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Tag Archives: flood
California weather: Monterey Peninsula could become an island as storms flood swaths of California
CNN
—
Monterey Peninsula residents could soon be living on an island as mammoth flooding threatens to cut them off from the rest of California.
The state has been hammered by a cascade of atmospheric rivers – long, narrow regions in the atmosphere that can carry moisture thousands of miles.
At least 18 people have died, neighborhoods have turned into lakes, and countless homes have been destroyed as a string of storms toppled trees and paralyzed communities over the past two weeks.
California’s flooding, in pictures
But a sliver of good news emerged Thursday: The nearly relentless rainfall has lifted much of California out of “extreme drought” conditions.
And much of the state is getting a brief respite from brutal weather Thursday. But cities are still inundated – and more storms are on the way.
Just south of the San Francisco Bay Area, cities including Monterey, Carmel and Pacific Grove on the Monterey Peninsula could soon be severed from the rest of California due to epic floodwater.
“If anyone was here in 1995, you know that during a large flooding event, the Monterey Peninsula became an island – people were either stuck on one side or the other,” Monterey County Sheriff Tina Nieto warned Wednesday evening.
“And we anticipate that we’re going to go into a similar situation, but not as bad. Some of the roadways are going to be closed, and you could be stuck on one side or the other.”
The sheriff’s office upgraded evacuation warnings to evacuation orders Wednesday in low-lying areas near the Salinas River.
“Monterey Peninsula may become an island again like it did in the ’95 floods, so please start preparing now,” the sheriff warned.
Nieto said it could be days before residents are allowed to return home, as crews need to make sure the area is safe.
According to the Storm Prediction Center, here’s what’s in store for California as another round of storms heads its way:
Thursday: Heavy rain will be confined along the northern California coast and into Oregon and Washington through Thursday night, with a slight risk of excessive rainfall in effect for northwestern California.
Friday: An atmospheric river will likely pummel the northern California and central California coast on Friday. Winter storm watches will likely begin across the Sierra Nevada range.
Heavy snowfall could lead to dangerous mountain travel conditions Friday and Saturday at elevations over 5,000 feet and in the northern and central California passes.
Saturday: A second system will move in on Saturday, and rainfall will spread south and begin to impact the whole state. Excessive rainfall threats will likely be issued for central California.
The recent storms have crippled travel and left dozens of highways inoperable.
At least 40 state routes were closed as of Wednesday night, state transportation spokesman Will Arnold said.
“We’re asking the public: If you don’t need to be on the roadways, please stay home and avoid any non-essential trips,” Arnold said.
Over 100 National Guard members were in San Luis Obispo County searching for missing 5-year-old Kyle Doan after he was swept away from a vehicle surrounded by floodwater on Monday.
Less than 1% of California is now under “extreme drought” – down from one-third of the state just two weeks ago, according to the latest US Drought Monitor report published Thursday.
“Intense precipitation in California the past few weeks – particularly late December and early January – has significantly reduced drought intensity in California,” according to the US Drought Monitor.
In 16 days, swaths of California received 50% to 70% of the amount of precipitation that they would usually get in a whole year, according to the National Weather Service.
Isolated areas, especially in the mountains near Santa Barbara, have recorded more than 90% of their annual precipitation.
But more than 95% of the state still faces some drought designation.
Large portions of the state remain in “moderate” or “severe” drought “since moisture deficits have been entrenched across some areas for the last 2-3 years,” the drought summary said.
The recent rains have “provided a generous boost” to key reservoirs in the state, but most are still below the long-term average for this time of the year.
California weather live: Flash flood warning in San Francisco after Montecito and Santa Barbara storm evacuations
Drone video of flooded Felton in Santa Cruz County
At least 17 people have been killed and a five-year-old boy remains missing as a series of extreme storms continue to batter California.
More lives have now been lost in the storms – which began hammering the state last week – than were caused by two years of wildfires.
Some 22 million people across California and parts of Oregon remain under a flood advisory as the atmospheric river looks set to keep dumping heavy precipitation across the region.
The extreme weather saw the celebrity enclave of Montecito placed under an evacuation order and on Tuesday the whole of San Francisco was warned of flash flooding.
The search resumed on Tuesday for five-year-old Kyle Doan who was swept away when his mother’s truck got stuck in a creek near Paso Robles in central California. Low visibility and raging waters had forced emergency responders to postpone their efforts.
More severe weather is forecast throughout the week bringing the threat of more flash flooding, rising rivers, and mudslides on already saturated soils.
Palm Springs residents rescued as California’s desert city is hit by flash floods
The Palm Springs Fire Department carried out the swift water rescue after flooding in a desert wash in the city. A wash is an area in the desert where water once flowed or that floods during heavy rain or flash flooding.
Graeme Massie11 January 2023 19:41
Mammoth Mountain continues to dig out from storm
The famed California ski resort in the Sierra Nevada says it got up to 7.5ft of snow in the recent storms, with more expected later this week.
“WHAT.A.STORM. We thought this photo was fitting for the final Dump Alert of this Mammoth mega-storm which dropped 6 to 7.5 FEET of snow in the last few days,” the resort’s Instagram account stated.
Graeme Massie11 January 2023 19:19
Watch: Trapped driver rescued from floodwater in California desert city of Palm Springs
Trapped motorist rescued from floodwater in California desert city of Palm Springs
Louise Boyle11 January 2023 18:56
Southern California surveys its damage as north braces for more downpours
Southern California was taking stock of the damage from heavy rainfall and high winds on Wednesday even as a new atmospheric river made its way onshore.
Today’s downpours were expected to only impact northern areas of the state, giving the south a break – at least until the weekend, the National Weather Service reported.
Abandoned cars are left in a flooded street in Santa Barbara earlier this week
(REUTERS)
Louise Boyle11 January 2023 18:27
Fatigue setting in at the National Weather Service
Louise Boyle11 January 2023 18:14
Spike in lightning strikes
The parade of atmospheric rivers has caused an abnormal number of lightning strikes in California in recent weeks.
The state typically has one of the lowest annual tallies of lightning strikes in the nation.
National Weather Service meteorologist Robert Baruffaldi told The New York Times that this was because of the lack of humidity in California that means “it’s harder to get the persistent strikes that other parts of the nation see”.
On Tuesday, the storm system parked over the San Francisco Bay area led to five to ten lightning strikes every five minutes, the local CBS channel reported.
Lightning strikes are seen above buildings in San Fransisco, California on 5th January
(Lapine via REUTERS)
Louise Boyle11 January 2023 17:59
Snow for days
Mammoth Mountain ski area was closed on Tuesday because it received too much snowfall, according to reports.
“An incredible 420cm [165 inches] has fallen since Christmas with over 4ft or 120cm in just in the last day alone,” Global News Canada’s Chief Meteorologist Anthony Farnell tweeted. He shared an image of a ski-lift at the resort under a heavy white blanket of fresh powder.
The resort’s official site reported that the mountain will have a staggered reopening on Wednesday. “Expect delays in all lift openings due to extensive avalanche mitigation work,” an alert stated.
Louise Boyle11 January 2023 17:36
Newsom links ‘weather whiplash’ to climate crisis
Governor Gavin Newsom hinted at a link between California’s extreme weather and the climate crisis during a visit to Santa Cruz county on Tuesday.
The area has been one of the most heavily impacted from the atmospheric river deluging the state.
“The dries are getting a lot drier the last three years, and the wets are getting a lot wetter. This weather whiplash — is that the new reality?” he said, according to NBC News.
California has been in a state of “megadrought” for the past two decades, intensified by the impacts of global heating. The climate crisis is responsible for about 42 per cent of the soil moisture deficit since 2000, according to a UCLA research paper last year. It also noted that it could take several years of high precipitation to overcome the mega-drought.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom listens during a news conference about storm damage on Jan. 10 in Capitola
(AP)
Louise Boyle11 January 2023 17:12
Tens of thousands remain without power
Tens of thousands of customers remain without power across California as severe storms continued to batter the state.
Some 57,835 homes and businesses were in blackout on Wednesday morning, according to utility tracker poweroutage.us
The most outages are located in Mendocino county, north of San Francisco, along with Santa Clara and Santa Cruz counties which includes the city of San Jose and Silicon Valley.
Power outages across California on Wednesday, January 11
(poweroutage.us)
Louise Boyle11 January 2023 16:47
California transport officials warns people against taking to the roads
California transport officials were warning people against taking to the roads with more severe weather on the way.
Districts were “strongly advising” the public to avoid travel this week if possible, reported the California Department of Transportation, known as “Caltrans”.
“These storm systems have affected the majority of CA in some shape or form,” the department tweeted, and advised drivers to consult state travel alerts before heading out.
Louise Boyle11 January 2023 16:32
California weather live: Flash flood warning in San Francisco after Montecito and Santa Barbara storm evacuations
Drone video of flooded Felton in Santa Cruz County
At least 14 people have been killed and a five-year-old boy remains missing as a series of extreme storms continue to batter California.
More lives have now been lost in the storms – which began hammering the state last week – than were caused by two years of wildfires.
In the last two days, more than a foot of rain has fallen in parts of the state bringing dangerous flash floods and leaving more than 200,000 homes without power as of Tuesday morning.
Some 22 million people across California and parts of Oregon are under flood advisory, as the atmospheric river looks set to keep dumping heavy precipitation across the region.
The extreme weather saw the star-studded city of Montecito placed under an evacuation order and on Tuesday the whole of San Francisco was warned of flash flooding.
As conditions eased slightly, the search resumed on Tuesday for a boy, 5, who was swept away when his mother’s truck got stuck in a creek near Paso Robles.
More severe weather is forecast throughout the week, raising the potential for flooding, rising rivers, and mudslides on already saturated soils.
Where are California’s extreme storms headed?
The next severe front will impact northern California and the Pacific Northwest from Wednesday.
It comes after days of heavy rain which left land waterlogged, adding to the risk of mudslides, particularly in the burn scars of wildfires where land is already destabilized. The heavy rain has also led to rapid water rises in rivers and streams across California and portions of far western Nevada.
Oliver O’Connell11 January 2023 10:15
What is an atmospheric river?
The system swamping California is known as an “atmospheric river” – or a “river in the sky” – a band of water vapor that forms over the ocean and can be hundreds of miles wide.
Louise Boyle explains how the phenomenon operates and what it means for California.
Stuti Mishra11 January 2023 09:15
Storm ‘more intense’ and stayed ‘much longer’, says fire department as more evacuations are ordered
More evacuations have been ordered in counties as the storm warning remains in Northern California after torrential downpours.
The Stanislaus County officials have ordered immediate evacuations for some residents in the Newman area of the San Joaquin River and east River Road amid warnings of further rains and high winds.
The California fire department has said the storm on Tuesday was different because ‘it stayed much longer’.
“This storm was different from the standpoint that it was here much longer. It was more intense because of the prior storm, the ground was much more saturated, which led to a lot more flooding and a lot more rescues because of the ground saturation,” said Barry Parker, division chief of the Ventura County Fire Department.
The latest Pacific storm unleashed torrential downpours and damaging winds in California, knocking out power and turning city streets into rivers as mudslides cut off highways and entire communities faced evacuation orders.
More than 33 million Californians were threatened by severe weather throughout the day as “heavy to excessive” rainfall was expected across the state.
The storms have killed at least 17 people since the start of the year, California Governor Gavin Newsom said.
Stuti Mishra11 January 2023 08:15
Senior found dead in boat in Morro Bay
Officials encountered the man’s remains in a stored boat on Tuesday morning, and haven’t determine the cause of death.
Morro Bay was pounded by the atmospheric river that has brought storms across California, killing a woman in nearby Avila Beach on Monday when her car was overtaken by flood waters.
Josh Marcus11 January 2023 07:15
The worst climate disasters of 2022
Wildfires tearing through the London suburbs. One-third of Pakistan underwater. Drought-linked famine looming for tens of millions of people in East Africa. Billions of dollars in damage from a “500-year” hurricane that smacked into Florida.
The year 2022 brought disaster after disaster across the planet with scientists increasingly able to point to the climate crisis as the root cause.
Here, The Independent looks back at some of the most erratic and devastating events being driven by humanity’s continued reliance on burning fossil fuels:
Oliver O’Connell11 January 2023 06:15
Damage centred on Santa Barbara
With the soil already saturated, much of the damage has been concentrated around the city of Santa Barbara, about 100 miles (160 km) northwest of Los Angeles, where the steep foothills slope toward the Pacific Ocean.
Several remote spots have reported more than a foot (30 cm) of rain including the San Marcos Pass in the Santa Ynez Mountains above Santa Barbara, where more than 17 inches (43 cm) have fallen, according to the NWS.
In the Rancho Oso area of the Santa Ynez Mountains, mud and debris across the roadway isolated about 400 people and 70 horses, the Santa Barbara County Fire Department said on Twitter, posting a photo of a vehicle stuck in the mud. Rescue teams were on the way, spokesperson Scott Safechuck said.
Near the coast, the California Highway Patrol closed U.S. 101, the main highway connecting northern and southern California, with no estimated time on reopening.
Josh Marcus11 January 2023 05:15
On Monday, officials ordered the evacuation of some 25,000 people, including the entire affluent enclave of Montecito near Santa Barbara, due to heightened flood and mudslide risks. The 4,000 people of Planada, a community in Central California, started their Tuesday morning with an order to evacuate their homes by the county sheriff’s office.
The Montecito evacuation zone was among 17 California regions where authorities worry the ongoing torrential downpours could unleash lethal cascades of mud, boulders and other debris in the hillsides.
To the southeast in Ventura County, crews worked overnight to rescue drivers stuck in a three feet of mud flow along State Highway 126, the California Highway Patrol said.
Oliver O’Connell11 January 2023 04:15
San Francisco man goes viral for spraying unhoused person with house during storm
San Francisco may be facing strong rains, but that didn’t stop one business owner in the city’s Financial District from spraying an unhoused perrson with a hose on Monday.
In a clip that later went viral locally, the man can be seen saying, “Move,” as he blasts the individual, who sits on the sidewalk wrapped in blankets.
As the San Francisco Standard reports, the city is short thousands of shelter beds needed to house those on its streets as strong rains pelt the Bay Area.
Josh Marcus11 January 2023 03:00
Will epic California storms be enough to end state’s drought?
The intense weather has often proved catastrophic on the ground, causing flooding, downed trees, and mudslides that have killed at least 16 people and left roughly 224,000 people in the state without power, the Washington Post reports.
Despite all the destruction it has caused, will the atmospheric river end California’s historic drought, the worst in state history? Not quite, according to scientists.
Read our full report to understand why.
Josh Marcus11 January 2023 02:00
Watch: CHP capture huge landslide in Fresno Counthy
Oliver O’Connell11 January 2023 01:45
California storm: 90% of residents are under flood watches as another storm threatens mudslides, power outages and deadly inundation
CNN
—
Much of California can’t soak up another drop of rain. Yet the state is getting pummeled again with torrential downpours and ferocious winds, causing power outages and treacherous travel conditions.
More than 34 million Californians were under a flood watch Monday – about 90% of the state’s population and 10% of the US population.
Parts of the central California coast got walloped with 1 to 1.25 inches of rainfall per hour, the Weather Prediction Center said. Extensive rainfall there Monday triggered significant flooding, mudslides, debris flows and closed roadways.
Widespread rainfall totals of 3 to 6 inches have been observed from just south of San Francisco to just north of Los Angeles. Isolated amounts of 6 to more than 10 inches have been observed in the higher terrain near the coast.
As the rain shifted slowly to the south Monday toward Los Angeles, the National Weather Service there warned of the risk of flooding, debris flow in land scarred by recent wildfires and an increased risk of rock and mudslides in mountains and on canyon roads.
And hurricane-force wind gusts topping 74 mph thrashed states across the western US. More than 37 million people were under wind alerts Monday in California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Utah, Arizona and Wyoming.
A 132-mph wind gust lashed Oroville, California. Residents in Washoe City, Nevada, were hit with a 98-mph gust, the Weather Prediction Center said.
TRACK THE STORMS
“Expect widespread power outages, downed trees and difficult driving conditions,” the National Weather Service in Sacramento tweeted. “Now is the time to prepare if you have not already!”
Almost 92,000 homes, businesses and other power customers had no electricity Monday evening, according to PowerOutage.us.
And the central California coast could be at risk of a tornado, CNN Meteorologist Dave Hennen said.
The severe weather is part of a relentless parade of atmospheric rivers slamming the West Coast.
California is now extremely vulnerable to flooding because much of the state has been scarred by historic drought or devastating wildfires – meaning the land can’t soak up much rainfall.
And after an onslaught of storms since late December led to deadly flooding, Gov. Gavin Newsom warned Sunday: “We expect to see the worst of it still in front of us.”
Two bouts of major rainfall are expected to hammer the West Coast over the next few days – without much of a break between events for the water to recede.
The system is part of an atmospheric river – a long, narrow region in the atmosphere that can transport moisture thousands of miles, like a fire hose in the sky.
The atmospheric river slamming California on Monday could result in a 1-in-50 year or 1-in-100 year rainfall event near Fresno, the Weather Prediction Center said.
A moderate risk – level 3 of 4 – of excessive rainfall covers over 26 million people in California, including in San Francisco, Sacramento, Los Angeles and Fresno, where rain could fall at 1 inch per hour.
The San Lorenzo River in Santa Cruz County has risen 14 feet in just over four hours and is in major flood stage. Parts of the county will experience “widespread flooding at shallow depths,” and the city of Santa Cruz will have serious flooding, according to data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and US Geological Survey.
The threat will shift further south Tuesday, with a level 3 of 4 risk centered over Los Angeles.
“While some of the forecast rain totals are impressive alone, it is important to note that what really sets this event apart are the antecedent conditions,” the National Weather Service office in San Francisco said.
“Multiple systems over the past week have saturated soil, increased flow in rivers and streams, and truly set the stage for this to become a high impact event.”
In Sacramento County, officials warned “flooding is imminent” and issued evacuation orders for the Wilton community near the Cosumnes River before roads become impassable.
Wilton residents also had to evacuate during last week’s storm, when exit routes flooded quickly, officials said.
El Dorado, Monterey, Santa Cruz and Santa Clara and Alameda counties have issued evacuation warnings or recommendations for some areas due to possible flooding and other safety risks as forecasters warned of swelling rivers.
Residents in all areas of Montecito, the city of Santa Barbara and parts of Carpinteria and Summerland are being ordered to evacuate immediately due to the threat of the ongoing storm, the Santa Barbara County Incident Management Team said on Monday evening.
“LEAVE NOW! This is a rapidly evolving situation,” the team said in a release.
Montecito is a haven for the rich and famous, including Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex; Oprah Winfrey and Ellen Degeneres. Monday marks exactly five years since heavy rains in the area caused deadly mud- and landslides.
Santa Barbara County authorities are advising residents to “be prepared to sustain yourself and your household for multiple days if you choose not to evacuate, as you may not be able to leave the area and emergency responders may not be able to access your property in the event of road damage, flooding, or a debris flow.”
Newsom on Sunday asked the White House for an emergency declaration to support response and recovery efforts.
“We are in the middle of a deadly barrage of winter storms – and California is using every resource at its disposal to protect lives and limit damage,” Newsom said in a statement. “We are taking the threat from these storms seriously, and want to make sure that Californians stay vigilant as more storms head our way.”
San Francisco Mayor London Breed on Monday issued a Local Proclamation of Emergency due to the ongoing series of winter storms that began New Year’s Eve, according to a news release from his office.
This storm system arrives on the heels of a powerful cyclone that flooded roads, toppled trees and knocked out power last week to much of California. Earlier, a New Year’s weekend storm system produced deadly flooding.
At least 12 Californians have died from “storm-related impacts” such as flooding since late December, the governor’s office said.
In San Luis Obispo County, dive teams from the sheriff’s office and Cal Fire rescuers were searching Monday for a 5-year-old child reported to have been swept away in flood waters near the Salinas River in San Miguel.
“Floods kill more individuals than any other natural disaster,” California Emergency Services Director Nancy Ward said Sunday. “We’ve already had more deaths in this flood storm since December 31 than we had in the last two fire seasons of the highest fire acreage burned in California.”
Flood-related deaths can happen when drivers attempt to cross standing water.
“Just a foot of water and your car’s floating. Half a foot of water, you’re off your feet. Half foot of water, you’re losing control of your vehicle,” Newsom said.
“We’re seeing people go around these detours because they don’t see any obstacles – they think everything is fine, and putting their lives at risk or putting first responders lives at risk.”
For anyone who doesn’t need to travel during the peak of this storm, “please don’t,” California Secretary of Natural Resources Wade Crowfoot said. “Be prepared for power outages and other interruptions. Have those flashlights, the candles, batteries, charge cell phones at the ready.”
Already, flooded roads, toppled trees and downed power lines are making travel difficult, California Highway Patrol said. Some fallen trees crushed cars and homes over the weekend. On Monday, portions of the Pacific Coast Highway – US 101, a major north-south highway, were closed.
The Santa Barbara Airport, a tri-county regional airport, is closed because of flooding airport officials said Monday.
California is experiencing “weather whiplash,” going from intense drought conditions to now contending with its fifth atmospheric river, Newsom said.
Much of the state has already seen 5 to 8 inches of rain over the last week. Two to 4 more inches of rain are expected across the coasts and valleys – and even more in mountains and foothills through Tuesday.
Rising from swelling rivers could spill over and inundate communities.
The rainfall over the weekend brought renewed flood concerns for streams, creeks and rivers. The Colgan Creek, Berryessa Creek, Mark West Creek, Green Valley Creek and the Cosumnes River all have gauges that are either above flood stage or expected to be in the next few days.
“The cumulative effect of successive heavy rainfall events will lead to additional instances of flooding. This includes rapid water rises, mudslides, and the potential for major river flooding,” the National Weather Service said Monday.
The moisture is expected to sink southward Monday night, making flooding “increasing likely” over the Southern California coastal ranges Tuesday, the weather service said. Fierce winds are expected to accompany the storm as it pushes inland.
“Valley areas will likely see gusts as high as 45-50 mph, with gusts greater than 60 mph possible in wind prone areas,” the National Weather Service in Reno said. The Sierra Ridge could receive peak gusts between 130 to 150 mph Monday.
For those at higher elevations, intense snow and ferocious winds will be the biggest concerns.
Parts of the higher elevations in the Sierra Nevada have gotten more than 100” – or 8.3 feet – of snow in just the past few weeks, the Weather Prediction Center said.
Now, another 6 feet of snow is expected in some parts of the Sierra.
As the storm pushes inland, more than 5 feet of snow could fall along the Sierra Crest west of Lake Tahoe, the weather service said.
The heavy snow and strong winds could lead to near whiteout conditions on roads.
Bay Area Level 3 storm: From downed trees to flood threats, here’s a look at storm damage around the region
SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) — ABC7 News is already seeing storm damage across the San Francisco Bay Area due to a dangerous atmospheric river moving through the region.
Here’s a look at where there are reports of downed powerlines, landslide threats and toppled trees due to a Level 3 storm on the exclusive ABC7 Storm Impact Scale:
LIVE UPDATES: Newsom issues State of Emergency for CA to help with storm response
East Bay
Residents of 15 homes in Richmond voluntarily evacuated Tuesday night and Wednesday after the hillside above the Seacliff development began showing signs of mudslides.
Mayor Tom Butt said in his e-forum newsletter Wednesday that arrangements were made for residents without places to go to stay in an Emeryville hotel. Butt said Seacliff Drive was closed between Seacliff Way and Canal Boulevard, while Seaview Drive and Seacliff Way from Seacliff Drive to Admiralty Way were also closed.
Butt said a geologist was on site Wednesday morning, as well as a local contractor working on mitigating the damage.
Richmond Police Sgt. Donald Patchin said there’s no estimate as to when people can get back to their homes.
“It’s just a waiting game right now, with this atmospheric river coming in over the next few days,” Patchin said.
San Ramon police wrote on Twitter Wednesday morning that Crow Canyon Road is closed in both directions west of city limits toward Castro Valley due to a threat of landslides.
There is limited access for residents only, police said late Wednesday morning.
Police said the road was closed by the Alameda County Public Works Agency due to debris and unsafe road conditions.
In El Cerrito, large tree came down at around 5:30 p.m. The homeowner told us she has no electricity and PG&E won’t be able to reconnected that power until the tree is cleaned up.
Another tree came down on a home in Richmond. A homeowner was inside, she is okay but tree actually pierced through the roof and came into her son’s bedroom.
Around 6 p.m., a tree came down along the Richmond Parkway. Traffic in both directions was blocked but tree crews were able to pull the tree to the side and open traffic a couple hours later.
City officials in Oakland have joined numerous municipalities around the Bay Area in declaring a local state of emergency Wednesday due to the winter storm still pummeling the region.
The emergency declaration allows the city to call in any and all staff to respond to emergency conditions as they occur overnight. The city’s public works, transportation, fire and police departments have all staffed up to manage increased service needs, according to the announcement.
The fire department’s crisis responders have been working with unhoused residents to inform them of shelter options and coordinating transportation for those who need it. In addition, the Ira Jinkins Center — at 9175 Edes Ave. near the Coliseum — will be providing three free meals on Thursday as well as providing emergency shelter to all ages and families.
The city’s year-round shelter at St. Vincent de Paul, located at 675 23rd Street in West Oakland, has doubled their bed capacity to serve the homeless through Friday morning enabling them to shelter up to 100 people.
For residents who need a temporary refuge from the wet weather, or for those experiencing a power outage, all 18 public library locations are open and have power. Thursday hours are 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. and the main library is open until 8 p.m.
For the latest information on Oakland’s winter storm updates, see oaklandca.gov/topics/winter-storms.
North Bay
Sonoma County officials are concerned about potential flooding as this storm intensifies, issuing an evacuation warning for any residents living near the Russian River floodway between Healdsburg to Jenner.
This comes as power has been out for most of Guerneville since Wednesday night.
“We’re going to get hit, I haven’t seen this since 2019,” Karen Devan, a Guerneville resident said.
Just shy of four years ago, most of Guerneville was underwater the last time the Russian River flooded back in February 2019.
It was so serious, there was no way in or out of the city except by watercraft.
LIVE: Track rain in San Francisco Bay Area with Live Doppler 7
Karen Devan, her partner and their dog Fergus not taking any chances, after living through the last flood.
“Safeway will flood, drugstores will close, basic necessities will close down and the fire department will be awfully busy doing rescues, so you’re kind of on your own to figure it out,” she said.
Deciding to book a hotel for the next two nights in Santa Rosa after losing power Wednesday night.
Meanwhile, businesses bracing for history to repeat itself, lining sandbags across their front doors and closing up shop to get out of dodge.
San Francisco
Yellow caution tape near Chrissy Field’s warming hut in San Francisco didn’t stop some people from crossing to get a better look at waves crashing into the shore near the Golden Gate Bridge. Some minor flooding carried debris, including rocks, sticks and garbage into a path normally accessible by pedestrians.
As rain came down Thursday afternoon the Marina was mostly quiet with light traffic and just a few people outside. The East Beach at Chrissy Beach, a spot typically popular for dogs and their owners even on a weekday, was fairly desolate. Waves wiped out much of the beach with water coming farther up than it typically does.
San Francisco Public Works crews were out all night to clear downed trees, drain flooded intersections and clear blocked walkways after Wednesday’s billowing winds and drenching rainfall.
A spokesperson from the city’s emergency operations center said Thursday that there has been 445 incidents of fallen trees and branches around San Francisco in the last week, with 286 of those being reported in the last 24 hours.
Crews have worked continuously to clear storm-related threats to the public, like sink holes, downed power lines, flooded areas and blocked passageways.
Emergency operations officials remind residents that sandbags are still available at the Public Works’ operations yard at Kansas and Marin streets until 8 p.m., or until supplies runs out. Each household or storefront can receive five sandbags
On Wednesday, ABC7 News reporter Lyanne Melendez said glass was falling from two broken windows at the Fox Plaza Building, forcing the closure of a part of Market and Polk.
RELATED: More than 76K customers without power, PG&E says
South Bay
After 17,000 customers were without power early Wednesday morning, PG&E restored energy to much of the San Jose area. Still, dozens of stoplights were out throughout the downtown area for much of the day indicating outages throughout.
The rain wasn’t much of the cause of the issues, but the wind certainly was. In fact, the wind knocked a large tree branch down, ripping power lines down with it. Neighbors described it sounded like an earthquake when the branch fell. Thankfully no injuries were reported and San Jose Fire and PG&E cleared the area quickly.
RELATED: More than 25K customers without power, PG&E says
The Santa Cruz County coastline has taken a serious beating from the most recent atmospheric river storm.
Tweets from the county’s official Twitter account show “significant damage” to Capitola and Seacliff piers.
The county announced Thursday morning that the coast was extraordinarily dangerous because of high tides and enormous waves.
People should avoid all bodies of water while coastal areas are under a flood warning by the National Weather Service until 4 p.m. Thursday.
Multiple road closures are also in effect throughout Santa Cruz County due to flooding.
Peninsula
After the heavy rain caused Belmont creek to overflow last weekend, Belmont officials have closed multiple city streets as a preventative measure ahead of the worse part of the storm. Business owners in the area say they as ready as they can be.
San Mateo County Public Works Department has used 275 tons of sand and over 18,000 sandbags so far Wednesday, but at this point there is shortage of both supplies. We’ve seen people bringing their garbage bags hoping that can help them prevent flooding to their property.
Bay City News Service has contributed to this article.
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S.F. streets, shops flood as historic rain storm approaches records
A strong atmospheric river has landed in California and is bringing heavy rain across the Bay Area on New Year’s Eve. This specific type of atmospheric river is often called a “pineapple express” because of how quickly it helps transport water vapor from Hawaii to the West Coast.
Widespread flooding, mudslides and road closures have already occurred all around region, including water so deep in the Bayshore area south of San Francisco that Highway 101 shut indefinitely in both directions. Wind advisories and ongoing flood watches are in effect as heavy rainfall continues along the coast and snow blankets the Sierra Nevada mountains, according to the NWS.
Latest updates on atmospheric river impact across Northern California:
Oakland’s Lake Merritt overflowing
Stretches of Oakland’s Lake Merritt appeared to be overflowing as the storm continues to batter the Bay Area on Saturday afternoon, according to photos and videos posted on social media. “This is the highest water level I’ve seen at Lake Merritt in years,” tweeted user @bee_oak.
A video posted on Twitter shows portions of the lake’s walking path on the eastern side under water. Other photos show the lake filled to the brim near Harrison Street.
Flooding closes roads in city of Alameda
Crews were setting up barricades Saturday afternoon to close roads due to flooding in the city of Alameda, officials said on Facebook.
The closures affected all of Harbor Bay Parkway, the intersection of Main Street and Willie Stargell Avenue, the intersection of Webster Street and Willie Stargell Avenue, and Brush Street.
Officials urged residents to stay off the roads.
San Francisco rainfall breaks daily all-time record, second-wettest day ever
By noon on Saturday, San Francisco’s rainfall had already broke the daily record for the most ever recorded on New Year’s Eve, the National Weather Service tweeted. The previous record was in 2005, which was 2.12 inches. Saturday had already seen 2.96 inches as of mid-day. Precipitation records in downtown San Francisco go back to 1849. Meteorologist Jan Null tweeted that the rainfall total has now reached the second highest in history for any day. The National Weather Service confirmed that the city has seen 4.78 inches of rain — second only to Nov. 5, 1994, when 5.54 inches were recorded.
Pedestrians with umbrellas cross streets at Columbus Avenue and Stockton Street in San Francisco on Saturday.
Adam Pardee/Special to The ChronicleHighway 101 expected to reopen Saturday evening, CHP says
California Highway Patrol spokesman Mark Andrews said the southbound and northbound lanes of Highway 101 at Oyster Point are expected to reopen at 5 p.m. Saturday. He said high tides were a possible factor in the flooding, which caused the highway to close at 11 a.m.
Cars attempt to drive through flooding waters as high as three feet along the Northbound 101 in South San Francisco on Saturday, Dec. 31, 2022.
Adam Pardee/Special to The ChronicleFlooding affects streets, stores throughout the city
Flooding on streets in San Francisco spilled into buildings on Saturday afternoon. In the Mission, the floor of Gus’s Community Market was covered in water while Cesar Chavez street near Highway 101 was totally flooded, according to CHP. Residents reported flooding all over the city, including in the Embarcadero, the Marina, Diamond Heights, the Sunset, the Mission and SoMa.
Expect system-wide delays on BART
BART said riders should expect up to 20-minute delays system-wide on Saturday because of the rainy conditions. “There is a major delay system wide due to trains with mechanical issues and wet weather conditions,” officials tweeted. “Please watch your step on wet platforms and stairways.”
Residents of Wilton (Sacramento County) urged to evacuate as waters rise
Emergency personnel are “warning residents living in Wilton to leave the area now. Rising water may spill over onto the nearest roadways and cut off access to leave the area,” the Sacramento division of the Office of Emergency Services tweeted. More than 5,000 people live in Wilton.
Ski resort in South Lake Tahoe closes for the day
The Heavenly Ski Resort in Lake Tahoe was closed just before 11 a.m. Saturday because of power outages on the Nevada side of the resort, resort officials said. “Power is also flickering in California, with buried lifts and snow safety work to be done,” officials wrote in a Facebook post.
Resort operations in Nevada will likely be closed Sunday in Nevada as crews work to restore power. Officials said they hope to open a “limited footprint” in California on Sunday if enough repairs are done.
Sonoma County flood warning extended until 2:30 p.m.
A flood warning issued for Sonoma County that was meant to expire at 10:30 a.m. was extended until 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, according to the National Weather Service. Flooding was already occurring in the area, especially around rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying locations.
“Streams continue to rise due to excess runoff from earlier rainfall,” the warning said. “Low-water crossings are inundated with water and may not be passable.”
Locations affected include Santa Rosa, Petaluma, Novato, Rohnert Park, Windsor, Healdsburg, Sonoma, Cloverdale, Sebastopol, Cotati, Larkfield-Wikiup, Roseland, South Santa Rosa CDP, Boyes Hot Springs, Black Point-Green Point, Forestville, Guerneville, Graton, Occidental and Monte Rio.
Flood advisories — upgraded from flood watches — were also issued for San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin and Santa Cruz counties. Flood advisories are issued when flooding is not expected to be bad enough to issue a warning but may cause significant inconvenience.
Highway 101 in South San Francisco closed indefinitely in both directions
Southbound and northbound lanes of Highway 101 in South San Francisco were closed indefinitely Saturday morning due to major flooding that caused a traffic jam near the SFO exit, the California Highway Patrol tweeted.
Drivers were urged to either use I-280 as an alternate route or avoid the area as crews work to clear the highway.
Storm causes road flooding, closures across Bay Area
Rain pounding the Bay Area on Saturday morning has wreaked havoc for travelers across the region, forcing closures on roadways and highways due to flooding and mudslides. Officials said drivers should expect delays and take different routes.
In San Mateo County, flooding at Oyster Point on Highway 101 caused the highway to be shut indefinitely in both directions and unleashed massive traffic backups. Caltrans crews were working to clear the drains, said California Highway Patrol spokesman Mark Andrews.
Several roads in the cities of Belmont, Foster City and San Mateo are flooded, according to the San Mateo Consolidated Fire Department. “Be safe and stay home if you can,” fire officials tweeted.
In the East Bay, a mudslide forced the closure of Niles Canyon Road at 8 a.m. and is not expected to reopen until 12 p.m., the Fremont Police Department tweeted.
The California Highway Patrol’s Traffic Incident Information Page summarizes multiple floods and landslides around the Bay Area.
CHP and CalTrans block off multiple lanes as flooding gets as high as three feet along the Southbound 101 in South San Francisco on Saturday.
Adam Pardee/Special to The ChronicleHighway 1 near Big Sur closed due to rock slides at multiple locations
A large stretch of Highway 1 in Monterey County was indefinitely closed Saturday morning due to rock slides reported at multiple locations along the highway, said Caltrans officials. The highway will be closed from Ragged Point in San Luis Obispo County to Big Sur in Monterey County while crews work to clear the debris, officials said. Caltrans officials said they had initially closed the highway on Friday due to a rock slide just south of the Esalen Institute.
Sierra ski lifts closed due to heavy snow and winds
Northstar Ski Resort in Truckee put several lifts on hold Saturday morning, the resort tweeted. Palisades Tahoe said most of its chairs were on hold but some lifts are operating at Alpine Meadows.
Pedestrians walk along a road as a snow plow works in South Lake Tahoe, Calif. on Saturday.
Stephen Lam/The ChronicleMuir Woods, Alcatraz among the outdoor sites closed
Closures Saturday due to the storm include Muir Woods, Point Bonita Lighthouse, Nike Site, Tennessee Valley Beach, the Golden Gate Bridge overlook at the upper end of Conzelman Road, and the Fort Point Historic Site, according to tweets from the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Crews “are responding to flooding and downed trees in many Marin County park sites.” The GGNRA also closed Alcatraz Island in the late morning.
Flooding, debris forces closure on highway in Half Moon Bay
Highway 92 is closed between the Lower Lakes area and Main Street in Half Moon Bay due to flooding and debris, according to San Mateo County sheriff’s officials. Motorists were urged to drive safely on roadways and to take alternate routes. It was not immediately known what time the highway will reopen, officials tweeted. Flooding in sections from Skyline Boulevard to Main Street in Half Moon Bay was earlier reported in a tweet from CalFire.
More than 30,000 PG&E customers without power throughout California
Saturday’s storm prompted several power outages across multiple counties in northern California, leaving more than 30,000 customers without power, though power is expected to be restored in many of the larger outages by noon. PG&E officials said Friday that they had been preparing for problems caused by the storm and had extra crews ready to go to the areas most likely to be affected. Check for outages and estimated restoration times here.
Heavy rain floods roadways, car submerged in Belmont
Heavy rain on Saturday morning was causing flooding on several roadways. On Harbor Blvd. in Belmont, a car was submerged in water underneath an underpass at Old County road, police tweeted. While everyone was okay in that incident, police warned that water levels continue to rise. “Please use alternate routes and avoid travel if you can!” officials wrote.
Lake Tahoe remains under winter storm warning
The National Weather Service issued a winter storm warning for the Lake Tahoe area that is set to last through 4 a.m. Sunday. The warning said that heavy snow throughout Saturday would bring an additional 5 to 10 inches to the area, with 1-2 feet for elevations over 7,000 feet and 2 to 3 feet for elevations over 8,000 feet. On top of that, the warning said, wind gusts will be up to 100 miles per hour across the Sierra ridgelines and 35 mph in lower elevations. “Travel could be very difficult to impossible,” the warning said. “Strong winds could cause tree damage and lead to power outages.”
Multiple accidents along Highway 280
The North County Fire Authority, which serves Brisbane, Daly City and Pacifica, tweeted that there had been multiple vehicle accidents along 280 on Saturday morning. Around 6 a.m., all southbound lanes were closed where 280 meets Highway 380 for about a half hour before a tow truck arrived to clear it up, it said. The fire authority asked that people adjust their speed accordingly with the weather conditions.
Wind advisories in effect
Wind advisories were in effect across the Bay Area Saturday morning. The highest wind gusts recorded so far were 63 miles per hour atop Loma Prieta in Santa Clara County, the National Weather service said. Gusts ranging from 44 mph to 62 mph were reported across the Bay Area.
Latest rain totals across Bay Area
The National Weather Service released its 24-hour rain totals for Friday, the first day of the winter storm, and Mt. Tamalpais was the clear standout, having already hit 4.8 inches of rain. The Santa Cruz mountains came close at 3.67 inches, while the more mountainous parts of the East and North Bay areas hovered around 2.5 inches of rain. Most of the more populous parts of the Bay Area remained under or around 1 inch of rain as of 2 a.m. on Saturday, but the heaviest rain had only just started, according to the weather service — the bulk of it is expected this morning.
Longer term forecast shows more rain due next week
The atmospheric river that’s been responsible for this week’s back-to-back winter storms will slowly fizzle out by Sunday, leaving behind a soaked Golden State. But after a brief break from the rain, more wet weather is in store. The European and American weather models signal a strong west-to-east jet stream across the Pacific Ocean with winds that will funnel rounds of moisture from the tropics toward North America. Some of the moisture will break off from the flow and the plumes of moisture will narrow, evolving into atmospheric rivers that will eventually reach the West Coast. This past week’s atmospheric river helped fuel two winter storms. In the coming week, weather models are anticipating a repeat, but with two atmospheric rivers.
Read more about the forecast for the first week of January from meteorologist Gerry Díaz.
When will the rain peak?
This weekend’s storm door is wide open in California, with a rush of moisture from the tropics -often called the pineapple express — expected to take aim at the Bay Area and most of Southern California over the course of New Year’s Eve.
Gerry Díaz / WeatherbellThis week, rain around the Bay Area dropped “1 to 4 inches,” which has saturated the soil, according to NWS meteorologist Brooke Bingaman. “The highest kind of concern for tomorrow is between 4 a.m. and 10 a.m. (Saturday), that is when the more organized cold fronts going to move through,” she said. “The good news is that it will move through quickly. The bad news is it is going to pack a little bit of a punch.”
That punch, Bingaman said, will be the winds associated with Saturday morning’s cold front expected to hit 20 to 30 mph with gusts between 40 and 50 mph.
Chronicle newsroom meteorologist Gerry Díaz wrote in his forecast for the weekend that the stage is set for “excessive rainfall on the coast and bays,” and “heavy snowfall in the Sierra Nevada and Southern California mountains,” as well as “a statewide storm system that will wreak havoc on travel plans for New Year’s Eve.”
This map shows where it rained the most this week
Winter storms fueled by an atmospheric river have drenched California this week, adding up to significant rainfall in some areas. From 4 a.m. on Dec. 23 to the same time on Dec. 30, most of San Francisco saw about 3 inches of rain, while about 8 inches fell in Sonoma County, north of the Russian River. Even more rain fell farther north in the state. To see where in California felt the brunt of the storms and find out how much rain fell in your area, see our detailed map.
Entire Bay Area under flood watch ahead of the weekend
A flood watch will be in effect for the Bay Area from Friday evening to Saturday evening as more rain arrives in the region, according to the National Weather Service. Moderate to heavy rain is expected during that time frame, and it could be more than already saturated soils can absorb. Rapid rises of rivers, streams and creeks are expected, the National Weather Service said, and urban areas and roadways with poor drainage may see flooding. Read more about prospects for flood conditions in low-lying areas.
Will crab season begin today?
The winter storms added uncertainty to the launch of the commercial Dungeness crab season, which was due to open early Saturday morning after multiple delays. Many fishers told the Chronicle that they didn’t know if it would be possible to deliver crab in time for New Year’s Eve celebrations due to the poor weather.
Even if the fishers succeed today, many seafood buyers will be closed for the New Year’s holiday. The soonest most people can expect to see local Dungeness crab in stores is early next week, though some bigger boats that can handle the weather and smaller ones that sell directly off of the boat could make it out in time for a New Year’s Eve harvest. Read more about the launch of crab season.
Heavy rain and snow set to inundate Western and Central US as more than 16 million are under flood watches
CNN
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As strong bouts of heavy mountain snow, widespread rain and gusty winds continue to sweep across the West and push into the Central US Thursday, more than 16 million people along the coast are under flood watches in anticipation of even more stormy weather to come.
Twelve states across the Western and Central US are under winter weather alerts as of early Thursday morning after a round of wet and wintry weather earlier this week flooded roads, blew hurricane-force winds and left thousands along the coast without power.
The dangerous conditions left five people dead in Oregon on Tuesday, including a 4-year-old girl, after severe weather caused trees to fall on passing vehicles, state police said. Wind gusts in the state on Tuesday exceeded 100 mph in some areas, according to the National Weather Service.
The forceful atmospheric river – a long, narrow region in the atmosphere that can carry moisture thousands of miles – is forecast to continue battering the Western and Central US after the initial round of moisture shifts eastward Thursday.
New rounds of rain and mountainous snow will inundate the coast into Friday before shifting to southern California and the Southwest through the weekend.
As the initial wave of moisture hovered over Colorado overnight Wednesday, the Denver and Boulder areas saw as much as two inches of snow per hour.
More than 9 inches of snow had fallen over Boulder and more than 5 inches total were reported at the Denver International Airport early Thursday morning.
“Heavy snow will accumulate on tree branches and powerlines, possibly causing them to break and lead to power outages. Plan on slippery road conditions. The hazardous conditions could impact the Thursday morning commute.” warned the National Weather Service in Boulder.
The storm hovering over Colorado is expected to move out of the area Thursday morning and bring wet snow and isolated pockets of rain through Kansas, Nebraska and Iowa into Thursday evening. The storm will then move through Minneapolis, bringing a mix rain, snow and ice overnight.
Meantime, a new bout of moisture is expected to hit the West coast Thursday morning before a more forceful surge ushers in heavy rain in the evening. That storm system is forecast to remain focused on northern California, southern Oregon and northern Nevada from Thursday evening through Saturday morning before finally shifting to southern California and the Four Corners region through the rest of the weekend.
Snowfall across much of the West over the next five days is expected to be between 1 to 7 inches in lower elevation areas and 1 to 2 feet in higher elevation areas. Some isolated areas could see more than two feet.
The drought-stricken region is receiving a brief respite as much of central California and northeastern Nevada have already seen up to 2 inches of rain with some higher elevations seeing up to 4 inches. By Saturday, those areas could receive another 2 to 4 inches of rain or as many as 6 inches in higher elevation areas.
Over 16 million people in central California and northwest Nevada are under flood watches as of early Thursday, including those in San Francisco, Sacramento, Fresno, Oakland and Reno. The anticipated rainfall has prompted the National Weather Service to issue a multi-day slight risk of excessive rainfall for parts of northern California.
Huge Berlin aquarium bursts, unleashing flood of devastation
BERLIN — A huge aquarium in Berlin burst, spilling debris, water and more than a thousand tropical fish out of the AquaDom tourist attraction in the heart of the German capital early Friday.
Police said parts of the building, which also contains a hotel, cafes and a chocolate store, were damaged as 1 million liters (264,000 gallons) of water poured from the aquarium shortly before 6 a.m. (0500 GMT). Berlin’s fire service said two people were slightly injured.
The company that owns the AquaDom, Union Investment Real Estate, said in a statement Friday afternoon that the reasons for the incident were “still unclear.”
Mayor Franziska Giffey said the incident had unleashed a “veritable tsunami” of water but the early morning timing had prevented far more injuries.
“Despite all the destruction, we were still very lucky,” she said. “We would have had terrible human damage” had the aquarium burst even an hour later, once more people were awake and in the hotel and the surrounding area, she said.
The 25 meter tall (82 foot tall) AquaDom was described as the biggest cylindrical tank in the world and held more than a thousand tropical fish before the incident. Among the 80 types of fish it housed were blue tang and clownfish, two colorful species known from the popular animated movie “Finding Nemo.”
“Unfortunately, none of the 1,500 fish could be saved,” Giffey said.
Efforts were underway Friday afternoon to save an additional 400 to 500 smaller fish housed in aquariums underneath the hotel lobby. Without electricity, their tanks were not receiving the necessary oxygen for them to survive, officials said.
“Now it’s about evacuating them quickly,” Almut Neumann, a city official in charge of environmental issues for Berlin’s Mitte district, told German news agency dpa.
Various organizations, including the Berlin Zoo, offered to take in the surviving fish.
Aquarium operator Sea Life said it was saddened by the incident and was trying to get more information about the incident from the owners of the AquaDom.
Sea Life’s own aquarium is located in the same building and visitors can tour it and the AquaDom on a single ticket.
There was speculation freezing temperatures that got down to minus 10 degrees Celsius (14 degrees Fahrenheit) overnight caused a crack in the acrylic glass tank, which then exploded under the weight of the water. Police said there was no evidence the incident resulted from a malicious act.
About 300 guests and employees had to be evacuated from the hotel surrounding the aquarium, police said.
Sandra Weeser, a German lawmaker who was staying in the hotel, said she was awoken up by a large bang and thought there might have been an earthquake.
“There are shards (of glass) everywhere. The furniture, everything has been flooded with water,” she said. “It looks a bit like a war zone.”
Police said a Lindt chocolate store and several restaurants in the same building complex, as well as an underground parking garage next to the hotel, sustained damage. A fire service spokesman said building safety experts were assessing the extent to which the hotel had sustained structural damage.
Hours after the incident, trucks began clearing away the debris that had spilled out onto the street in front of the hotel. Brightly colored Lindt chocolate wrappers were scattered in front of the building where the chocolate shop had been damaged. A small crowd of tourists and onlookers snapped photos from behind the police line across the street.
The aquarium, which was last modernized in 2020, is a major tourist magnet in Berlin. The 10-minute elevator ride through the tropical tank was one of the highlights of the attraction.
Animal rights group PETA tweeted Thursday that the aquarium became a “death trap” for the fish housed in it. “This man-made tragedy shows that aquariums are not a safe place for fish and other marine life,” they wrote.
Iva Yudinski, a tourist from Israel who had been staying at the hotel, said she was shocked by the incident
“Just yesterday we watched it and we were so amazed (by) its beauty,” she said. “Suddenly it’s all gone. Everything is a mess, a total mess.”
Flood of sexual abuse lawsuits expected in New York as new law takes effect | Sexual harassment
A trickle of high-profile sexual abuse lawsuits passing through New York’s civil courts is likely to become a flood in the coming months because of a new, one-year window for time-expired claims.
Already, some bold-faced names from the worlds of arts, finance and politics have become involved, including Donald Trump and banker Leon Black.
A broad legislative sweep, the New York Adult Survivors Act, allows for adult survivors to file lawsuits and for the alleged abusers or their estates, as well as businesses and institutions that enabled the conduct by ignoring or encouraging an environment that allowed the assaults to occur, to be held financially liable.
The number of claims that will be filed is unknown. But under a previous window allowing claims beyond the statute of limitations to be brought by survivors who were minors at the time of the alleged incidents, as many as 11,000 claims were filed over the course of two years.
Since the look-back bill was introduced on Thanksgiving Day, several notable claims have already been filed.
Leon Black, the billionaire co-founder of private equity firm Apollo, was accused by Cheri Pierson of raping her two decades ago in the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein’s Manhattan mansion. Epstein’s estate is named as a defendant. That case comes on top of a separate civil claim by Guzel Ganieva who accused Black of falsely claiming she tried to extort him after she accused him of rape.
In another claim filed this week, a former talent scout at Atlantic Records sued the label and the estate of its founder, the late Ahmed Ertegun, for sexual assault. Jan Roeg alleges that Atlantic knew and took a “laissez-faire” approach about Ertegun’s misconduct.
In a new, upgraded lawsuit against Donald Trump, former Elle columnist E Jean Carroll maintains the former president committed battery “when he forcibly raped and groped her” – and that he defamed her when he denied raping her last month.
“Trump’s underlying sexual assault severely injured Carroll, causing significant pain and suffering, lasting psychological harms, loss of dignity, and invasion of her privacy,” the suit alleges.
Carroll’s attorney, Roberta Kaplan, said at a court hearing that her client “intends to hold Donald Trump accountable not only for defaming her, but also for sexually assaulting her, which he did years ago in a dressing room at Bergdorf Goodman”.
Trump has denied the allegations against him.
Claims have also been brought against JPMorgan and Deutsche Bank by lawyers acting for unnamed individuals who accuse the banks of turning a blind eye to alleged sex trafficking by the disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein in order to “churn profits”. A Deutsche Bank spokesperson said the claim “lacks merit”.
According to Bradley Edwards, a Florida lawyer who has featured prominently in exposing Epstein’s conduct, “Epstein and his co-conspirators could not have victimized without assistance from wealthy individuals and financial institutions”.
Also anticipated are lawsuits on the behalf of about 40 women, who claim they were subjected to unlawful sexual abuse by former Columbia University gynaecologist Dr Robert Hadden. About 150 claims against the gynaecologist have already been settled.
Hundreds more lawsuits may now also be forthcoming, including individuals who claim they were assaulted by co-workers, prison guards or medical providers, in part because it allows an institution like a hospital or jail to be held responsible.
Opening the adult window for claims precludes cases involving minors that were covered by a previous law incentivized by a backlog of claims against the Catholic church. Under that law, hundreds of others came through, including claims again Boy Scouts of America, Kevin Spacey and Britain’s Prince Andrew.
Under the new law, says Wendy Murphy, a former federal sex crime prosecutor who teaches at New England Law | Boston, some of the cases could be the kind lawyers typically don’t want to take because force wasn’t physically used.
“We could see more cases like Weinstein – adult women over the age of 18 who in certain circumstances submitted or felt coerced because of who the perpetrator was”, Murphy says.
The adult law came into effect on 24 November, after being passed by the state legislature and signed into law by Governor Kathy Hochul in May. Bridie Farrell, a lawyer who worked on the child and adult acts, points out that when it comes to sexual assault, it often takes time for people to come forward.
“After the success of the child victims act, after the #MeToo movement, and the people who came forward to voice abuse and assault that took place years ago, this allows people to access the justice system. It takes a lot of moral conviction to come forward.”
But Murphy says there are other factors at play, too. “The legislature doesn’t just decide to open up lawsuits for benevolent reasons because they think it’s morally and ethically the right thing to do. They do it because there’s money to be had, and a lot of lawmakers are lawyers or work for law firms.”
“It’s very well understood there’s been a conversation about how much money this is going to generate,” Murphy adds, “and corporate America is going to be very nervous about this, because of the higher likelihood that they have exposure now the clock is restarting.”
By some estimations, the adult window could be a far larger legal category than the child law, especially as the legal system has traditionally been less accommodating to adult claims that were late in reporting. Some legal experts think the money issue could come to prominence as the floodgates open.
“The only question now is does the lawyer think the client is telling the truth and does the defendant have any money,” said Murphy. “Where the lobbying impetus came from to enact, the law will probably present itself. Just watch what cases get filed and you’ll get that answer pretty quickly.”
The topic has already surfaced in the Black case. Susan Estrich, a lawyer for Black, called Pierson’s lawsuit “categorically false and part of a scheme to extort money from Mr. Black by threatening to destroy his reputation.”
Both claims – Pierson and Ganieva – against Black were brought by Wigdow, a law firm in New York that has brought dozens of sexual abuse claims, including the ones involving Dominique Strauss-Kahn and Harvey Weinstein, and says on its website that it has won more than $1bn for it its clients.
Wigdor partner Jeanne Christensen said her firm looked “forward to holding Black and Epstein’s estate accountable for their appalling unlawful conduct as alleged in the complaint by our client”.
Farrell pushes back on any idea that money is a motivating factor. “Trial lawyers are the ones that are willing to help get some kind of societal change. People are meeting with institutions to try to get them to do systematic change and institutions don’t change until we go through a legal process and provide them with enough economic incentive,” she said.