As of: February 6, 2024, 11:37 a.m
By: Moritz Bletzinger
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“Catastrophic and life-threatening flooding” in California: Here, an off-road vehicle is swept away by the water on the banks of Cajon Creek.
© Watchara Phomicindapicture alliance/dpa/The Orange County Register/AP/Screenshot/X/NWS
A so-called “Pineapple Express storm” is hitting California.
Governor Gavin Newsom declares a state of emergency.
At times, 700,000 households were without power.
Los Angeles – The US National Weather Service NWS warns of the “most violent storm of the season” in California.
On Monday (February 5th) the storm reached the south of the region and triggered an absolute state of emergency.
There were “life-threatening flash floods and mudslides.”
At least three dead in storm in California: strong winds and heavy rain roll across the West Coast
At least three people have already died in strong winds and heavy rain, US media report unanimously.
Near Sacramento, a man was struck by a falling tree in his yard and later died from his injuries, the Sacramento County coroner's office said on Monday.
In the other two cases, two people were fatally injured by falling trees in northern California, reported the US broadcaster
CNN
, among others .
The deaths therefore occurred on Sunday.
On Sunday, California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency.
He warned of a “severe storm with dangerous and potentially life-threatening impacts.”
At one point, 700,000 households were without power, according to the PowerOutage website.
Climate scientist Daniel Swain speaks of “record-breaking rainfall and widespread flooding” in California, a region that is repeatedly hit by violent natural events.
The storm is hanging directly over LA County, with impacts even extending to Las Vegas, Nevada.
“Pineapple Express”: Rare weather phenomenon causes torrential rain in the USA
The reason for the heavy rainfall is a weather phenomenon called “atmospheric river”.
According to the German Weather Service (DWD), this means “a relatively narrow, directed band of moisture-saturated air” with a width of around 500 km and a length of around 2000 km or more.
Such systems transported much of the water vapor outside the tropics.
Because the moist air masses that hit California mostly come from the tropical ocean regions in the Pacific region around Hawaii, they are also called the “Pineapple Express”.
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Around a year ago, a tornado devastated parts of the USA and claimed at least five lives in California.
(moe/dpa)