Southern California's Weather Woes: Rain, Floods, and Fire Scars

Southern California has seen its share of weather troubles lately. After a very wet Christmas, the rain is finally slowing down. But the ground is still soaked, so any more rain could cause more flooding and mudslides. Sadly, at least three people have lost their lives because of this storm.

Weather Forecast and Recent Events

Meteorologists say there might be a bit more rain on Friday, but the weather should clear up by Saturday and stay dry for the rest of the week. This year has been tough for Southern California. In January, big fires burned in places like Los Angeles and Altadena. These fires left the land scarred and unable to absorb much water, making the recent floods even worse.

Climate Change and Its Impact

Climate change is making these extreme weather events more intense. Fires and floods are becoming more common and more severe. Paige Fillion, a resident of Sierra Madre, knows this all too well. She had to evacuate her home twice this year—once because of a fire and again because of the recent floods. She loves hiking in the nearby San Gabriel Mountains, but she's getting tired of all the chaos.

Record-Breaking Rainfall

The rain on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day was the most ever recorded in many parts of Southern California. Some mountainous areas got over 10 inches of rain. This is a lot of water for the ground to handle, especially after the fires.