California

California caught in crosshairs of weather extremes in a warming world

Published

10 months ago

August 22, 2023

California caught in crosshairs of weather extremes in a warming world

Southern Californians are surfacing from a historic weekend of weather extremes after what may have been the first tropical storm to hit California’s coast in 84 years.

Tropical Storm Hilary, a probable combination of natural El Niño patterns and human-induced warming, dumped 2.48 inches of rain on downtown Los Angeles on Sunday, shattering the previous August daily record of 0.03 inches set in 1906, the National Weather Service reported.

The tropical storm definitely hit Baja California, but there are questions over whether it actually made landfall in the United States as a tropical storm.

Either way, it was widely seen as a harbinger of the state’s severe weather challenges in the future amid a warming world.

“Right out of the gate, we have the potential for stronger storms, and we also have the potential for storms that strengthen very, very quickly,” James Kossin, an adjunct professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and consultant for the climate risk nonprofit First Street Foundation, told The Hill.

Hilary broke “virtually all rainfall daily records” and achieved “some impressive totals” across the region, the National Weather Service’s Los Angeles branch determined Monday.

Palmdale Airport received 3.93 inches of rain, breaking a record of 0.05 inches set in 1934.

Death Valley National Park reported 2.20 inches of rain Sunday, breaking last summer’s record of 1.70 inches, according to the weather service’s Las Vegas branch.

To complicate matters further, just hours after Hilary arrived Sunday, an unrelated magnitude 5.1 earthquake rattled areas southeast of the Ventura County city of Ojai, along the Sisar fault.

Wildfire relief

A firefighting helicopter flies near the Rabbit Fire as it burns in Moreno Valley in Riverside County, California, on July 14, 2023. Tens of millions of Americans were facing dangerously high temperatures July 14, 2023, as a powerful heat wave stretched from California to Texas. (Photo by DAVID SWANSON/AFP via Getty Images)

The storm did bring Southern California some tangible benefits by temporarily reducing the risk of wildfire in the region, according to Daniel Swain, a climate scientist at the University of California, Los Angeles.

“There’s likely to be a prolonged reprieve for weeks, at least in Southern California and in places that got soaked on the eastern side of Sierra as well,” he said at his virtual office hours Monday afternoon.

That said, the Northern California Deep Fire, which began last week, grew to more than 3,000 acres over the weekend and began ripping through the Shasta-Trinity National Forest in Northern California. By Tuesday, the fire had expanded to 3,823 acres and was only 5 percent contained, according to the U.S. Forest Service.

Hilary’s rainfall is not expected to offer significant relief from that fire.

Still, Swain stressed that aside from Northwestern California, fire season has been relatively “low-key” this year so far.

“California deserves a break after the last decade,” he said. “At some point, just by random luck, you’ve got to have another year that isn’t as crazy.”

But Swain also noted “the great irony” that California is experiencing such a respite when “almost everywhere else on Earth is experiencing almost continuously crazy, record-breaking, even record-shattering, heat extremes and flood events.”

California’s reprieve, he stressed, will presumably be “more of the exception rather than the norm moving forward,” after a decade of severe droughts, wildfires and extreme precipitation events.

Unique set of circumstances

Vehicles cross over a flood control basin that has almost reached the street, Sunday, Aug. 20, 2023, in Palm Desert, Calif. Forecasters said Tropical Storm Hilary was the first tropical storm to hit Southern California in 84 years, bringing the potential for flash floods, mudslides, isolated tornadoes, high winds and power outages. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Kossin, a former atmospheric scientist for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), credited “a unique set of circumstances,” some natural and some mad-made, for Hilary’s development.

“What causes the warm water in this case is probably mostly the El Niño, and that is natural,” Kossin said. “But that’s not to say that there isn’t a human fingerprint on it. At this point, there’s a fingerprint on just about everything.”

Also at work was a giant “heat dome” — a high-pressure, circulating system that traps hot air — which was moving the airflow in a clockwise manner along the dome’s western edge, Kossin explained.

“Most of the time, these storms form and they just travel from east to west and move out to sea and maybe threaten Hawaii,” he said.

But with the so-called “steering flow” that accompanies the heat dome, winds from the south were steering the storm toward California, according to Kossin.

“Winds can change direction completely from one day to the next,” he said. “So that adds a certain amount of randomness to the whole thing.”

The weather service by early Monday had reclassified the storm as a post-tropical cyclone, which later moved on to soak Nevada before drenching Oregon and Idaho.

Although meteorologists are confident that Hilary first appeared on land in western Mexico, they are still trying to determine whether the storm also made a separate entrance from the ocean into California, rather than over the mountains east of San Diego.

“It’s clear that Hilary made an initial landfall in northern Baja California,” Swain said. “But what is less clear now — there may have actually been a second landfall.”

The storm appears to have traveled “more or less directly over San Diego” and parallel to the coastline, prior to “going inland directly over Los Angeles,” according to Swain.

“Did this storm end up being the first to have an actual California landfall at or above tropical storm strength since 1939?” the climate scientist asked.

The answer remains uncertain because “it was so close,” he explained, noting that “sports are not the only context where there’s postseason analysis.”

Acknowledging that the distinction doesn’t necessarily matter, Swain noted that this path could have caused Los Angeles and Ventura counties to see more rain than was initially anticipated.

Countering claims that minimize the storm’s effects as “minor street flooding,” Swain cited reports of “large debris flows that took out bridges, scoured canyons, knocked down long established trees and structures,” as well as residents who fled in the middle of the night.

He also noted that many of the interstates and highways across southeastern California were shut down entirely as the storm persisted.

But the damage could have been much greater had desert weather conditions earlier in the day Sunday been different — and had there been more sun over the Salton Sea rather than thick clouds, according to Swain.

While the area did receive almost the same amount of rain as predicted, stronger morning sunlight near the Salton Sea’s surface could have generated enough instability to maximize rain rates, he explained.

“There were certainly places that recorded rainfall rates of 1-2 inches per hour, but not 3-4 per hour,” the climate scientist said.

“It turns out that makes a huge difference,” he added, noting that flooding could have been twice as bad or worse.

The role of randomness

*A flooded homeless encampment is seen along California Route 14 in Palmdale, Calif., as Hilary moves into the area, Sunday, Aug. 20, 2023.* (AP Photo/Richard Vogel)

Emphasizing the role of randomness and the fact that daily variability played such an essential role in Hilary’s trajectory, Kossin, the Wisconsin-based atmospheric scientist, pointed out the difficulties in holding climate change responsible for this specific event.

Zooming out, however, it is possible to demonstrate a potential link between hurricane and tropical storm intensity and climate change — which Kossin and his colleagues revealed in a 2020 paper in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

The researchers showed how maximum sustained winds in hurricanes are getting stronger, and that a warming planet may be responsible for this trend.

“You need a storm to be very strong so it can survive that trip across that cold California current,” Kossin said, noting that this usually bars storms from being named before reach the coast.

Not only did Hilary have that strength, but it also intensified very rapidly — a phenomenon that he described as “driven by ocean temperatures.”

The question remains, however, how much of that warming was the result of climate change and how much were due to of El Niño.

While many factors came together to influence Hilary’s development, the storm was probably “made more likely due to climate change,” according to Kossin.

“The likelihood of an event like Hilary is higher now than it used to be,” he added.

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California

California doctor who drove Tesla off cliff with family inside won’t face trial, granted mental health diversion

Published

17 mins ago

June 26, 2024

Press Room

California doctor who drove Tesla off cliff with family inside won’t face trial, granted mental health diversion

The “suicidal” California doctor accused of intentionally driving his Tesla off a cliff with his wife and two young children inside won’t face trial for attempted murder as he is instead set to begin a mental health diversion program.

Dharmesh Patel, who was granted admission into the two-year program last Thursday at the San Mateo County Court, will remain in jail for “several weeks” before he’s released, the San Mateo District Attorney told NBC News.

The radiologist, who has spent the last 18 months behind bars. will be released from jail to his parent’s home where he will be ordered not to leave.

He will also have to report to court weekly for a progress report.

Patel will be ordered to be tested twice a week “to show medication compliance,” and will have to abstain from drugs and alcohol while also forfeiting his driver’s license and passport, the outlet reported.

The doctor will return to court on July 1 where details of his release will be determined, a spokesperson for District Attorney Stephen Wagstaffe told NBC News.

Judge Susan Jakubowski granted Patel admission to the program while the DA’s office “intensely” opposed it.

The radiologist appeared “by all accounts a kind and loving” father, said Jakubowski on Thursday, adding that Patel would be better served in treatment than in jail, the Mercury News reported.

Last week’s ruling was made after evidence was found showing Patel has major depressive disorder.

In April two doctors testified in court that Patel suffered from “major depressive order” and experienced a “psychotic” break during the attempted murder-suicide on Jan. 2, 2023.

The Tesla Model Y plummeted off the 250-foot cliff off “Devil’s Slide” on Highway 1 and landed on the shore of the Pacific Ocean.

Miraculously, Patel, his wife and their two children — a 7-year-old daughter and 4-year-old son — all survived.

Patel was arrested and later charged with three counts of attempted murder. He initially pleaded not guilty to the charges saying the Tesla experienced a malfunction causing the car to careen off the cliff.

His wife Neha later told investigators her husband had suffered from depression before the crash.

“He’s depressed. He’s a doctor. He said he was going to drive off the cliff. He purposefully drove off,” Neha told rescuers.

During his testimony, psychologist Mark Patterson said Patel’s delusions were provoked by the nation’s fentanyl crisis, the war in Ukraine and feared his children could be kidnapped and molested, which appeared to have been connected to Patel’s worries about accused sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein.

In May, Neha Patel begged prosecutors to drop the charges and admit her husband into the program.

“We need him in our lives and it has been over a year and a half since my children or I have seen or spoken to Dharmesh,” she said.

The doctor was deemed a good candidate for the program because he’s at low risk of injuring anyone else and has shown progress with his treatment since the crash, Patterson said.

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California

California Shelves Repeal of 1950 Housing Law That Stoked Racial Tension | KQED

Published

8 hours ago

June 25, 2024

Press Room

California Shelves Repeal of 1950 Housing Law That Stoked Racial Tension | KQED

“While SCA 2 was one of many efforts to help address the housing crisis, the November’s ballot will be very crowded, and reaching voters will be difficult and expensive,” Allen said in a statement. “In addition, the legislature recently passed my SB 469, which substantially addresses some of the most significant concerns about how Article 34 might be impacting housing production.”

SB 469 clarifies that the use of state affordable housing dollars does not trigger Article 34’s requirement for voter approval. Allen said his focus is on determining whether these efforts are “making a significant dent in addressing the problem,” adding that quickly building more affordable housing is a priority.

Backed by the California Real Estate Association, the forerunner to the current California Association of Realtors, Article 34 was first adopted by voters in 1950. Realtors played on voters’ fears that affordable housing would lead to greater racial integration of exclusively white neighborhoods.

CAR issued a formal apology in 2022 for its past support of Article 34, with association President Otto Catrina condemning the actions and vowing to address the legacy of its “discriminatory policies and practices.”

The organization “remains a strong supporter of the repeal of Article 34 … which adds unnecessary hurdles and costs to the creation of affordable housing,” CAR spokesperson Sanjay Wagle said in a statement.

Wagle noted that a majority of Californians support repealing the provision but cited research showing a voter education campaign would be needed to explain the article’s effects.

“The cost of such a campaign in an election year with so many initiatives on the ballot made this campaign more costly and difficult, thus making it more logical to pursue a repeal on a future ballot,” Wagle wrote. “We thank Sen. Allen and Sen. Wiener for their efforts on this repeal effort and look forward to working [with] them and other stakeholders on this issue in the future.”

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California Quarterback Commits to Penn State’s 2026 Recruiting Class

Published

15 hours ago

June 25, 2024

Press Room

California Quarterback Commits to Penn State’s 2026 Recruiting Class

Though Penn State has been busily filling its 2025 recruiting class in June, the program hasn’t stopped looking ahead. The Nittany Lions on Tuesday received a commitment from 4-star California quarterback Troy Huhn, who became the second player in Penn State football’s 2026 recruiting class.

Huhn (6-4, 205 pounds) will be a junior at Mission Hills High, just north of San Diego. He threw for 1,623 yards and 16 touchdowns as a sophomore last season. Huhn quickly built a strong offer sheet that included Michigan, Ohio State, Oregon, Texas, Auburn and Notre Dame, among many others. Huhn took an unofficial visits to Ohio State and Penn State in June, committing to the Nittany Lions two weeks after his trip.

Huhn is the 2026 recruiting class’ 10th-rated quarterback prospect, according to the 247Sports Composite, and a top-15 player in California. On3 ranks Huhn highest among the major recruiting services, slotting him at No. 60 nationally and sixth at quarterback.

Huhn, who committed to Penn State offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki and quarterbacks coach Danny O’Brien, spent time with head coach James Franklin during his unofficial visit. He told Sean Fitz of Blue-White Illustrated that Franklin made an impression.

“Coach O’Brien was great, but really my main thing when I was getting out there was to have more time with coach Franklin. They definitely gave that to me,” Huhn said in his interview with Blue-White Illustrated. “I really felt the love from coach Franklin. He’s very business, he’s awesome, he’s a funny guy. My mom loves him, he loves my mom. That relationship with him is now a lot better and I’m glad I got to spend that time with him.”

Huhn joins Harrisburg athlete Messiah Mickens on the ground floor of Penn State’s 2026 recruiting class. Mickens committed to Penn State in August 2023. Penn State had been recruiting several 2026 quarterbacks alongside Huhn. One of their targets, Dia Bell, recently committed to Texas.

Huhn’s commitment continued a prolific stretch for the Nittany Lions. Franklin and his staff have received commitments from five players in a four-day stretch. Four of them committed to Penn State’s 2025 recruiting class.

The most recent 2025 commitment belonged to Max Granville, a 4-star prospect from Texas and first-team all-state honoree as a junior. Granville, who will be a senior at Fort Bend Christian Academy, is rated as a 4-star linebacker according to the 247Sports Composite. However, the 6-3, 220-pound Granville projects at defensive end and was recruited by Penn State defensive line coach Deion Barnes. Granville chose Penn State after making an official visit to State College earlier in June. He also visited USC, Texas A&M and Oklahoma in June and took an official visit to Baylor in April.

Penn State opens the 2024 football season Aug. 31 at West Virginia. The game is scheduled for a noon kickoff on FOX.

BREAKING: Four-Star QB Troy Huhn (2026) has Committed to Penn State, he tells me for @on3recruits
The 6’4 205 QB from San Marcos, CA chose the Nittany Lions over Ohio State and Auburn
Ranked as the No. 6 QB in ‘26 (per On3)
“I’m Home #WEARE”https://t.co/lKvct8u4a2 pic.twitter.com/VtLZZ6xH1I
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) June 25, 2024

More Penn State Football Recruiting

Penn State receives commitment from 4-star Maryland prospect

Versatile New Jersey prospect commits to the Nittany Lions

Former Penn State linebacker commit switches to Rutgers

AllPennState is the place for Penn State news, opinion and perspective on the SI.com network. Publisher Mark Wogenrich has covered Penn State for more than 20 years, tracking three coaching staffs, three Big Ten titles and a catalog of great stories. Follow him on Twitter @MarkWogenrich.

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