California faces inevitable megafloods due to climate change

California is on the brink of experiencing catastrophic megafloods, a consequence of escalating climate change.

Lucy Sherriff reports for BBC.

In short:

• Southern California, typically battling droughts and wildfires, now faces torrential rains and life-threatening floods.
• Recent storms, intensified by an atmospheric river, have led to state emergencies, power outages, and widespread flooding affecting 94% of Californians.
• Scientists warn of increasing frequency and intensity of such events, with climate change heightening the risk of a devastating megaflood in the state.

Key quote:

"I don't think that California has fully prepared to face the realities of these events."

— Daniel Swain, scientist at the National Centre for Atmospheric Research.

Why this matters:

These looming megafloods in California are a reminder of how climate change can drastically alter environments, posing significant risks to health and safety, especially in densely populated regions.

It’s not just flooding California has to worry about. In 2021, EHN talked to California vets who cared for wildfire-impacted affected animals.