<p>The state of California in the United States has experienced a number of megadroughts over the years including just last month prompting officials to impose water restrictions across the state with limited supplies for vital farmland. In contrast, one of the driest states in the country, following a series of storms, is now witnessing deadly flash floods, landslides, and uprooting trees which have affected road travel and left thousands without electricity, due to heavy rains and strong winds. This has been attributed to an overlapping weather phenomenon called “atmospheric river” and “bomb cyclone”.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Until just last week, several counties across the state were suffering due to “exceptional” drought which is the most severe categorisation assigned by the country’s Drought Monitor. However, due to recent storms, at least 17 people have been killed since the beginning of this year, said California Governor Gavin Newsom, on Tuesday, while the state’s city San Francisco witnessed a hailstorm and the small town of Montecito experienced flash floods.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Has the rain helped the drought situation, so&nbsp;far?</strong></p>

<p>In recent weeks, the state has witnessed six atmospheric rivers in recent weeks and is poised to experience at least three more in the upcoming week, said the Newsom. According to the officials, Central California including San Francisco Bay Area and Sacramento Valley has seen the most amount of water and the precipitation is nearly 140 per cent higher than the average for this time of the year. &nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/explained-what-are-atmospheric-rivers-wreaking-havoc-with-heavy-rains-floods-in-the-us-550368">Explained: What are ‘atmospheric rivers’, wreaking havoc with heavy rains, floods in the US?</a></strong></p>

<p>This has led to many state reservoirs being filled which typically stayed below average this time of the year and will help with irrigation for farmlands and supply water to millions of water across the coastal cities. According to the US Drought Monitor, the storm appears to have lifted at least seven per cent of California out of the most severe categorisation.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Additionally, a hydrologist in charge of the California Nevada River Forecast Center, Alan Haynes, said that this amount of rain puts the state in a good shape at least for the next year or so, reported the Associated Press. However, it is still early to determine what the next few months would look like considering the storm has not poured as much water in northern California.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Since the atmospheric rains are not consistent and are not even striking everywhere. The reservoir at Lake Shasta had risen from 55 per cent during Christmas to 67 per cent as of earlier this week and while this is an improvement, it is still below historic averages given the prolonged water scarcity in the state, said Haynes.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/live-updates-severe-winter-weather-batters-california-551357">California storm | Giant sinkhole swallows two cars</a></strong></p>

<p><strong>Will this surplus in the water supply change anything in the long term?</strong></p>

<p>Several reports citing experts and scientists said that the widespread drought in California will not be reversed due to these atmospheric rivers and bomb cyclones and it might also take consecutive years of similar weather trends of above-average rain and snowfall to actually have any lasting impact. This comes despite at least 90 per cent of the state’s population being affected by floods.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Notably, last year the state witnessed its third year of severe drought which was also the driest on record and while it is now soaking in some much-needed water, some experts say this amount of rain will help but not have a lasting impact. Additionally, they also indicated that this rain and snow won’t be enough to fix some of the long-term water problems that California along with much of the western US faces with unfavourable precipitation trends which are worsening due to climate change.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/california-climate-change-is-threatening-worlds-largest-almond-producer-406614">California: Climate change is threatening world's largest Almond producer</a></strong></p>

<p>Speaking to BBC, Jay Lund, a professor of civil and environmental engineering at the University of California, Davis, said that while the current storm has certainly replenished some of the state’s water supply and it is always good to see rain in California. However, he noted that since the state’s weather is that of extremes and the upcoming years could witness more dry weather.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Why do these extremes not work?</strong></p>

<p>While one might think that the drought-ridden state receiving huge amounts of water would be a good thing, it is in fact the opposite, as several reports suggest that a flood during a time of drought can make the situation worse. A report by Vox compares this phenomenon to overwatering a plant which after a while cannot handle soaking up so much water. Therefore, eventually, this rain turns into floods with the risk of uprooting trees.&nbsp;</p>

<p>During a press briefing, last week, California’s &nbsp;Director of the Department of Water Resources (DWR) Karla Nemeth, also explained that moving from one extreme weather event to the other has put the trees under stress as “after three years of intensive drought, the ground is saturated and there is a significant chance of downed trees that will create significant problems.”</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/infographic-megadrought-in-america-a-climate-disaster-unseen-in-1200-years-515801">Infographic: Megadrought in America, a climate disaster unseen in 1,200 years</a></strong></p>

<p>Additionally, during these droughts, the roots of the trees that are supposed to absorb water become less sponge-like and with weaker roots, they are more likely to get swept away by the storm. The experts have also noted how California does not have the infrastructure to support the reservation of this much water due to its limited reservoir capacity, therefore, a lot of this water is going to the ocean.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Simply put, “The California system was built for a climate we don’t have anymore,” said Laura Feinstein who heads the work on climate resilience and environment at a San Francisco-based non-profit named SPUR. She also was also said in the context of the water coming from snowpack which is its own type of reservoir.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In this case, the snow typically melts into the reservoir and supplies residents with water during summer and fall, however, since the snowpack due to climate change now melts faster and the reservoirs are unable to capture enough water. Additionally, climate change has given rise to extreme weather events which is also creating drier, hotter conditions where the water is bound to evaporate faster.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/wion-climate-tracker-powerful-atmospheric-river-drenches-california-548809">WION Climate Tracker: Powerful 'Atmospheric River' drenches California</a></strong></p>

<p><strong>So what can be done to mitigate this issue?</strong></p>

<p>Climate scientists said that a part of the solution to these problems could be drawing levees back which would allow rivers to flood safely and not only collect more water but also do so while ensuring the safety of the land surrounding it.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Climate scientist, Peter Gleick who spoke to CNN, said that while levees have protected the communities in the past they are not designed for the climate change-induced extreme weather challenges today. Therefore, he suggests changes in infrastructure which would allow people to capture more floods and store them in underground aquifers when the water supply is running dry.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/study-predicts-super-rare-megflood-striking-california-in-coming-decades-506510">Study predicts super rare megflood striking California in coming decades</a></strong></p>

<p>Additionally, Gleick also told CNN, “We have to design flood insurance policies to encourage people to move away from flood plains, so we can open up those floodplains, so when we get those floods they will be less damaging.”&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, to actually do so, many communities would have to relocate and also require a significant rebuilding of existing infrastructure which does not seem feasible. Notably, these underground aquifers to this day still remain vital for the state’s central valley and they are reportedly running dry.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;</em><br />
&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

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<p>You can <strong>now write for wionews.com</strong> and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.</strong></p>


The state of California in the United States has experienced a number of megadroughts over the years including just last month prompting officials to impose water restrictions across the state with limited supplies for vital farmland.

The state of California in the United States has experienced a number of megadroughts over the years including just last month prompting officials to impose water restrictions across the state with limited supplies for vital farmland. In contrast, one of the driest states in the country, following a series of storms, is now witnessing deadly flash floods, landslides, and uprooting trees which have affected road travel and left thousands without electricity, due to heavy rains and strong winds. This has been attributed to an overlapping weather phenomenon called “atmospheric river” and “bomb cyclone”. Until just last week, several counties across the state were suffering due to “exceptional” drought which is the most severe categorisation assigned by the country’s Drought Monitor. However, due to recent storms, at least 17 people have been killed since the beginning of this year, said California Governor Gavin Newsom, on Tuesday, while the state’s city San Francisco witnessed a hailstorm and the small town of Montecito experienced flash floods. Has the rain helped the drought situation, so far? In recent weeks, the state has witnessed six atmospheric rivers in recent weeks and is poised to experience at least three more in the upcoming week, said the Newsom. According to the officials, Central California including San Francisco Bay Area and Sacramento Valley has seen the most amount of water and the precipitation is nearly 140 per cent higher than the average for this time of the year. ALSO READ | Explained: What are ‘atmospheric rivers’, wreaking havoc with heavy rains, floods in the US? This has led to many state reservoirs being filled which typically stayed below average this time of the year and will help with irrigation for farmlands and supply water to millions of water across the coastal cities. According to the US Drought Monitor, the storm appears to have lifted at least seven per cent of California out of the most severe categorisation. Additionally, a hydrologist in charge of the California Nevada River Forecast Center, Alan Haynes, said that this amount of rain puts the state in a good shape at least for the next year or so, reported the Associated Press. However, it is still early to determine what the next few months would look like considering the storm has not poured as much water in northern California. Since the atmospheric rains are not consistent and are not even striking everywhere. The reservoir at Lake Shasta had risen from 55 per cent during Christmas to 67 per cent as of earlier this week and while this is an improvement, it is still below historic averages given the prolonged water scarcity in the state, said Haynes. ALSO READ | California storm | Giant sinkhole swallows two cars Will this surplus in the water supply change anything in the long term? Several reports citing experts and scientists said that the widespread drought in California will not be reversed due to these atmospheric rivers and bomb cyclones and it might also take consecutive years of similar weather trends of above-average rain and snowfall to actually have any lasting impact. This comes despite at least 90 per cent of the state’s population being affected by floods. Notably, last year the state witnessed its third year of severe drought which was also the driest on record and while it is now soaking in some much-needed water, some experts say this amount of rain will help but not have a lasting impact. Additionally, they also indicated that this rain and snow won’t be enough to fix some of the long-term water problems that California along with much of the western US faces with unfavourable precipitation trends which are worsening due to climate change. ALSO WATCH | California: Climate change is threatening world's largest Almond producer Speaking to BBC, Jay Lund, a professor of civil and environmental engineering at the University of California, Davis, said that while the current storm has certainly replenished some of the state’s water supply and it is always good to see rain in California. However, he noted that since the state’s weather is that of extremes and the upcoming years could witness more dry weather. Why do these extremes not work? While one might think that the drought-ridden state receiving huge amounts of water would be a good thing, it is in fact the opposite, as several reports suggest that a flood during a time of drought can make the situation worse. A report by Vox compares this phenomenon to overwatering a plant which after a while cannot handle soaking up so much water. Therefore, eventually, this rain turns into floods with the risk of uprooting trees. During a press briefing, last week, California’s Director of the Department of Water Resources (DWR) Karla Nemeth, also explained that moving from one extreme weather event to the other has put the trees under stress as “after three years of intensive drought, the ground is saturated and there is a significant chance of downed trees that will create significant problems.” ALSO READ | Infographic: Megadrought in America, a climate disaster unseen in 1,200 years Additionally, during these droughts, the roots of the trees that are supposed to absorb water become less sponge-like and with weaker roots, they are more likely to get swept away by the storm. The experts have also noted how California does not have the infrastructure to support the reservation of this much water due to its limited reservoir capacity, therefore, a lot of this water is going to the ocean. Simply put, “The California system was built for a climate we don’t have anymore,” said Laura Feinstein who heads the work on climate resilience and environment at a San Francisco-based non-profit named SPUR. She also was also said in the context of the water coming from snowpack which is its own type of reservoir. In this case, the snow typically melts into the reservoir and supplies residents with water during summer and fall, however, since the snowpack due to climate change now melts faster and the reservoirs are unable to capture enough water. Additionally, climate change has given rise to extreme weather events which is also creating drier, hotter conditions where the water is bound to evaporate faster. ALSO WATCH | WION Climate Tracker: Powerful 'Atmospheric River' drenches California So what can be done to mitigate this issue? Climate scientists said that a part of the solution to these problems could be drawing levees back which would allow rivers to flood safely and not only collect more water but also do so while ensuring the safety of the land surrounding it. Climate scientist, Peter Gleick who spoke to CNN, said that while levees have protected the communities in the past they are not designed for the climate change-induced extreme weather challenges today. Therefore, he suggests changes in infrastructure which would allow people to capture more floods and store them in underground aquifers when the water supply is running dry. ALSO READ | Study predicts super rare megflood striking California in coming decades Additionally, Gleick also told CNN, “We have to design flood insurance policies to encourage people to move away from flood plains, so we can open up those floodplains, so when we get those floods they will be less damaging.” However, to actually do so, many communities would have to relocate and also require a significant rebuilding of existing infrastructure which does not seem feasible. Notably, these underground aquifers to this day still remain vital for the state’s central valley and they are reportedly running dry. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Explained: Can atmospheric river-induced floods help with California’s ‘exceptional’ drought?

The California storm death toll has reached at least 16 as relentless rain forces evacuations in places like Montecito and Santa Cruz due to flooding and mudslides.

Severe winter storms leave at least 16 dead in U.S. California

At least 17 people have been killed in California as a relentless string of storms batter the state. Over 12,000 homes and businesses are suffering power outages.

WION Climate Tracker: Storm results in at least 17 deaths in California

<p>US Representative Katie Porter has announced run for the 2024 US Senate elections from California. The seat is currently being held by Senator Dianne Feinstein, a fellow Democrat. Though Feinstein has not said anything about whether she will complete her senator's complete term of office, which is of six years, or not, Porter made the announcement on her social media accounts about her future plans. Despite being 89 years old, Fienstein has waived off any questions over her ability to serve in the office. Meanwhile, Porter who is 49-years-old, in her announcement, said Californians deserve a warrior who can fight for them in Washington.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Opposed earmarks,&nbsp;corporate campaign funding</strong>&nbsp;</h2>

<p>Porter is a single mom of three. She is mostly known for using whiteboards in the US House of Representatives. In her announcement, she said that she is running for the US Senate because Californians deserve a warrior fighting for them in Washington. She also added that in the House, she has stoop up to leaders of both parties. Porter said that she has worked not only in her capacity as a Democrat to oppose earmarks, funds provided by the Congress for projects or programs, but also as one of just a dozen Members of Congress to reject lobbyist and corporate political action committee (which was created for campaign finances in US) money.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Katie Porter said that there should be greater safeguards in place to thwart corruption emanating from earmarking, including disclosing any connections an earmark could have to a member of the legislator's family. Porter was chosen to serve in Congress for the first time in 2018. She represents a sizable portion of Orange County. Porter barely won re-election in November after last year's redistricting by around three percentage points.</p>

<h2><strong>Feinstein over Porter throwing her hat in the ring&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>Senator Dianne Feinstein said that everyone is welcome to throw their hat in the ring. She also commented that she will make an announcement concerning her plans for 2024 at the appropriate time. In a statement, Feinstein said Tuesday that right now she is focused on ensuring California has all the resources it needs to cope with the devastating storms slamming the state and leaving more than a dozen dead.</p>

<h2><strong>Who all are in the race?&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>Several Democratic candidates from California are reportedly considering running for the Senate, including US Representatives Ro Khanna and Adam B. Schiff, who has stated he would seriously explore a run if Feinstein decided to retire.</p>


US Representative Katie Porter has announced run for the 2024 US Senate elections from California. The seat is currently being held by Senator Dianne Feinstein, a fellow Democrat.

US Representative Katie Porter has announced run for the 2024 US Senate elections from California. The seat is currently being held by Senator Dianne Feinstein, a fellow Democrat. Though Feinstein has not said anything about whether she will complete her senator's complete term of office, which is of six years, or not, Porter made the announcement on her social media accounts about her future plans. Despite being 89 years old, Fienstein has waived off any questions over her ability to serve in the office. Meanwhile, Porter who is 49-years-old, in her announcement, said Californians deserve a warrior who can fight for them in Washington. Opposed earmarks, corporate campaign funding Porter is a single mom of three. She is mostly known for using whiteboards in the US House of Representatives. In her announcement, she said that she is running for the US Senate because Californians deserve a warrior fighting for them in Washington. She also added that in the House, she has stoop up to leaders of both parties. Porter said that she has worked not only in her capacity as a Democrat to oppose earmarks, funds provided by the Congress for projects or programs, but also as one of just a dozen Members of Congress to reject lobbyist and corporate political action committee (which was created for campaign finances in US) money. Katie Porter said that there should be greater safeguards in place to thwart corruption emanating from earmarking, including disclosing any connections an earmark could have to a member of the legislator's family. Porter was chosen to serve in Congress for the first time in 2018. She represents a sizable portion of Orange County. Porter barely won re-election in November after last year's redistricting by around three percentage points. Feinstein over Porter throwing her hat in the ring Senator Dianne Feinstein said that everyone is welcome to throw their hat in the ring. She also commented that she will make an announcement concerning her plans for 2024 at the appropriate time. In a statement, Feinstein said Tuesday that right now she is focused on ensuring California has all the resources it needs to cope with the devastating storms slamming the state and leaving more than a dozen dead. Who all are in the race? Several Democratic candidates from California are reportedly considering running for the Senate, including US Representatives Ro Khanna and Adam B. Schiff, who has stated he would seriously explore a run if Feinstein decided to retire.

Who is Katie Porter, the Democrat who announced run for US Senate from California?

<p>Authorities ordered about tens of thousands of Californians to evacuate the Santa Barbara County community and neighbouring areas in the light of deadly flash flood warnings on Monday.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The heavy downpours in most of California come after five years of a fatal mudslide that caused 23 casualties and wrecked more than a hundred homes in coastal Montecito, California.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The National Weather Service of California recorded a rainfall of 8 inches in the last 12 hours. They also said there was no sign of relaxation from the devastating showers.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read|&nbsp;</strong><a href="www.wionews.com/world/indonesia-powerful-earthquake-measuring-77-strikes-tanimbar-region-550865">Indonesia: Powerful earthquake measuring 7.6 jolts Tanimbar region</a></p>

<p>The 2018 Montecito disaster severely impacted acclaimed personalities like Oprah Winfrey and Ellen DeGeneres and ex-sports stars Troy Aikman and Jimmy Connors. Montecito is now the home to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle as well.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As the violent storms sweep California, authorities have confirmed at least 14 deaths. The death toll does not include that five-year-old boy swept away by rain, but his fate remains unknown.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Parts of Sacramento, which are already battling powerful winds and overwhelming rains, might receive heavy downpours of 12 inches.</p>

<p><strong>Watch|&nbsp;Travellers rush to renew passports as China ends Covid restrictions</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/travellers--to-renew-passports-as-china-ends-covid-restrictions-550892/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>Mudslides in California's Santa Cruz County have blocked the significant Highway 17. Moreover, the Browns Valley Road Bridge crumpled into the river below it.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The first showers hit California on Monday, days after heavy storms led to power outrages. The weather service predicts another wave of heavy floods will hit southern California on Tuesday.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Furthermore, the weather service feared more than a dozen rivers that might overflow in the next tide of rains.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Earlier this Sunday, US President Joe Biden cited the emergency conditions resulting from successive and severe winter storms, flooding, and mudslides. He declared a federal emergency and ordered official assistance to supplement state, tribal and local response support.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>


Authorities ordered about tens of thousands of Californians to evacuate the Santa Barbara County community and neighbouring areas in the light of deadly flash flood warnings on Monday.

Authorities ordered about tens of thousands of Californians to evacuate the Santa Barbara County community and neighbouring areas in the light of deadly flash flood warnings on Monday. The heavy downpours in most of California come after five years of a fatal mudslide that caused 23 casualties and wrecked more than a hundred homes in coastal Montecito, California. The National Weather Service of California recorded a rainfall of 8 inches in the last 12 hours. They also said there was no sign of relaxation from the devastating showers. Also Read| Indonesia: Powerful earthquake measuring 7.6 jolts Tanimbar region The 2018 Montecito disaster severely impacted acclaimed personalities like Oprah Winfrey and Ellen DeGeneres and ex-sports stars Troy Aikman and Jimmy Connors. Montecito is now the home to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle as well. As the violent storms sweep California, authorities have confirmed at least 14 deaths. The death toll does not include that five-year-old boy swept away by rain, but his fate remains unknown. Parts of Sacramento, which are already battling powerful winds and overwhelming rains, might receive heavy downpours of 12 inches. Watch| Travellers rush to renew passports as China ends Covid restrictions Mudslides in California's Santa Cruz County have blocked the significant Highway 17. Moreover, the Browns Valley Road Bridge crumpled into the river below it. The first showers hit California on Monday, days after heavy storms led to power outrages. The weather service predicts another wave of heavy floods will hit southern California on Tuesday. Furthermore, the weather service feared more than a dozen rivers that might overflow in the next tide of rains. Earlier this Sunday, US President Joe Biden cited the emergency conditions resulting from successive and severe winter storms, flooding, and mudslides. He declared a federal emergency and ordered official assistance to supplement state, tribal and local response support. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

California flash floods: Death toll reaches 14, road-bridge collapses in river

At least 25,000 residents evacuated amid floods in California. Torrential downpours and damaging winds left hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses without power in California. Watch this report to know more.

WION Climate Tracker: At least 25,000 residents evacuated amid floods in California

Torrential downpours and damaging winds left hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses without power in California. Watch this report to know more.

Thousands without power as storms continue to strike California

<p>Since last week, several cities across the United States’ California have been witnessing heavy rains and flash floods which have led to power outages and at least two fatalities, so far. Additionally, on Friday, after two days of heavy rains and strong winds, thousands of homes across the state were left without power.&nbsp;</p>

<p>These heavy rains and high winds have been attributed to an overlapping weather phenomenon called “atmospheric river” and “bomb cyclone” which have also caused flash floods, landslides, and uprooting affecting road travel. Notably, this comes after the region battled a megadrought in early December prompting strict water restrictions.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>What are ‘atmospheric rivers’?&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>As the name suggests atmospheric rivers are storms which dump massive amounts of rain in one region causing flash floods and landslides. The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) describe them as “rivers in the sky” as they are relatively long, narrow regions in the atmosphere that transport water vapour outside of the tropics.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Notably, the amount of water vapour is at least 15 times the average flow of water at the mouth of the Mississippi River and when they make landfall, this water vapour can be released in the form of rain or snow. Additionally, atmospheric rivers can be at least 350 miles (563 km) wide and up to 1,600 miles (2575 km) long.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/california-thousands-without-power-as-stormy-weather-lashes-region-550183">California: Thousands without power as stormy weather lashes region</a></strong></p>

<p>According to forecasters, this particular incident is a result of the low-pressure system churning over the eastern Pacific. The NOAA also noted that not all atmospheric rivers cause damage, in fact, they often provide much-needed rain and snow to a region which is often crucial to the water supply and is a key feature in the global water cycle. However, they are closely tied to both flooding and water supply, particularly in Western US.</p>

<p>Another&nbsp;term to describe the phenomenon, particularly in the US West Coast context is called "pineapple express", which brings&nbsp;a strong atmospheric river to the region from the tropics near Hawaii, which is what California is experiencing at the moment. As the atmospheric rivers which typically originate from the Pacific Ocean, in this case, are beginning from Hawaii which is also the US'&nbsp;leading producer of pineapples, hence the name.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>What are ‘bomb cyclones’?</strong></p>

<p>Meanwhile, a bomb cyclone is a quickly intensifying storm marked by a drop in pressure of 24 millibars in 24 hours. They are also often associated with atmospheric rivers and typically form in winter when cold and warm air masses collide. Due to the nature of the storm, meteorologists used terms like “explosive cyclogenesis” or “bombogenesis” since the drop in pressure is seen as akin to dropping a bomb.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/bomb-cyclone-slams-california-with-high-winds-flooding-549833">Bomb cyclone slams California with high winds, flooding</a></strong></p>

<p><strong>What is happening in California?</strong></p>

<p>As mentioned earlier, the state had been battling a megadrought, however, amid the cycles of wet and dry both intensified by <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/wion-climate-tracker-climate-change-will-make-bomb-cyclones-more-frequent-547415">climate change</a> captured a mega storm in order to ease the destructive droughts. The state is essentially forced to battle extremes with high temperatures, heat and wildfires followed by drought and now flash floods. According to a report by Reuters, scientists say warmer air and temperatures which have been attributed to climate change have led to more absorption and dumping of rain over regions, in this case, California.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>What has happened till now?</strong></p>

<p>Several cities across California including San Francisco Bay and Sacramento over the New Year’s weekend witnessed massive power outages following heavy rains and high winds. At the time, the National Weather Service (NWS) had also predicted up to three feet of fresh snow in Sierras and widespread rainfall. However, with little to no respite during the week, since Wednesday, at least two people had been killed including a toddler after a tree crushed his mobile home in the northern region of the state.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/wion-climate-tracker-state-of-emergency-declared-in-california-as-storm-turns-into-bomb-cyclone-549786">WION Climate Tracker: State of emergency declared in California as storm turns into bomb cyclone</a></strong></p>

<p>As of Friday morning, at least 60,000 homes and businesses were left without electricity across several counties in northern California, said a report by Reuters citing the data from Poweroutages.us. Meanwhile, the utility crew in the area scrambled to restore power. The continuous storms led San Francisco to witness at least 26 cm of rain starting from the day after Christmas to January 4 which was the wettest 10-day stretch since 1871, said the NWS.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Will the situation get better?</strong></p>

<p>It might not get better anytime soon. The weather agency said the next wave of the storm will hit the northwestern corner of California late on Friday and move towards the San Francisco Bay Area and central coast over the weekend. Additionally, the NWS has also predicted a “likely stronger” atmospheric river storm for Monday (January 9) while the current weather pattern might continue till at least mid-January.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;</em></p>

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Since last week, several cities across the United States’ California have been witnessing heavy rains and flash floods which have led to power outages and at least two fatalities, so far.

Since last week, several cities across the United States’ California have been witnessing heavy rains and flash floods which have led to power outages and at least two fatalities, so far. Additionally, on Friday, after two days of heavy rains and strong winds, thousands of homes across the state were left without power. These heavy rains and high winds have been attributed to an overlapping weather phenomenon called “atmospheric river” and “bomb cyclone” which have also caused flash floods, landslides, and uprooting affecting road travel. Notably, this comes after the region battled a megadrought in early December prompting strict water restrictions. What are ‘atmospheric rivers’? As the name suggests atmospheric rivers are storms which dump massive amounts of rain in one region causing flash floods and landslides. The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) describe them as “rivers in the sky” as they are relatively long, narrow regions in the atmosphere that transport water vapour outside of the tropics. Notably, the amount of water vapour is at least 15 times the average flow of water at the mouth of the Mississippi River and when they make landfall, this water vapour can be released in the form of rain or snow. Additionally, atmospheric rivers can be at least 350 miles (563 km) wide and up to 1,600 miles (2575 km) long. ALSO READ | California: Thousands without power as stormy weather lashes region According to forecasters, this particular incident is a result of the low-pressure system churning over the eastern Pacific. The NOAA also noted that not all atmospheric rivers cause damage, in fact, they often provide much-needed rain and snow to a region which is often crucial to the water supply and is a key feature in the global water cycle. However, they are closely tied to both flooding and water supply, particularly in Western US. Another term to describe the phenomenon, particularly in the US West Coast context is called "pineapple express", which brings a strong atmospheric river to the region from the tropics near Hawaii, which is what California is experiencing at the moment. As the atmospheric rivers which typically originate from the Pacific Ocean, in this case, are beginning from Hawaii which is also the US' leading producer of pineapples, hence the name. What are ‘bomb cyclones’? Meanwhile, a bomb cyclone is a quickly intensifying storm marked by a drop in pressure of 24 millibars in 24 hours. They are also often associated with atmospheric rivers and typically form in winter when cold and warm air masses collide. Due to the nature of the storm, meteorologists used terms like “explosive cyclogenesis” or “bombogenesis” since the drop in pressure is seen as akin to dropping a bomb. ALSO WATCH | Bomb cyclone slams California with high winds, flooding What is happening in California? As mentioned earlier, the state had been battling a megadrought, however, amid the cycles of wet and dry both intensified by climate change captured a mega storm in order to ease the destructive droughts. The state is essentially forced to battle extremes with high temperatures, heat and wildfires followed by drought and now flash floods. According to a report by Reuters, scientists say warmer air and temperatures which have been attributed to climate change have led to more absorption and dumping of rain over regions, in this case, California. What has happened till now? Several cities across California including San Francisco Bay and Sacramento over the New Year’s weekend witnessed massive power outages following heavy rains and high winds. At the time, the National Weather Service (NWS) had also predicted up to three feet of fresh snow in Sierras and widespread rainfall. However, with little to no respite during the week, since Wednesday, at least two people had been killed including a toddler after a tree crushed his mobile home in the northern region of the state. ALSO WATCH | WION Climate Tracker: State of emergency declared in California as storm turns into bomb cyclone As of Friday morning, at least 60,000 homes and businesses were left without electricity across several counties in northern California, said a report by Reuters citing the data from Poweroutages.us. Meanwhile, the utility crew in the area scrambled to restore power. The continuous storms led San Francisco to witness at least 26 cm of rain starting from the day after Christmas to January 4 which was the wettest 10-day stretch since 1871, said the NWS. Will the situation get better? It might not get better anytime soon. The weather agency said the next wave of the storm will hit the northwestern corner of California late on Friday and move towards the San Francisco Bay Area and central coast over the weekend. Additionally, the NWS has also predicted a “likely stronger” atmospheric river storm for Monday (January 9) while the current weather pattern might continue till at least mid-January. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Explained: What are ‘atmospheric rivers’, wreaking havoc with heavy rains, floods in the US?

<p>Two days of fierce winds and heavy rain has left thousands in California without power. Utility crews were working on Friday (January 6) to restore electricity. The region is preparing for stormy weather as it heads into the weekend.</p>

<p>The next bout of heavy showers and gusty winds was expected to sweep the northwestern corner of California late on Friday and spread southward into the San Francisco Bay Area and central coast through Saturday and Sunday, the National Weather Service (NWS) said. Southern Oregon was also forecast to take a hit.</p>

<p>The coming storm - another "atmospheric river" of dense moisture flowing in from the Pacific - is likely to dump several more inches (cm) of rain on a region already saturated from repeated downpours since late December, renewing risks of flash flooding and mudslides, the NWS said.</p>

<p>Hillsides and canyons stripped bare of vegetation by past wildfires are especially vulnerable to rock and mudslides according to forecasters.</p>

<p>In addition to heavy rains, up to 2 feet (60 cm) of snow was expected to fall over the weekend in higher elevations of the Sierras, where accumulations of a foot to 18 inches (46 cm) or more were measured earlier this week.</p>

<p>On Friday much of the northern two-thirds of California, the most populous state in the United States, was under flood watches, gale-force wind advisories and winter-storm warnings as forecasters urged residents to prepare for the deluge and stay off roads in flood-prone areas.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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Two days of fierce winds and heavy rain has left thousands in California without power. Utility crews were working on Friday (January 6) to restore electricity. The region is preparing for stormy weather as it heads into the weekend.

Two days of fierce winds and heavy rain has left thousands in California without power. Utility crews were working on Friday (January 6) to restore electricity. The region is preparing for stormy weather as it heads into the weekend. The next bout of heavy showers and gusty winds was expected to sweep the northwestern corner of California late on Friday and spread southward into the San Francisco Bay Area and central coast through Saturday and Sunday, the National Weather Service (NWS) said. Southern Oregon was also forecast to take a hit. The coming storm - another "atmospheric river" of dense moisture flowing in from the Pacific - is likely to dump several more inches (cm) of rain on a region already saturated from repeated downpours since late December, renewing risks of flash flooding and mudslides, the NWS said. Hillsides and canyons stripped bare of vegetation by past wildfires are especially vulnerable to rock and mudslides according to forecasters. In addition to heavy rains, up to 2 feet (60 cm) of snow was expected to fall over the weekend in higher elevations of the Sierras, where accumulations of a foot to 18 inches (46 cm) or more were measured earlier this week. On Friday much of the northern two-thirds of California, the most populous state in the United States, was under flood watches, gale-force wind advisories and winter-storm warnings as forecasters urged residents to prepare for the deluge and stay off roads in flood-prone areas. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

California: Thousands without power as stormy weather lashes region

A powerful storm dumped several inches of rain over California which has killed two including a toddler. The rainfall resulted in flooding and heavy river storm caused power outages in at least 60,000 homes and businesses.

California: Lashed by deadly storm, forecasters predict more storms in coming days

A bomb cyclone smashed into California Wednesday, bringing powerful winds and torrential rain that was expected to cause flooding in areas already saturated by consecutive storms. Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency in the state.

WION Climate Tracker: Deadly Pacific Storm lashes California

A powerful bomb cyclone has brought heavy rain and high winds to California, and dramatic videos and photos are showing the scope of the damage.

Bomb cyclone slams California with high winds, flooding

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<p>A day after weather forecasters warned that California may face 'brutal' weather conditions, a bomb cyclone smashed into the western US state on Wednesday.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The cyclone brought with it torrential rains that could drown the region, already battered with consecutive storms on New Year's Eve, that caused power outages and roadways to flood.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The powerful winds blew around 70 kilometres an hour and could very well continue into Thursday morning.&nbsp;</p>

<p>State authorities have requested the residents to avoid any kind of non-essential travel on Wednesday night and Thursday morning as the storm reaches its peak.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The residents, however,&nbsp;remain fearful of the storm. "We had a similar flood just last October... they call it a 100-year storm, but sounds like we might have two of those in one week," Deepak Srivastava, a San Francisco citizen was quoted as saying by AFP.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-more-than-4400-flights-cancelled-on-friday-as-travellers-face-harrowing-christmas-week-546192" target="_blank"><strong>Read more: Bomb cyclone brings sub-zero chills in US: 12 killed, 4,400 flights cancelled day ahead of Christmas</strong></a></p>

<p>Accessing the gravity of the situation, California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency to pool resources for 'response and recovery efforts'.</p>

<p>An emergency operations centre has also been established in the city of San Francisco to oversee the entire operation.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The residents are being offered thousands of sandbags in case there is flooding.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"We've been working very hard to source sandbags from wherever we can in northern California," said a Public Works department official.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>What is a bomb cyclone?</strong></p>

<p>A bomb cyclone occurs when atmospheric pressure plummets to low levels. A cyclone is categorised as a bomb cyclone when the pressure drop is 24 millibars (a unit of pressure) within 24 hours.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-more-than-4400-flights-cancelled-on-friday-as-travellers-face-harrowing-christmas-week-546192" target="_blank"><strong>WATCH | WION Climate Tracker: Climate change will make 'bomb cyclones' more frequent</strong></a></p>

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<p>Frigid temperatures and destructive winds have accompanied the winter storms in the US, much before the holiday season began.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Americans are experiencing huge power outages amid the blizzard circumstances. The bone-chilling weather forced thousands to cancel holiday get-togethers as airlines could not operate the planes during the inclement weather.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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A day after weather forecasters warned that California may face 'brutal' weather conditions, a bomb cyclone smashed into the western US state on Wednesday. The cyclone brought with it torrential rains that could drown the region, already battered with consecutive storms on New Year's Eve, that caused power outages and roadways to flood.

A day after weather forecasters warned that California may face 'brutal' weather conditions, a bomb cyclone smashed into the western US state on Wednesday. The cyclone brought with it torrential rains that could drown the region, already battered with consecutive storms on New Year's Eve, that caused power outages and roadways to flood. The powerful winds blew around 70 kilometres an hour and could very well continue into Thursday morning. State authorities have requested the residents to avoid any kind of non-essential travel on Wednesday night and Thursday morning as the storm reaches its peak. The residents, however, remain fearful of the storm. "We had a similar flood just last October... they call it a 100-year storm, but sounds like we might have two of those in one week," Deepak Srivastava, a San Francisco citizen was quoted as saying by AFP. Read more: Bomb cyclone brings sub-zero chills in US: 12 killed, 4,400 flights cancelled day ahead of Christmas Accessing the gravity of the situation, California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency to pool resources for 'response and recovery efforts'. An emergency operations centre has also been established in the city of San Francisco to oversee the entire operation. The residents are being offered thousands of sandbags in case there is flooding. "We've been working very hard to source sandbags from wherever we can in northern California," said a Public Works department official. What is a bomb cyclone? A bomb cyclone occurs when atmospheric pressure plummets to low levels. A cyclone is categorised as a bomb cyclone when the pressure drop is 24 millibars (a unit of pressure) within 24 hours. WATCH | WION Climate Tracker: Climate change will make 'bomb cyclones' more frequent × Frigid temperatures and destructive winds have accompanied the winter storms in the US, much before the holiday season began. Americans are experiencing huge power outages amid the blizzard circumstances. The bone-chilling weather forced thousands to cancel holiday get-togethers as airlines could not operate the planes during the inclement weather. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Bomb cyclone smashes into California; state of emergency declared by the governor

<p>18-year-old pilot Brock Peters was flying his grandmother and two cousins on a short trip across southern California on January 2nd. The trip, which was just 60 miles from Apple Valley airport to Riverside airport, was a route that Peters had taken multiple times before with family members. However, disaster struck when the plane's engine suddenly failed at an altitude of 5,500ft.</p>

<p>Peters, who had received his pilot's licence just four months prior, heard a "boom" from the engine and immediately lost all power. Despite his grandmother's cries from the back, Peters remained focused on finding a safe place to land. He knew he had just minutes to assess his options and decide on a course of action. The pilot was quoted by the media as saying, “I can hear my grandma crying in the back. I'm like I've got to tune her out, focus on what I need to do and get this plane down safely and make sure everybody is OK."</p>

<p>Peters considered landing in the fields below, but being from the area, he knew that they were full of rocks and trees and would likely result in serious injuries and the destruction of the plane. Instead, he chose to land on a stretch of Route 66, a deserted road with no cars in sight.</p>

<p>As he descended, Peters saw a car approaching on the road, but it pulled off to the side, allowing him to safely land the plane. Another car was farther down the road and out of harm's way. Peters was able to smoothly land the plane without causing any injuries or damage.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">In dire straits, 18-year-old Brock Peters mustered everything he could recall from his emergency landing training. He got his pilot's license four months ago. <a href="https://t.co/2YtRWA5BcE">https://t.co/2YtRWA5BcE</a></p>
— KCAL News (@CBSLA) <a href="https://twitter.com/CBSLA/status/1610084481586659328?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 3, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>After landing, Peters called 911 and a fire truck arrived to help move the plane further off the road. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is still investigating the cause of the engine failure, but Peters believes that it was due to a problem with the fuel system.</p>

<p><strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/americas/venezuelan-leader-maduro-says-ready-to-normalise-ties-with-us-549028">Also Read |&nbsp;Venezuelan leader Maduro says ready to normalise ties with US</a></strong></p>

<p>Peters advises others to stay calm, remember their training, and trust in God in similar situations. His quick thinking and expertise as a pilot allowed him to safely land the plane and avoid any injuries or fatalities. Despite the unexpected turn of events, Peters remains committed to pursuing his dream of becoming an airline pilot.</p>

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18-year-old pilot Brock Peters was flying his grandmother and two cousins on a short trip across southern California on January 2nd. The trip, which was just 60 miles from Apple Valley airport to Riverside airport, was a route that Peters had taken multiple times before with family members.

18-year-old pilot Brock Peters was flying his grandmother and two cousins on a short trip across southern California on January 2nd. The trip, which was just 60 miles from Apple Valley airport to Riverside airport, was a route that Peters had taken multiple times before with family members. However, disaster struck when the plane's engine suddenly failed at an altitude of 5,500ft. Peters, who had received his pilot's licence just four months prior, heard a "boom" from the engine and immediately lost all power. Despite his grandmother's cries from the back, Peters remained focused on finding a safe place to land. He knew he had just minutes to assess his options and decide on a course of action. The pilot was quoted by the media as saying, “I can hear my grandma crying in the back. I'm like I've got to tune her out, focus on what I need to do and get this plane down safely and make sure everybody is OK." Peters considered landing in the fields below, but being from the area, he knew that they were full of rocks and trees and would likely result in serious injuries and the destruction of the plane. Instead, he chose to land on a stretch of Route 66, a deserted road with no cars in sight. As he descended, Peters saw a car approaching on the road, but it pulled off to the side, allowing him to safely land the plane. Another car was farther down the road and out of harm's way. Peters was able to smoothly land the plane without causing any injuries or damage. In dire straits, 18-year-old Brock Peters mustered everything he could recall from his emergency landing training. He got his pilot's license four months ago. https://t.co/2YtRWA5BcE — KCAL News (@CBSLA) January 3, 2023 × After landing, Peters called 911 and a fire truck arrived to help move the plane further off the road. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is still investigating the cause of the engine failure, but Peters believes that it was due to a problem with the fuel system. Also Read | Venezuelan leader Maduro says ready to normalise ties with US Peters advises others to stay calm, remember their training, and trust in God in similar situations. His quick thinking and expertise as a pilot allowed him to safely land the plane and avoid any injuries or fatalities. Despite the unexpected turn of events, Peters remains committed to pursuing his dream of becoming an airline pilot. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Hero teen pilot wins the internet after landing powerless plane on a California road

WION Climate Tracker: State of emergency declared in California as storm turns into bomb cyclone

Heavy rain floods and wreaked havoc in parts of California. The forecasters are now warning that the situation could get worse before it gets better. Residents in California's vast Central valley region have been warned of another round of powerful storms this week.

California: Braces for more heavy storms, forecasters warn more winter storms to hit by weekend

San Francisco in the US state of California, saw a record flooding on the last day of 2022. Heavy rains brought about a phenomenon known as an ‘atmospheric river’ leading to the closure of US highway 101, one of California’s most famous routes.

WION Climate Tracker: Powerful 'Atmospheric River' drenches California

<p>Traffic chaos and the closure of highways followed after heavy rain and snowfall in most of California state on Saturday (December 31) as people ushered in 2023 with an "atmospheric river storm".&nbsp;</p>

<p>News agency Reuters reported that an eyewitness shared a video, which showed vehicles partially submerged after heavy flooding in San Francisco on Saturday (December 31).&nbsp;</p>

<p>As per the report, authorities issued a flood warning, which was in place in nearby Alameda County until 3:30am (11:30GMT) on Sunday (January 1).&nbsp;</p>

<p>As reported by the news agency The Associated Press, almost two feet (0.6 meters) of snow could accumulate into early Sunday in the high Sierra Nevada.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The weather conditions posed challenges for citizens as the National Weather Service in Sacramento issued a warning about hazardous driving conditions. They also shared photos on Twitter showing traffic on snow-covered mountain passes.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Due to flooding, a section of US 101, which is one of the state's main traffic arteries, remained closed south of San Francisco, said the California Highway Patrol. Videos on Twitter showed mud-coloured water streaming along San Francisco streets.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Flash flooding continues in central/southern Sacramento County.<br />
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Numerous roads are underwater in, around &amp; downstream of Wilton along the Cosumnes River, including CA-99 between Elk Grove &amp; Galt.<br />
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DO NOT ATTEMPT TO DRIVE OVER FLOODED ROADWAYS - TURN AROUND, DON'T DROWN!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CAwx?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CAwx</a> <a href="https://t.co/p7ksZ1PZ1T">pic.twitter.com/p7ksZ1PZ1T</a></p>
— NWS Sacramento (@NWSSacramento) <a href="https://twitter.com/NWSSacramento/status/1609600748429672448?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 1, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Rain and wind is finally tapering off across the Sacramento, Stockton and Modesto region early this morning. However, area creeks and streams are still above flood stage, but are cresting or beginning to recede. Flood dangers are hard to see at night! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CAwx?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CAwx</a> <a href="https://t.co/q8dno3gOlF">pic.twitter.com/q8dno3gOlF</a></p>
— NWS Sacramento (@NWSSacramento) <a href="https://twitter.com/NWSSacramento/status/1609486022412496897?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 1, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Here's the observed 24 hour precipitation ending at midnight. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CAwx?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CAwx</a> <a href="https://t.co/PVdny3SVIK">pic.twitter.com/PVdny3SVIK</a></p>
— NWS Sacramento (@NWSSacramento) <a href="https://twitter.com/NWSSacramento/status/1609462321881182208?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 1, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Potent atmospheric river aiming a firehose of extreme precipitation at California.<br />
<br />
Epic satellite imagery. <a href="https://t.co/ckHYPtZ8D1">pic.twitter.com/ckHYPtZ8D1</a></p>
— Colin McCarthy (@US_Stormwatch) <a href="https://twitter.com/US_Stormwatch/status/1609266303696801793?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 31, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p>California faced a prolonged period of drought and the rain was welcomed as the state had its driest three years ever. But heavy rain and snowfall caused troubles for the residents.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The National Weather Service said in Reno, Nevada, that a winter storm warning was in effect into Sunday for the upper elevations of the Sierra from south of Yosemite National Park to north of Lake Tahoe.&nbsp;</p>


Traffic chaos and the closure of highways followed after heavy rain and snowfall in most of California state on Saturday (December 31) as people ushered in 2023 with an "atmospheric river storm".

Traffic chaos and the closure of highways followed after heavy rain and snowfall in most of California state on Saturday (December 31) as people ushered in 2023 with an "atmospheric river storm". News agency Reuters reported that an eyewitness shared a video, which showed vehicles partially submerged after heavy flooding in San Francisco on Saturday (December 31). As per the report, authorities issued a flood warning, which was in place in nearby Alameda County until 3:30am (11:30GMT) on Sunday (January 1). As reported by the news agency The Associated Press, almost two feet (0.6 meters) of snow could accumulate into early Sunday in the high Sierra Nevada. The weather conditions posed challenges for citizens as the National Weather Service in Sacramento issued a warning about hazardous driving conditions. They also shared photos on Twitter showing traffic on snow-covered mountain passes. Due to flooding, a section of US 101, which is one of the state's main traffic arteries, remained closed south of San Francisco, said the California Highway Patrol. Videos on Twitter showed mud-coloured water streaming along San Francisco streets. Flash flooding continues in central/southern Sacramento County. Numerous roads are underwater in, around & downstream of Wilton along the Cosumnes River, including CA-99 between Elk Grove & Galt. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO DRIVE OVER FLOODED ROADWAYS - TURN AROUND, DON'T DROWN!#CAwx pic.twitter.com/p7ksZ1PZ1T — NWS Sacramento (@NWSSacramento) January 1, 2023 × Rain and wind is finally tapering off across the Sacramento, Stockton and Modesto region early this morning. However, area creeks and streams are still above flood stage, but are cresting or beginning to recede. Flood dangers are hard to see at night! #CAwx pic.twitter.com/q8dno3gOlF — NWS Sacramento (@NWSSacramento) January 1, 2023 × Here's the observed 24 hour precipitation ending at midnight. #CAwx pic.twitter.com/PVdny3SVIK — NWS Sacramento (@NWSSacramento) January 1, 2023 × Potent atmospheric river aiming a firehose of extreme precipitation at California. Epic satellite imagery. pic.twitter.com/ckHYPtZ8D1 — Colin McCarthy (@US_Stormwatch) December 31, 2022 × California faced a prolonged period of drought and the rain was welcomed as the state had its driest three years ever. But heavy rain and snowfall caused troubles for the residents. The National Weather Service said in Reno, Nevada, that a winter storm warning was in effect into Sunday for the upper elevations of the Sierra from south of Yosemite National Park to north of Lake Tahoe.

United States: Heavy rains cause flooding in San Francisco, traffic issues

Deluge in California: Record rains hit San Francisco, flood warning issued to about 16 MN residents

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<p>Mikey Hothi has become the first-ever Sikh mayor of a Californian city after receiving keys to the city of Lodi. Hothi was unanimously elected as the 117th mayor of the city on Wednesday to a rousing standing ovation from his colleagues.</p>

<p>Hothi will serve a two-year term as the city's mayor. He will preside over the meetings of the Common Council and serve as the city's executive officer.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He has previously served as the vice mayor of the council's fifth district. The newly-crowned mayor was endorsed by councilwoman Lisa Craig for the post.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Hothi took to Twitter to accept the congratulatory messages after the oath-taking ceremony.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Honored to be sworn in as the 117th Mayor of the City of Lodi," tweeted Hothi.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Honored to be sworn in as the 117th Mayor of the City of Lodi <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/lodica?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#lodica</a> #209 <a href="https://t.co/dgmrYyz5gk">pic.twitter.com/dgmrYyz5gk</a></p>
— Mikey Hothi (@mikey_hothi) <a href="https://twitter.com/mikey_hothi/status/1606093792699854850?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 23, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p>Speaking to a local news agency, Hothi reflected upon his family making the journey to Lodi and how he was proud to be one of the community.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Everyone came to Lodi because they realised it was a safe family town. (It has) great education, great people, great culture, great values, and just hard-working people in this town. I'm just proud to represent this community as its next mayor," Hothi was quoted as saying by Lodinews.com.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Our experience is similar to that of the Hispanic community that came before us, the Greek community, the Germans," he added.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-president-nominates-indian-american-richard-verma-to-top-diplomatic-post-in-state-department-546275" target="_blank"><strong>Read more: US President nominates Indian-American Richard Verma to top diplomatic post in State Department</strong></a></p>

<p>Hothi's parents hail from the northern Indian state of Punjab. According to the newly-elected mayor, the family, upon migrating to Lodi, not only survived but thrived.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Hothi graduated from Tokay High School in 2008 and has had the experience of facing discrimination, especially post 9/11 when Muslims and Sikhs were subjected to routine harassment.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to census data, Lodi is a city located in San Joaquin County, California with an estimated population of 67,021.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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Mikey Hothi has become the first-ever Sikh mayor of a Californian city after receiving keys to the city of Lodi. Hothi was unanimously elected as the 117th mayor of the city on Wednesday to a rousing standing ovation from his colleagues.

Mikey Hothi has become the first-ever Sikh mayor of a Californian city after receiving keys to the city of Lodi. Hothi was unanimously elected as the 117th mayor of the city on Wednesday to a rousing standing ovation from his colleagues. Hothi will serve a two-year term as the city's mayor. He will preside over the meetings of the Common Council and serve as the city's executive officer. He has previously served as the vice mayor of the council's fifth district. The newly-crowned mayor was endorsed by councilwoman Lisa Craig for the post. Hothi took to Twitter to accept the congratulatory messages after the oath-taking ceremony. "Honored to be sworn in as the 117th Mayor of the City of Lodi," tweeted Hothi. Honored to be sworn in as the 117th Mayor of the City of Lodi #lodica #209 pic.twitter.com/dgmrYyz5gk — Mikey Hothi (@mikey_hothi) December 23, 2022 × Speaking to a local news agency, Hothi reflected upon his family making the journey to Lodi and how he was proud to be one of the community. "Everyone came to Lodi because they realised it was a safe family town. (It has) great education, great people, great culture, great values, and just hard-working people in this town. I'm just proud to represent this community as its next mayor," Hothi was quoted as saying by Lodinews.com. "Our experience is similar to that of the Hispanic community that came before us, the Greek community, the Germans," he added. Read more: US President nominates Indian-American Richard Verma to top diplomatic post in State Department Hothi's parents hail from the northern Indian state of Punjab. According to the newly-elected mayor, the family, upon migrating to Lodi, not only survived but thrived. Hothi graduated from Tokay High School in 2008 and has had the experience of facing discrimination, especially post 9/11 when Muslims and Sikhs were subjected to routine harassment. According to census data, Lodi is a city located in San Joaquin County, California with an estimated population of 67,021. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Milestone: This US city has got its first-ever Sikh mayor

A magnitude 6.4 earthquake that rattled Northern California Tuesday has resulted in at least two deaths from medical emergencies. There have been 11 other reported injuries so far.

2 dead, 11 injured after 6.4 magnitude earthquake jolts Northern California

The symbol of wildlife and urban wildlife protection, famous mountain cat P22 is no more. The cat who became an international celebrity was euthanised in California, United States, on Saturday. The 12-year-old was reportedly struck by a car and was suffering other serious problems.

Hollywood bids goodbye to mountain cat as famous Los Angeles lion euthanised

Winter storms have raised havoc in many parts of the United States, while some states saw blanket of heavy snow, fierce tornado have lashed several parts of the country. Watch the video to know more.

US: Tornado horrors in Fort Worth, scores injured | English News | WION

<p>Remember how the adorable Agnes in Despicable Me goes out on a hunt to find a unicorn? She even manages to find one, at least that's what she thinks it is. She comes across a one-horned goat and believes it to be a unicorn. Her bubble is burst soon, but it seems there are still millions of young girls who hope to come across a unicorn some day.</p>

<p>That's what motivated one of them to go through the trouble of applying for a licence to own one. The girl from California has even managed to secure the&nbsp;licence from the Los Angeles animal control authorities to own a unicorn. Madeline it seems was aware how the bureaucracy works, and so she asked for a permit, in case she is able to find one.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Madeline wrote us a letter requesting permission to have a unicorn in her backyard. We issued her a preapproved unicorn license. Also, because they are indeed very rare to find, we gave her the unicorn pictured below as she continues her search. Why, yes we DO license unicorns! <a href="https://t.co/SUosMLdzGY">pic.twitter.com/SUosMLdzGY</a></p>
— LA Co Animal Care (@LACoAnimalCare) <a href="https://twitter.com/LACoAnimalCare/status/1600330256153423872?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 7, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p>The permit does not make a joke of it though. It strictly calls for Madeline to provide&nbsp;the unicorn with ample exposure to sunlight, moonbeams and rainbows and have its horn polished at least once a month with a soft cloth.</p>

<p>Director Marcia Mayeda of the county Department of Animal Care and Control also sent her a heart-shaped, rose-colored metal tag with "Permanent Unicorn License" written on it. A white fuzzy unicorn doll with pink ears, purple hooves and a silver horn accompanied the tag.</p>

<p>Madeline's letter she wrote last month said, "Dear LA County, I would like your approval if I can have a unicorn in my backyard if I can find one."</p>

<p>Mayeda praised Madeline for her "sense of responsible pet ownership to seek permission in advance".</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

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<p>You can <strong>now write for wionews.com</strong> and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.</strong></p>


Remember how the adorable Agnes in Despicable Me goes out on a hunt to find a unicorn? She even manages to find one, at least that's what she thinks it is. She comes across a one-horned goat and believes it to be a unicorn.

Remember how the adorable Agnes in Despicable Me goes out on a hunt to find a unicorn? She even manages to find one, at least that's what she thinks it is. She comes across a one-horned goat and believes it to be a unicorn. Her bubble is burst soon, but it seems there are still millions of young girls who hope to come across a unicorn some day. That's what motivated one of them to go through the trouble of applying for a licence to own one. The girl from California has even managed to secure the licence from the Los Angeles animal control authorities to own a unicorn. Madeline it seems was aware how the bureaucracy works, and so she asked for a permit, in case she is able to find one. Madeline wrote us a letter requesting permission to have a unicorn in her backyard. We issued her a preapproved unicorn license. Also, because they are indeed very rare to find, we gave her the unicorn pictured below as she continues her search. Why, yes we DO license unicorns! pic.twitter.com/SUosMLdzGY — LA Co Animal Care (@LACoAnimalCare) December 7, 2022 × The permit does not make a joke of it though. It strictly calls for Madeline to provide the unicorn with ample exposure to sunlight, moonbeams and rainbows and have its horn polished at least once a month with a soft cloth. Director Marcia Mayeda of the county Department of Animal Care and Control also sent her a heart-shaped, rose-colored metal tag with "Permanent Unicorn License" written on it. A white fuzzy unicorn doll with pink ears, purple hooves and a silver horn accompanied the tag. Madeline's letter she wrote last month said, "Dear LA County, I would like your approval if I can have a unicorn in my backyard if I can find one." Mayeda praised Madeline for her "sense of responsible pet ownership to seek permission in advance". (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Young California girl secures a 'unicorn permit' in the event she finds one

<p>Hollywood actor Taylor Lautner, who played the role of&nbsp;Jacob Black in 'The Twilight Saga' series, is finally married!&nbsp;The actor has tied the knot with his longtime girlfriend Taylor Dome, who works as a healthcare worker, at a grand ceremony in&nbsp;Epoch Estate Wines, California.&nbsp;The couple went public with their relationship in 2018&nbsp;and they got engaged last year in November.</p>

<p>The couple said "I do" in front of about 100 guests at a beautiful spot in the vineyard. After exchanging the vows, they were seen sharing a passionate kiss as husband and wife.</p>

<p>According to&nbsp;the photos obtained by Daily Mail, Dome looked stunning in a white wedding gown and a veil while the 'Abduction' star rocked a black tuxedo and kept it classy.</p>

<p>Photos of the couple posing with the bridesmaids and groomsmen. Take a look!</p>

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<p>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/lifestyle/news-fatima-sana-shaikh-reveals-she-was-first-diagnosed-with-epilepsy-during-dangal-shoot-533867" hreflang="en">Fatima Sana Shaikh reveals she was first diagnosed with epilepsy during 'Dangal' shoot</a></p>

<p>Dome completed her studies in 2019 and became a registered nurse the same year. In a post, she thanked Lautner for his support throughout her schooling. "Thank you for encouraging me when I felt like quitting. Thank you for all the meals you'd make me when I was too busy studying. Thank you for quizzing me and trying to pronounce medical terms and abbreviations," she wrote in a 2019 post.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Lautner and Dome met through the actor's sister. In an interview, he gave full credit to his sister for their relationship. "My sister Makena actually introduced us," he told PEOPLE. "She called me and said, 'Dude, I found your future wife. You need to meet this girl.' And the rest is history."</p>

<p>On the movie front, Taylor was last seen in the&nbsp;2022 American biographical sports comedy 'Home Team', which was directed by Charles and Daniel Kinnane. The movie starred Kevin James, Rob Schneider, Jackie Sandler, and Tait Blum alongside Lautner.&nbsp;</p>


Hollywood actor Taylor Lautner, who played the role of Jacob Black in 'The Twilight Saga' series, is finally married! The actor has tied the knot with his longtime girlfriend Taylor Dome, who works as a healthcare worker, at a grand ceremony in Epoch Estate Wines, California.

Hollywood actor Taylor Lautner, who played the role of Jacob Black in 'The Twilight Saga' series, is finally married! The actor has tied the knot with his longtime girlfriend Taylor Dome, who works as a healthcare worker, at a grand ceremony in Epoch Estate Wines, California. The couple went public with their relationship in 2018 and they got engaged last year in November. The couple said "I do" in front of about 100 guests at a beautiful spot in the vineyard. After exchanging the vows, they were seen sharing a passionate kiss as husband and wife. According to the photos obtained by Daily Mail, Dome looked stunning in a white wedding gown and a veil while the 'Abduction' star rocked a black tuxedo and kept it classy. Photos of the couple posing with the bridesmaids and groomsmen. Take a look! View this post on Instagram A post shared by Blog Noivando e Casando (@blognoivandoecasando) Also read: Fatima Sana Shaikh reveals she was first diagnosed with epilepsy during 'Dangal' shoot Dome completed her studies in 2019 and became a registered nurse the same year. In a post, she thanked Lautner for his support throughout her schooling. "Thank you for encouraging me when I felt like quitting. Thank you for all the meals you'd make me when I was too busy studying. Thank you for quizzing me and trying to pronounce medical terms and abbreviations," she wrote in a 2019 post. Lautner and Dome met through the actor's sister. In an interview, he gave full credit to his sister for their relationship. "My sister Makena actually introduced us," he told PEOPLE. "She called me and said, 'Dude, I found your future wife. You need to meet this girl.' And the rest is history." On the movie front, Taylor was last seen in the 2022 American biographical sports comedy 'Home Team', which was directed by Charles and Daniel Kinnane. The movie starred Kevin James, Rob Schneider, Jackie Sandler, and Tait Blum alongside Lautner.

'The Twilight Saga' star Taylor Lautner ties the knot with longtime girlfriend Taylor Dome in California

The United States of America has a new winner, this comes after a Powerball player in California won the $2.4 billion jackpot. This ends the string of 40 drawings which did not produce any winners. The lack of winners in the previous drawings caused the top prize to touch a record territory.

US: Powerball lottery finds winner; new jackpot eclipses previous record of $1.58 bn

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<p>Maurice Hastings, 69, a man wronged by the judicial system has finally been given his due. Reportedly, Hastings has been released from a California prison after having spent 38 years for a 1983 murder and two attempted murders, which, he, in fact, never committed.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Los Angeles county district attorney (DA) on Friday said Hastings was released after long-untested DNA evidence pointed to a different individual who might have committed the crime.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-man-wrongly-serves-20-years-in-prison-released-after-twin-brothers-confession-448709" target="_blank"><strong>Read more: US man wrongly serves 20 years in prison, released after twin brother's confession</strong></a></p>

<p>Speaking about the freedom that came his way after years of endless wait, Hastings said he wasn't bitter.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I prayed for many years that this day would come. I am not pointing fingers. I am not standing up here a bitter man, but I just want to enjoy my life now while I have it," Hastings told media at a news conference.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Meanwhile, LA district attorney George Gascón said what happened to Hastings' was a terrible injustice.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“What has happened to Mr Hastings is a terrible injustice. The justice system is not perfect, and when we learn of new evidence which causes us to lose confidence in a conviction, it is our obligation to act swiftly.”</p>

<p>Hastings was wrongfully convicted in the murder of&nbsp;Roberta Wydermyer who was sexually assaulted and killed with a gunshot to the head.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Hastings was later charged with special-circumstance murder and a death penalty was sought&nbsp;by the DA's office. While the first jury couldn't reach a consensus, the second jury convicted him and the court sentenced him to life in prison without parole.</p>

<p>Hastings maintained his innocence all throughout the court proceedings but to no avail. In 2000, he requested&nbsp;DNA testing of the material that was gathered by the coroner of the body of&nbsp;Wydermyer which included&nbsp;swabbing of various body parts and an&nbsp;oral swab that detected semen.</p>

<p>The DA, however, refused his request. It was only last year that&nbsp;DA’s Conviction Integrity Unit tested the material and found that the semen was not Hastings'.&nbsp;</p>

<p>While Hastings&nbsp;simply wants to get on with his life, others, similarly wrongfully impacted by the broken judicial system are not being too kind.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Recently, a Kansas man who spent 23 years in prison after being wrongly convicted for a double murder is seeking $93m in damages from the country and said that he was framed by a former detective.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/kansas-man-who-spent-23-years-in-prison-for-wrongful-conviction-sues-for-93m-463969" target="_blank"><strong>Read more: Kansas man who spent 23 years in prison for wrongful conviction sues for $93m</strong></a></p>

<p>The case will go on trial on November 7 as a federal judge allowed it but the unified government wants to have the trial moved to Wichita because of extensive publicity in the Kansas City area.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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Maurice Hastings, 69, a man wronged by the judicial system has finally been given his due. Reportedly, Hastings has been released from a California prison after having spent 38 years for a 1983 murder and two attempted murders, which, he, in fact, never committed.

Maurice Hastings, 69, a man wronged by the judicial system has finally been given his due. Reportedly, Hastings has been released from a California prison after having spent 38 years for a 1983 murder and two attempted murders, which, he, in fact, never committed. The Los Angeles county district attorney (DA) on Friday said Hastings was released after long-untested DNA evidence pointed to a different individual who might have committed the crime. Read more: US man wrongly serves 20 years in prison, released after twin brother's confession Speaking about the freedom that came his way after years of endless wait, Hastings said he wasn't bitter. "I prayed for many years that this day would come. I am not pointing fingers. I am not standing up here a bitter man, but I just want to enjoy my life now while I have it," Hastings told media at a news conference. Meanwhile, LA district attorney George Gascón said what happened to Hastings' was a terrible injustice. “What has happened to Mr Hastings is a terrible injustice. The justice system is not perfect, and when we learn of new evidence which causes us to lose confidence in a conviction, it is our obligation to act swiftly.” Hastings was wrongfully convicted in the murder of Roberta Wydermyer who was sexually assaulted and killed with a gunshot to the head. Hastings was later charged with special-circumstance murder and a death penalty was sought by the DA's office. While the first jury couldn't reach a consensus, the second jury convicted him and the court sentenced him to life in prison without parole. Hastings maintained his innocence all throughout the court proceedings but to no avail. In 2000, he requested DNA testing of the material that was gathered by the coroner of the body of Wydermyer which included swabbing of various body parts and an oral swab that detected semen. The DA, however, refused his request. It was only last year that DA’s Conviction Integrity Unit tested the material and found that the semen was not Hastings'. While Hastings simply wants to get on with his life, others, similarly wrongfully impacted by the broken judicial system are not being too kind. Recently, a Kansas man who spent 23 years in prison after being wrongly convicted for a double murder is seeking $93m in damages from the country and said that he was framed by a former detective. Read more: Kansas man who spent 23 years in prison for wrongful conviction sues for $93m The case will go on trial on November 7 as a federal judge allowed it but the unified government wants to have the trial moved to Wichita because of extensive publicity in the Kansas City area. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

USA: Man wrongly incarcerated for 38 years released after DNA test

<p>A California-based weed company is being sued over claims that its pre-rolled joints were not as strong enough as claimed.</p>

<p>Two disgruntled customers filed a class-action suit against DreamFields Brands, Inc, on October 20 for claiming that their Jeeter branded pre-rolls had low THC or tetrahydrocannabinol content—an active compound in cannabis that gives people high.</p>

<p>In the lawsuit, it is claimed that their pre-roll joints had only 35 per cent THC content, compared to the average 42.10 per cent THC content found in other products.</p>

<p>They have taken exception to their marketing slogan which says “This is the one Joint that will get you to Mars quicker than Elon Musk.”</p>

<p>The two plaintiffs—Jasper Centeno of Long Beach and Blake Wilson of Fresno—have accused the company of unfair competition, false advertising, and negligent representation, reports CNN.</p>

<p>"Because cannabis consumers generally prefer and are willing to pay more for high-THC cannabis products, declaring that their products have a very high THC content allows Defendants to charge premium rates for their cannabis products," the lawsuit claims.</p>

<p>They have claimed that the pot company is "systematically overstating the THC content to deceive consumers into thinking that the effects of their prerolls are more potent than they truly are."</p>

<p>According to the California Department of Cannabis Control regulations, companies are required to label their products with THC content expressed as either a percentage or in milligrams.</p>

<p>And the THC content on the label must be within 10 per cent of the actual THC content.</p>

<p>The lawsuit alleges that an independent test revealed that DreamFields joints actually had a lower THC content than claimed.</p>

<p>“Meaning customers were overpaying for a weaker product,” the lawsuit alleges.</p>

<p>The company, however, has denied the “baseless and ridiculous” allegations.</p>

<p>In a statement to CNN,&nbsp;Jeeter,&nbsp;the subsidiary of DreamFields that produced the joints said, “We take pride in our compliance and commitment to state-mandated testing procedures, including independent, third-party testing. The product and our integrity (are) something we truly value as a company, and take all the proper and legal steps before our product hits the shelves.”</p>

<p data-analytics-observe="off" data-component-name="paragraph" data-editable="text" data-uri="archive.cms.cnn.com/_components/paragraph/instances/paragraph_ECF370B0-9896-1EFA-63A5-151B53F626C8@published">“However baseless and ridiculous these claims are, we take them very seriously and look forward to the truth coming to light,” the company added.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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A California-based weed company is being sued over claims that its pre-rolled joints were not as strong enough as claimed. Two disgruntled customers filed a class-action suit against DreamFields Brands, Inc, on October 20 for claiming that their Jeeter branded pre-rolls had low THC or tetrahydrocannabinol content—an active compound in cannabis that gives people high.

A California-based weed company is being sued over claims that its pre-rolled joints were not as strong enough as claimed. Two disgruntled customers filed a class-action suit against DreamFields Brands, Inc, on October 20 for claiming that their Jeeter branded pre-rolls had low THC or tetrahydrocannabinol content—an active compound in cannabis that gives people high. In the lawsuit, it is claimed that their pre-roll joints had only 35 per cent THC content, compared to the average 42.10 per cent THC content found in other products. They have taken exception to their marketing slogan which says “This is the one Joint that will get you to Mars quicker than Elon Musk.” The two plaintiffs—Jasper Centeno of Long Beach and Blake Wilson of Fresno—have accused the company of unfair competition, false advertising, and negligent representation, reports CNN. "Because cannabis consumers generally prefer and are willing to pay more for high-THC cannabis products, declaring that their products have a very high THC content allows Defendants to charge premium rates for their cannabis products," the lawsuit claims. They have claimed that the pot company is "systematically overstating the THC content to deceive consumers into thinking that the effects of their prerolls are more potent than they truly are." According to the California Department of Cannabis Control regulations, companies are required to label their products with THC content expressed as either a percentage or in milligrams. And the THC content on the label must be within 10 per cent of the actual THC content. The lawsuit alleges that an independent test revealed that DreamFields joints actually had a lower THC content than claimed. “Meaning customers were overpaying for a weaker product,” the lawsuit alleges. The company, however, has denied the “baseless and ridiculous” allegations. In a statement to CNN, Jeeter, the subsidiary of DreamFields that produced the joints said, “We take pride in our compliance and commitment to state-mandated testing procedures, including independent, third-party testing. The product and our integrity (are) something we truly value as a company, and take all the proper and legal steps before our product hits the shelves.” “However baseless and ridiculous these claims are, we take them very seriously and look forward to the truth coming to light,” the company added. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

California weed company sued for not getting people high enough

<p>Evans Hankey, one of the heads of Apple Inc’s design group, is set to quit three years after taking over from Jony Ive in 2019, said a report by Bloomberg, citing the people with the knowledge on the matter. The VP of industrial design’s exit from the company was reportedly announced at the Cupertino, California-based firm this week.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to the report, she told her colleagues that she will remain at Apple for the next six months.&nbsp;Meanwhile, the company has not announced who will take over yet. Hankey took over as a replacement for Ive, the company’s iconic chief of design for nearly two decades, and spent several years reporting to him and has since reported to Chief Operating Officer Jeff Williams.&nbsp;</p>

<p>On Friday, the company confirmed her departure and the spokesperson for the company issued the following statement, “Apple’s design team brings together expert creatives from around the world and across many disciplines to imagine products that are undeniably Apple.”&nbsp;</p>

<p>It added, “The senior design team has strong leaders with decades of experience. Evans plans to stay on as we work through the transition, and we’d like to thank her for her leadership and contributions.”</p>

<p>Hankey’s exit from Apple could affect the company’s future design plans, said the report, while also raising questions about how its products will change after the Ive-era. Another report suggests that this news again casts a shadow of doubt over the importance of design at the tech giant.&nbsp;</p>

<p>This also comes amid the company’s work on pushing some of the newer devices in the near future including mixed reality headsets as well as potentially an electric car which is reported to be produced in the upcoming years.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;</em><br />
&nbsp;</p>

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Evans Hankey, one of the heads of Apple Inc’s design group, is set to quit three years after taking over from Jony Ive in 2019, said a report by Bloomberg, citing the people with the knowledge on the matter.

Evans Hankey, one of the heads of Apple Inc’s design group, is set to quit three years after taking over from Jony Ive in 2019, said a report by Bloomberg, citing the people with the knowledge on the matter. The VP of industrial design’s exit from the company was reportedly announced at the Cupertino, California-based firm this week. According to the report, she told her colleagues that she will remain at Apple for the next six months. Meanwhile, the company has not announced who will take over yet. Hankey took over as a replacement for Ive, the company’s iconic chief of design for nearly two decades, and spent several years reporting to him and has since reported to Chief Operating Officer Jeff Williams. On Friday, the company confirmed her departure and the spokesperson for the company issued the following statement, “Apple’s design team brings together expert creatives from around the world and across many disciplines to imagine products that are undeniably Apple.” It added, “The senior design team has strong leaders with decades of experience. Evans plans to stay on as we work through the transition, and we’d like to thank her for her leadership and contributions.” Hankey’s exit from Apple could affect the company’s future design plans, said the report, while also raising questions about how its products will change after the Ive-era. Another report suggests that this news again casts a shadow of doubt over the importance of design at the tech giant. This also comes amid the company’s work on pushing some of the newer devices in the near future including mixed reality headsets as well as potentially an electric car which is reported to be produced in the upcoming years. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Report: Apple’s VP of industrial design, Evans Hankey to quit after three years

California is famous for its beaches, redwood trees and how can we forget it's home to Hollywood but there's another thing that is famous. For the state is home to the Central Valley which is a large-scale producer of red and juicy tomatoes however several regions of California are struggling with a prolonged drought since 2020.

Gravitas: California grapples with low tomato production

California is famous for its beaches, redwood trees and Hollywood but there's another thing that it is famous for. The state is home to the Central Valley which is a large-scale producer of red and juicy tomatoes; however, several regions of California are struggling with a prolonged drought since 2020 and this has dealt a severe blow to the tomato Harvest.

WION Climate Tracker | California grapples with low tomato production, drought forces early harvest

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