Publication: The Guardian

UCLA Expert: Gregory Pierce: Adjunct Assistant Professor, Luskin School of Public Affairs; Co-Director, Luskin Center for Innovation; Co-Director, UCLA Water Resources Group; Member, Institute of the Environment and Sustainability; Senior Researcher, Water and Transportation Initiatives

Synopsis: While more research is required to determine the role of the climate crisis in setting the stage for this California storm, it does align with models that show an increase in extreme weather. 

UCLA News: “It is definitely an outlier — and we are seeing more of those due to climate change,” Pierce said. California hasn’t fully emerged from the grips of a prolonged and devastating drought, but the sudden onslaught of a very wet winter has relieved some of that pressure. More than a month ahead of the start of spring, when precipitation chances start to wane, the state’s snowpack stood at 144% of its April 1 average on Friday. Reservoir levels are better than they have been in years, and the storms haven’t finished yet. “This storm is helping us stay ahead of pace — way ahead of pace than in recent years — but I still think we really need to see more,” said Pierce. “We were in a really extreme place and this [storm] just gets us back to buying a little more time as we make other major investments and continue to harden conservation. “It’s great,” he added “but we can’t let up.”

Read more at The Guardian.