Northern California in the United States experienced a severe wave of bad weather, with heavy rains and flash floods inundating main roads and isolating some neighborhoods, prompting urgent intervention from emergency and rescue teams.
Details of the disaster in the city of Reading
Local authorities in Reading, a city of about 93,000 residents located approximately 160 miles north of Sacramento, have confirmed one death due to the flooding. Mayor Mike Leitau stated that the victim died as a result of the severe weather conditions, adding that rescue teams faced significant challenges in reaching those affected.
Reading police reported receiving a flood of calls for help from motorists stranded after being trapped in their vehicles by rising waters. Many residents were forced to attempt crossing flooded areas, resulting in their vehicles becoming stuck and them trapped in the raging torrents. This necessitated complex rescue operations to free those trapped in their cars and homes.
Rainfall rates and weather warnings
According to data from the National Center for Meteorology, the region experienced extremely high rainfall in a short period, with amounts ranging from 7.6 centimeters to 15.2 centimeters in parts of the affected provinces. This large volume of water had no natural drainage system, resulting in flash floods that swept through infrastructure.
Climatic context and recurrence of the phenomenon
This incident comes amid a volatile climate in California, which is frequently affected by what are known as "atmospheric rivers"—narrow bands of concentrated moisture in the atmosphere that transport vast amounts of water vapor from the tropics. Historically, California has experienced sharp contrasts between prolonged droughts and periods of torrential rain that lead to devastating floods, leaving infrastructure in some northern areas vulnerable to landslides and flash floods.
Effects and risks of driving during floods
US authorities are constantly renewing their warnings to residents under the slogan "Turn Around, Don't Drown," as statistics indicate that attempting to drive through flooded roads is the leading cause of flood-related deaths in the United States. This tragic incident in Redding underscores the danger of underestimating the power of flowing water, where even a small rise in water can easily sweep away an SUV.
Emergency teams continue to monitor the situation closely, with forecasts predicting continued atmospheric instability, putting civil defense agencies and residents on high alert to avoid further human and material losses.
