Warnings of a super storm in California turned out to be a hypothetical scenario discussed at the ARk Storm Summit. Image: CC Edward Hicks via Wikimedia Commons
Warnings of a super storm in California surged across the Internet Monday. A storm with the potential to dump 10 feet of rain and cause $300 billion in damage was discussed in a government press release published last Friday. But the California super storm was explained as merely a hypothetical scenario once the sensationalism subsided.
A California superstorm fit for an ARk
A super storm in California was the topic of a United States Geological Survey conference called the ARk Storm Summit held in Sacramento, Calif., Jan 13-14. A press release following the conference offered details about the potential of a devastating California superstorm. Based on historical data, a super storm in California is expected to occur about as often as a major earthquake. The ARk Storm Summit discussed the possible effects of historic California storms that occurred in January 1969 and February 1986 if they were to hit back-to-back.
ARk storm compared to category 5 hurricane
Researchers from the USGS, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the California Emergency Management Agency determined that a super storm in California of that magnitude would overwhelm the state’s flood control and disaster response systems. A USGS scientist said few California residents realize that a super storm could be just as devastating as the category 5 hurricanes that hit the Gulf coast and southeastern Atlantic. The USGS recounted a storm in the winter of 1861-62 that lasted 45 days, turning California’s Central Valley into a lake 300 miles long and 20 miles wide that stretched from Sacramento to Bakersfield.
Super storm warnings merely media hype
The hypothetical super storm in California was labeled an “ARk storm” by the USGS because of severe wet weather systems called “atmospheric rivers,” or ARs. When the term ARk storm hit the Internet in the wake of heavy rains that plagued southern California in late December, sensational headlines started to appear. But a voice of reason emerged on a weather blog called The Weather Space. Meteorologist Kevin Martin called reporting on the California super storm “premature and irresponsible.” He reminded readers that the ARk Storm Summit discussed a scenario, not an actual storm.
scary stuff… i wish i can see the future ehe..
People like Gary have been depicted in countless movies, like Dante's Peak for example. You know the ones that say that the scientists behind all this have no clue what the hell they are talking about and its all a bunch of hype. "Theres no Volcano!" (just an example) "nothings going to erupt anytime soon". News flash to anyone who fits this description or can see themselves as this type of person. The scientific community as a hole are in the field of science for a reason. They are way above average in intelligence, hell I will go as far as saying they are modern wizards. So if I see an article from NOAA or NASA im taking notes and following closely to what they have to say. But thats just me, You on the other hand are truly feeble minded and ignorant for what you are saying. If you truly believe its all hype why not set up camp under the shadow of the mountian for a while and show us all. Oh one last thing before I go, May God the creator of this universe or whatever he calls it that we live in be with you…
Hype? How about reasonable notice? This is about science and basic preparedness, not emo-junk. Better to be aware and prepared than whining about why more wasn't done after your bellybutton gets wet. If you really don't think this can happen, put yourself down in Australia in the next 3 days. It's been kinda wet down there since December 10, if you didn't notice. That's a minor version of what a whole lot of smart people are realistically concerned about for the west coast and western US. Unfortunately, policy makers aren't picking up on it. The latest Holiday Storm series in CA was a minor wakeup call – "worst NorCal storm series for that time of year in recorded history." Big Clue…. BTW, follow the proxigean and perigean tide cycles and related coastal flooding and storm cycles for the past few hundred years. It's informative.
Hype? Such a storm occurred in Cal. in the 1860's. Funny how scientist get flak from people when they don't predict floods, storms or earthquakes that cause losses. Then, the same critics will laugh and sneer when scientists predict floods, storms, and earthquakes. Catastrophes have happened and they will happen. Our snug little bubble of "normality" and security is a blip in earth history. Hype my foot.
better move to Iowa
i cant live w/out my meds, ima die for sure then if the storm happens smfh .. and i would move outta Calif but i dont got the money…….and my family i hope they make it out alive…………if this happends , my last words to them is stay strong and dont worry,remember this is just a testing ground we are all gunna die in sum way or other……….buh keep yur faith n god he has sum special for us in the end ..cya on the other side =] ily
This is proof right here, that a majority of you people putting your faith in some bs god, are completely ignorant. If you’re going to start to get all holy on me, at least have the decency to use some sort of correct grammar. Not, buh keep yur faith n god he has sum special for us in the end ..cya on the other side. Because frankly, I can’t see a compelling argument coming from, Miss Ily above me.
And as far as calling this entire thing internet hype? No one said it was going to happen tomorrow, but in all reality, it will happen again. Why put things off because they sound too awful to come true? Yes this storm would be catastrophic beyond belief, and yes it’s nothing like any one alive has ever seen(in California at least). But that doesn’t mean that the rather intelligent scientists, being paid by our tax dollars, are a bunch of morons that are making things up to get people scared.
everything will be ok
stop wining
idk whats going to happen but i have kids under 5 years so i'm worried!
I think we're all gonna go when it's our time. If we don't want that to happen prematurely then we should stop doing things to make GOD angry! Wouldn't you want to "wipe us out" if we were destroying something you created?
This would be true if there was actually a god, but just like santa…there isnt.
I DONT LIKE THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! There is a GOD!!!!!!!!!!!! But people like you believe what you want to believe..
Prove it.