Publication: USA Today

UCLA Expert: Daniel Swain: Assistant Researcher and Climate Specialist, Institute of the Environment and Sustainability

Synopsis: The colossal amount of snow in California's mountains from a winter of ferocious storms has started to melt, and an incoming heat wave is reigniting flooding concerns across the state.

UCLA News: “The ‘Big Melt’ is now officially arriving,” Swain warned. “Flows on many rivers draining the central and southern Sierra will double or triple (with locally greater increases) as temperatures rise. Some rivers will exceed flood stage.” There will also be a heat wave, he said, but it will be relatively short-lived and temperatures will cool to near- or even below-average levels across California by early next week. With the cooler temperatures, however, will also come the chance for an outbreak of showers and thunderstorms.

Read more at USA Today.