Current:Home > reviewsRecord rainfall, triple-digit winds, hundreds of mudslides. Here’s California’s storm by the numbers -TrueNorth Capital Hub
Record rainfall, triple-digit winds, hundreds of mudslides. Here’s California’s storm by the numbers
View
Date:2025-04-11 20:42:24
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The slow-moving atmospheric river that was finally moving out of California on Wednesday unleashed record rainfall, triple-digit winds and hundreds of mudslides.
Here is the historic storm by the numbers:
___
DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES
In four days, downtown Los Angeles got soaked by more than 8 inches (20 cm) of rain — more than half of the 14.25 inches (36 cm) it normally gets per year.
That is according to the National Weather Service’s Los Angeles office, which has records dating back to 1877.
February tends to be one of the city’s rainier months. Only seven days into the month, it is already the 13th wettest February on record.
___
RAINIEST SPOTS
Downtown Los Angeles wasn’t the only spot that received colossal amounts of rain. About 12 miles (19 kilometers) to the northwest, the hills of Bel Air got more than a foot — 13.04 inches (34 cm) — between Sunday and late Wednesday morning.
Several other locations in Los Angeles County received more than a foot of rain during the four-day span, including Sepulveda Canyon, Topanga Canyon, Cogswell Dam and Woodland Hills.
___
WIND
A gust of 102 mph (164 kph) was recorded Sunday at Pablo Point in Marin County, just north of San Francisco, at an elevation of 932 feet (284 meters).
While just missing the December 1995 record of 103 mph (166 kph) at Angel Island in San Francisco Bay, “102 is very, very impressive,” said meteorologist Nicole Sarment at the National Weather Service’s Bay Area office.
The top 10 strongest gusts — between 102 and 89 mph (164 and 143 kph) — recorded at the height of the weekend’s winds were all in Marin and nearby Santa Clara County, the weather service said. Gusts above 80 mph (129 kph) were also recorded in Napa and Monterey counties.
Other wind readings Sunday included 77 mph (124 kph) at the San Francisco airport, 61 mph (98 kph) at the Oakland airport and 59 mph (95 kph) at the San Jose airport.
___
MUDSLIDES
By Wednesday, crews had responded to 520 mudslides across Los Angeles, according to the mayor’s office. The mudslides closed roads across the city, smashed into homes and prompted evacuation orders in canyon neighborhoods with burn scars from recent wildfires.
Emergency crews also responded to more than 400 fallen trees.
Those numbers could rise because even though rain was diminishing, already sodden hillsides still threatened to give way.
So far, 12 buildings have been deemed uninhabitable, the city said. And at least 30 were yellow-tagged, meaning residents could go back to get their belongings but could not stay because of the damage. Inspections were ongoing at dozens more properties.
___
WATER
All the rain brought one silver lining: Helping to boost the state’s often-strapped water supply. More than 7 billion gallons (26.5 billion liters) of storm water in Los Angeles County were captured for groundwater and local supplies, the mayor’s office said. Just two years ago, nearly all of California was plagued by a devastating drought that strained resources and forced water cutbacks.
veryGood! (41125)
Related
- As Trump Enters Office, a Ripe Oil and Gas Target Appears: An Alabama National Forest
- 3-month-old baby is fatally mauled by dogs in attic while parents smoked pot, police say
- What polling shows about Americans’ views of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
- Why Selena Gomez's Wizards Costar David Henrie Approves of Benny Blanco
- DeepSeek: Did a little known Chinese startup cause a 'Sputnik moment' for AI?
- Democratic convention ends Thursday with the party’s new standard bearer, Kamala Harris
- After DNC speech, Stephanie Grisham hits back at weight-shaming comment: 'I've hit menopause'
- Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Nonsense Outro
- Krispy Kreme offers a free dozen Grinch green doughnuts: When to get the deal
- Workers at Canadian National Railway Co. will start returning to work Friday, union says
Ranking
- See you latte: Starbucks plans to cut 30% of its menu
- Proof Russell Wilson Is Ready for Another Baby Eight Months After Wife Ciara Gave Birth
- Former Milwaukee hotel workers accused of killing a man by pinning him down plead not guilty
- Love Actually's Martine McCutcheon Reveals Husband Broke Up With Her After 18 Years Together
- EU countries double down on a halt to Syrian asylum claims but will not yet send people back
- Survivor Host Jeff Probst Shares the Strange Way Show Is Casting Season 50
- Chris Olsen, nude photos and when gay men tear each other down
- At DNC, Gabrielle Giffords joins survivors of gun violence and families of those killed in shootings
Recommendation
Google unveils a quantum chip. Could it help unlock the universe's deepest secrets?
4 bodies found inside the Bayesian, Mike Lynch family yacht, amid search
Zoë Kravitz is 'much closer' to Channing Tatum after directing 'Blink Twice'
Tom Brady and Bridget Moynahan's Son Jack Is His Dad's Mini-Me in New Photo
In ‘Nickel Boys,’ striving for a new way to see
A 2nd ex-Memphis officer accused in the fatal beating of Tyre Nichols is changing his plea
Yankees roast Little League coach who complained about Aaron Judge
Despite smaller crowds, activists at Democrats’ convention call Chicago anti-war protests a success