A Deluge of Rain Wreaks Havoc in Western US: Understanding the Impact of Tropical Storm Hilary
Introduction
Over the weekend, a massive storm named Tropical Storm Hilary ravaged Mexico, Southern California, Arizona, and Nevada, causing record-breaking rainfall and devastating flooding. The impact of this storm has been truly unprecedented, with many areas experiencing significant damage and destruction. In this article, we will delve into the details of this calamitous event, exploring the causes behind the storm’s intensity and discussing the potential implications of climate change on future weather patterns.
The Unrelenting Rainfall
The sheer volume of rainfall unleashed by Tropical Storm Hilary is staggering. National Metereological Service reported that the storm broke virtually all daily rainfall records in affected regions. Mount San Jacinto, located near Palm Springs, received an astounding foot of rain over the course of two days, while Mount Wilson in Los Angeles County accumulated 8.56 inches of rain. Even at lower elevations, the rain was unrelenting, with 4.8 inches in Beverly Hills and 4.7 inches in Van Nuys.
The Devastating Consequences
Hilary’s deluge has resulted in widespread flooding and debris flows, transforming the affected areas into roaring rivers of mud, rocks, and trees. Homes and businesses have been destroyed, and people have been overwhelmed while trapped in their cars. The situation in Palm Springs, in particular, is described as “very dire” by Mayor Grace Garner, with no way in or out of the city. The extent of the damage is still being assessed, and it will take some time for authorities to calculate the true impact.
The Link to Climate Change
While it may be too early to determine the exact role of climate change in the intensity of Tropical Storm Hilary, scientists predict that such storms will become increasingly ferocious as the world continues to warm. The connection between warmer ocean temperatures and the strength of hurricanes is well-established. Warm ocean water provides the necessary energy for hurricanes to form and intensify. In the case of Hilary, the presence of El Niño, a patch of warm water in the eastern Pacific, further amplified the storm.
The Role of El Niño
El Niño is a natural climate cycle characterized by warmer-than-average ocean temperatures in the eastern Pacific. During El Niño years, storms that form in this region tend to be more potent due to the additional heat provided by the ocean. Consequently, the eastern Pacific becomes highly active in terms of hurricane activity during El Niño years. However, hurricanes in this region typically move westward out to sea, away from land, driven by easterly winds. Northward-moving hurricanes, like Hilary, are less common but still occur every two to three years on average.
The Science Behind Hurricane Formation
To understand why Hilary took an unusual northward path, it is important to grasp the fundamentals of hurricane formation. The warm ocean water acts as a source of moisture and heat, and as the moist air rises, it releases latent heat energy, invigorating the storm. The powerful winds associated with a hurricane are due to the energy picked up by the winds at the ocean surface. This energy is derived from the moisture and heat present in the air. If the storm carries more moisture with it as it spirals into the center, it gains more energy and becomes stronger.
The Future of Storms in a Warming World
As global temperatures continue to rise, the destructive potential of hurricanes and tropical storms is expected to increase. Rising sea surface temperatures provide more energy for storm development, while warmer air holds more moisture, resulting in heavier rainfall. This combination sets the stage for more frequent and intense storms, akin to the havoc caused by Tropical Storm Hilary. The scientific community is working diligently to better understand the link between climate change and extreme weather events, and their findings will undoubtedly shape future policies and mitigation strategies.
Conclusion
The impact of Tropical Storm Hilary serves as a stark reminder of the power and destructiveness of nature. The record-breaking rainfall, devastating flooding, and widespread destruction are clear indications that extreme weather events are becoming increasingly common. While it is difficult to attribute a single storm to climate change, the underlying trends point towards more frequent and intense events in the future. The lessons learned from this catastrophe should serve as a call to action for governments, communities, and individuals to prioritize climate resilience and adaptation measures to mitigate the potential risks associated with these weather phenomena.
In conclusion, Tropical Storm Hilary unleashed an unfathomable deluge of rain on Mexico, Southern California, Arizona, and Nevada, causing widespread flooding and destruction. The storm broke countless rainfall records, leaving a trail of devastation in its wake. Scientists are studying the potential link between climate change and the intensity of such storms, highlighting the importance of addressing the underlying causes of global warming. As our planet continues to warm, it is crucial to invest in climate resilience and adaptation strategies to mitigate the impact of future extreme weather events. The calamity of Tropical Storm Hilary serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for action in the face of a changing climate.
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how to drain A big sponge in the sky, beginning this weekend Tropical Storm Hilary dumped an incomprehensible amount of water on Mexico, Southern California, Arizona and Nevada, breaking “virtually all daily rainfall records,” according to the National Metereological Service. Mount San Jacinto, near Palm Springs, received almost a foot of rain for two dayswhile Mount Wilson, in Los Angeles County, got 8.56 inches. Even at some lower elevations, the rain has been relentless: 4.8 inches in Beverly Hills and 4.7 in Van Nuys.
Hilary’s deluge has caused widespread flooding and debris flows—roaring rivers of mud, rocks, and trees—destroying homes and businesses and overwhelming people in their cars. As of Monday morning, there was no way in or out of Palm Springs, a “very dire situation right now.” saying Mayor Grace Garner.
Authorities have only just begun to calculate the damage. And while it will take scientists a while to fully determine how much climate change contributed to Hillary’s destruction, such storms are likely to become increasingly ferocious as the world warms.
What made Hilary, who started life as a hurricane in the eastern Pacific, so twisted? Bottom line: warm ocean water feeds hurricanes in the tropics. Warm, moist air from the sea surface rises and the surrounding air rushes in to take its place, creating winds. “Winds at the ocean surface pick up energy in the form of moisture and heat,” says climatologist Karthik Balaguru, who studies hurricanes at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. “This air spiraling into the center of the storm, if it carries more moisture with it, once it rises it can release more latent heat energy. This process invigorates the storm.”
Sea surface temperatures are particularly hot right now in the eastern Pacific, due to the continued development of The boy. This is a patch of warm water that extends from the coast of South America west to the Pacific. “Storms that form in the eastern Pacific during El Niño years take advantage of this extra heat from the ocean and tend to get stronger,” says Balaguru. “That’s why almost all studies have shown that during El Niño years, the eastern Pacific tends to be very active in terms of hurricane activity.”
The eastern Pacific is the second most active basin in terms of the number of storms per year, after the western Pacific, Balaguru says. But typically, hurricanes that form off the coast of Central America head west out to sea, not north like Hilary did. Easterly winds generally provide the “steering flow” to move a hurricane away from land. “That’s why we don’t worry as much about eastern Pacific hurricanes, usually along the west coast of the US,” Balaguru says. “It’s not like the Atlantic hurricanes that form and move towards the coast of the United States.”
However, every two to three years, on average, a hurricane forms in the eastern Pacific and “recurses” north toward Mexico. When it makes landfall, it loses that source of moist thermal energy from the ocean and is dissipated. (Hilary was downgraded to tropical storm status when it made landfall in Baja California, and is now a post-tropical cyclone as it moves through Nevada.) The remnants of the storm could then travel into the southwestern US with their moisture as rain.
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