Extreme Temperature Diary-January 10, 2018/ Topic: Fire, Flood & Mud Part 2

Wednesday January 10th… Dear Diary. The main purpose of this ongoing post will be to track United States extreme or record temperatures related to climate change. I’ll refer to extreme temperatures as ETs (not extraterrestrials)😊. Here is today’s climate change related topic:

Fire, Flood and Mud Part 2

Since areas in and near the Thomas Fire burn scar were devastated so badly yesterday from heavy rainfall, I’m going to post more information on this event. First, my friend Bob Henson of Weather Underground posted his take, which is more technical than mine, showing more science as to why this most recent California tragedy occurred:

https://www.wunderground.com/cat6/least-13-killed-flooding-mudslides-fire-scarred-southern-california

Quoting from the article:

How fire begets flood

NASA offers a concise explanation as to why burned hillsides are such a flood risk. Not only do the fires consume leaves and other ground cover that would otherwise absorb rainfall, but they can also inhibit the water-absorbing capacity of the soil itself. As explained by NASA:

“Plants and trees have numerous protective chemicals with which they coat their leaves to prevent water loss. Many of these substances are similar to wax. Vaporized by the heat from fires, these substances disperse into the air and then congeal over the soil surface when the fire begins to cool. Like the wax on your car, these substances coat the soil, causing water to bead up and run off quickly. In general, the greater the fire intensity and the longer the fire’s residence time, the more hydrophobic the soil becomes.” The Thomas Fire was an exceptionally intense and long-lasting fire, as noted by California Weather Blog.

The fatal mudslide in Montecito was actually south (downhill) from the area scorched by the Thomas Fire, according to Santa Barbara County Fire Department spokesman Mike Eliason. However, any rainfall and fire debris flowing off the burned areas upstream would have headed down the hillside toward Montecito. The NWS office in Riverton, WY, cautions: “A good rule of thumb is: ‘If you can look uphill from where you are and see a burnt-out area, you are at risk.”

Unfortunately the death toll from this even has risen to 15:

Here are more social media pictures, videos and information about this “Montecito Mud Storm.”

Unbelievable devastation… this is a drive westbound on Olive Mill Rd from Hot Springs in #Montecito. The lake at the end is the 101. #Ventura pic.twitter.com/twUc3ByrLX

— Gadi Schwartz (@GadiNBC) January 10, 2018

Believe it or not this heavy, intense rain event occurred during an overall dry pattern this winter due to a break in the dipole of a ridge aloft over the western U.S. and a trough in the East. Also, Southern California typically has a dry winter during a La Nina:

Short bursts of heavy, intense precipitation are what can be expected in association with climate change in semi-arid locations around the globe like Southern California. At least there is a silver lining here after this dark cloud has passed. Dry, warm weather will allow residents to recover.

Oh, and here is some more good news:

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

As far as those ETs go, there are good indications that ahead of the next arctic front there will be record warmth in the Midwest and Northeast tomorrow and Friday:

Eric Fisher‏Verified account @ericfisher

Last week record cold and a snowstorm. This week record warmth and flooding rain. At least it’s never boring?

I’ll be adding more relevant information should it cross my radar later today.

The Climate Guy