Massive rain and strong winds are currently paralyzing large parts of the American state of California. Authorities have reported three deaths so far. The backdrop is a special weather phenomenon known meteorologically as ‘atmospheric river’ and locally as ‘Pineapple Express’.
Near Sacramento, a man was struck by a falling tree in his yard. He later died from his injuries, the Sacramento County coroner’s office said Monday.
The other two deaths in Northern California were also caused by falling trees, CNN reported. People died on Sunday.
Mudslides and widespread power outages
The storm, which initially affected the greater San Francisco area, moved further south on Monday, reaching Santa Barbara and Los Angeles. The heavy rain caused mudslides, flooded streets and disrupted power supplies. According to the website PowerOutage, hundreds of thousands of homes were temporarily without power.
Weather service: “Potentially life-threatening”
The National Weather Service warned of wind gusts up to 60 miles per hour. California Governor Gavin Newsom warned on Sunday of a “severe storm with dangerous and potentially life-threatening consequences” and declared a state of emergency for several districts.
Weather phenomenon spanning thousands of kilometers
The reason for the heavy rainfall is the weather conditions of the “atmospheric river”. The German weather service defines this as a “relatively narrow, directional band of moisture-saturated air” with a width of about 500 kilometers and a length of 2,000 kilometers or more.
Such systems transported much of the water vapor outside the tropics. Because the moist air masses hitting California originate mainly from the tropical Pacific ocean regions around Hawaii, they are sometimes called the “Pineapple Express.”
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
