Study: Catastrophic Mega-Flood an Imminent Threat to Northern California

Over the past decade, we’ve seen dramatic swings in weather during the different seasons in Northern California. From drought to extreme flooding, Mother Nature has kept us on our toes and it doesn’t seem like it will slow down anytime soon.

A study released by UCLA climatologists have found that climate change will produce “precipitation whiplash” in California, with extreme droughts followed by intensely wet winters in the coming century. The research was published in the scientific journal Nature Climate Change and it predicts how warming oceans will cause atmospheric rivers that could cause a mega-flood similar to the Great Flood of 1862.

The study found that the odds of a mega-storm hitting Northern California are increasing dramatically. Major drought-to-flood swings occur on average of four times per century, but that number is expected to increase to six times this century. The frequency of serial storms on the scale of 1862 will increase 300%-400%.

Photo of the streets of Sacramento during the Great Flood of 1862

The U.S. Geological Survey have hypothesized that mega-floods like the Great Flood of 1862 come to California about once every 200 years, meaning we are due for one in the next 40 to 50 years. That future mega-flood could cause up to $1 trillion in damage and have a death toll in the tens of thousands. It would exceed anything we’ve seen in U.S. history.

Scientists studying sediment layers in the San Francisco Bay discovered evidence that such mega-storms occurred in the years 212, 440, 603, 1029, 1418, 1605 and 1862. If you do the math, the probability of seeing a storm like that in our lifetime is pretty high.

Even if the mega-storm doesn’t come immediately, the increased volatile swings in weather present problems for California residents. Officials will need to work round the clock to monitor water storage as well as flood management. Catastrophic events, like the collapse of the Oroville Dam spillway, may become more of the norm during the next century. The long-term annual precipitation is expected to remain the same.

In the coming years, state officials will need to carefully consider water storage in California. Keeping the reservoirs full while also considering flood management will be crucial to the future of the safety and economic prosperity of the state.

Let’s just hope this doesn’t end in catastrophe.

Active NorCal

Telling the Stories of Northern California

24 Comments

  1. So what does it have to do with climate change? They’ve estimate it happens every two hundred years so how are you going to stop it? In addition, they say severe droughts followed by extremely wet winters? Well, if the winter is wet then the drought is over. duh!!!

  2. So the weather cycles that have been occurring for thousands of years is now “man made” climate change? How about just calling it what it is, natural climate cycles. There now, the science is settled.

  3. Superb post however I was wanting to know if you could write a
    litte more on this subject? I’d be very grateful if you could elaborate a little bit further.
    Many thanks!

  4. I’m not sure why but this web site is loading
    extremely slow for me. Is anyone else having this problem or is it a problem on my end?

    I’ll check back later on and see if the problem still exists.

  5. Hi there everybody, here every one is sharing these kinds of know-how, therefore it’s good to read this blog, and I
    used to pay a quick visit this webpage daily.

  6. Hello, i believe that i saw you visited my weblog
    so i came to return the favor?.I’m attempting to in finding things to enhance
    my site!I suppose its good enough to use some
    of your ideas!!

  7. Excellent goods from you, man. I have understand your stuff previous to and you are just too wonderful.
    I really like what you have acquired here, certainly like what you’re saying and the way
    in which you say it. You make it enjoyable and you still care for to keep it smart.
    I can not wait to read much more from you. This is actually a wonderful site.

  8. Does your website have a contact page? I’m having problems locating it but, I’d
    like to shoot you an email. I’ve got some recommendations for your blog
    you might be interested in hearing. Either way, great blog and I
    look forward to seeing it develop over time.

  9. Attractive section of content. I just stumbled upon your weblog and in accession capital to assert that I get in fact
    enjoyed account your blog posts. Anyway I’ll be
    subscribing to your feeds and even I achievement you access consistently fast.
    I saw similar here: sklep Internetowy and also here: najlepszy sklep (zabawka.shop)

  10. My developer is trying to convince me to move to .net from PHP.
    I have always disliked the idea because of the costs.
    But he’s tryiong none the less. I’ve been using Movable-type
    on several websites for about a year and am worried about switching to another platform.
    I have heard very good things about blogengine.net. Is there a way I can import all my wordpress content into it?
    Any help would be really appreciated! I saw similar here:
    sklep internetowy and also here: dobry sklep

  11. Have you ever considered about including a little bit more than just your articles?

    I mean, what you say is important and everything. But think of
    if you added some great photos or video clips to give your posts more, “pop”!

    Your content is excellent but with images and videos, this
    blog could undeniably be one of the most beneficial in its niche.
    Fantastic blog! You can see similar: sklep online and here
    sklep internetowy

  12. Hi there! I know this is kinda off topic but I was wondering which
    blog platform are you using for this website? I’m getting tired of WordPress because I’ve had
    issues with hackers and I’m looking at alternatives for another platform.
    I would be great if you could point me in the direction of a good
    platform.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Back to top button