5tn gallons of water across the state, causing over $1bn dollars worth of damage
\nSunshine beamed across parts of\u00a0California\u00a0on Tuesday, signaling a hopeful end to extreme downpours that drenched the Golden State. The nine powerful atmospheric rivers that bore down in quick succession over the last three weeks \u2013 dropping an estimated 24.5tn gallons of water across California from 26 December to 11 January \u2013 left death and disaster in their wake.
\nAt least 20 people have been killed during the deluges, as the severe storms submerged streets, produced fast-moving flash floods and tore into inundated hillsides that sent mud sliding onto homes and highways. Along with torrents of rain, blustery winds ripped down trees and power lines, leaving hundreds of thousands without electricity during the storms.
\nPresident Joe Biden issued a major disaster declaration in three California communities hit hard by the storms, freeing important federal aid that will help with cleanup and recovery.
\nBiden is scheduled to visit parts of the central coast on Thursday, to tour impacted areas and meet with first responders. Along with Santa Cruz, Sacramento, and Merced counties \u2013 the three designated as major disasters \u2013 41 of California\u2019s 58 counties have been given federal emergency declarations, and Governor Gavin Newsom proclaimed a statewide emergency.
\nThe cost of the catastrophe is estimated to far-exceed $1bn, making the series of storms the\u00a0first billion dollar-disaster of 2023.\u00a0But, even as the clouds cleared this week, there\u2019s another storm swirling over the Pacific that could gain enough strength to become California\u2019s tenth atmospheric river. A shot of precipitation from a quick system was also predicted for Wednesday or Thursday, the National Weather Service said.
\nForecasters cautioned that although the midweek rainfall will be light, it could still cause problems across the sodden state. Overly saturated soils and systems, overwhelmed by moisture after months of dryness, will not be able to withstand more water, as tens of thousands remained under evacuation orders on Monday.
\n\u201cWith more difficult days ahead, it\u2019s critical that Californians stay alert to conditions in their area and follow guidance from local emergency responders to stay safe,\u201d Newsom said in a news release about preparation for the next round of rain.
\nAs some communities across California brace for more, others are using the dry reprieve to begin the arduous cleanup process. The state saw more than 500 landslides since New Year\u2019s Eve according to the California Geological Survey, and many transportation corridors remain closed or slowed due to the damage and debris.
\nBy Monday, two northbound lanes of Interstate 5 near Castaic in northern LA county were closed indefinitely after a hillside collapsed, and in Berkeley, 10 homes were evacuated Monday when a sodden hillside collapsed, sending mud onto properties. Dozens of residents of Matilija Canyon in Ventura county, whose homes are tucked into a remote hillside in Los Padres National Forest had to be rescued by helicopter\u00a0after \u201ctowering piles of rock and mud\u201d collapsed last week, covering the single road exit out of the canyon, Ventura county sheriff\u2019s office said.<\/p>\n