California Gets a Meteorological Shower
The West Coast was hit by a nasty combo of rain, snow and high‑speed gusts on Wednesday (Feb 13). The storm, the wettest of the winter, drenched cars, flooded vineyards, and sparked weather alerts all the way from Arizona to Washington.
North California: Wine Country in a Wet Nightmare
- Sonoma County’s vineyards were under siege by winds up to 120 km/h.
- Car‑filled streets in San Francisco braved standing water, one abandoned vehicle’s mirrors getting lavished in the rain.
- A tree in Carmel knocked a home down—she’s bruised, and the houses in Atherton are still dealing with power outages.
Sacramento Valley: The Pineapple Express Rolls In
The “Pineapple Express”—a tropical rain shower that’s heading from near Hawaii—was washing through the mountains, melting snow and swelling creeks from Chico to Stockton. Bob Oravec, a meteorologist at the NWS’s Weather Prediction Center, warned, “The Express is no joke.”
What’s the deal?
Atmospheric rivers—a long, narrow plume of moisture—are what give the Express its name. These rivers can pour so much liquid that they’re basically a jugged drink from the Pacific.
What to expect next?
- Rain and snow keep rolling until Friday.
- Some Sierra Nevada passes could see over 2.4 m of new snowfall.
- Cory Mueller, an NWS meteorologist, stressed that mountain travel will be “dangerously” snarled.
Beyond California: Oregon & Washington Downpours
The rains were touching Oregon and Washington too, closing a portion of Interstate 90 over avalanche concerns. The West Coast’s string of storms is now giving farmers and skiers the snow they’ve missed after years of drought.
Los Angeles & Wildfire Concerns: Mudslides on the Horizon
Areas around L.A. could see more than 13 cm of rain—think epic flash floods and mudslides—especially next to recent wildfire burn zones. Oravec added, “It’s going to be heavy and fast. Debris flows and mudslides are a risk in any area scorched by wildfires. There’s little to no vegetation to slow that water down.”
Bottom line: Stay safe and keep hydrated.
California’s weather dial has been turned down to sleety, but at least it’s giving us fresh snow for winters that were feeling a bit dry in past seasons.
