A city facing drought… where a single downpour of heavy rain can cause flooding

Sacramento. Roads turn into rivers and vehicles are seen flooded in South Los Angeles, California on August 20, 2023 after heavy rains caused by Hurricane Hillary. However, the storm weakened after reaching the Pacific coast of Mexico. But the threat of deadly flooding remains, forecasters say.

Officials said one person was killed after heavy rains and strong winds lashed northwestern Mexico as well as Hurricane Hillary in Peninsular California.

Meteorologists say it was the first such tropical storm to hit Southern California in 84 years, causing flooding, mudslides, strong winds, power outages and the possibility of isolated tornadoes. California Governor Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency for much of Southern California, with flash flood warnings in effect for the entire region.

Notably, Palm Springs, a city in Riverside County about 100 miles (160 km) east of Los Angeles, receives barely 4–6 inches of rain a year; 10 inches of rain has been observed. This means that a city accustomed to drought is facing floods.

Tags: California

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