California: Scientists Warn of Catastrophic Megaflood in the Next 40 Years

A new study shows that climate change is ramping up the likelihood of a megaflood washing down the entire state of California.

The catastrophic California megaflood could cost trillions of dollars in losses, largely affecting the lowland areas, including the highly populous Los Angeles and Orange County.

Especially with the recent natural disasters that California has faced over the summer - record-breaking wildfires and bone-drying droughts - the state government is expected to bolster its infrastructure to withstand the coming flood.

Study Shows Climate Change Causes the Likelihood of California Megaflood

California is expected to be hit with a catastrophic megaflood in the next four decades.

A study that Science Advances published recently reveals that climate change has already "doubled the chances" of the California megaflood occurring.

For comparison, the magnitude of the flood that the study is pertaining to is like the 1,000-year flash flood disaster that happened in St. Louis and Kentucky over the summer.

Study shows that the California megaflood would turn the state's lowland area, particularly Los Angeles and Orange County, into a vast lowland area. Meanwhile, the region that would be most affected is the Central Valley - Sacramento, Fresno, and Bakersfield.

The California megaflood is estimated to cost over $1 trillion in damages and losses, gearing up to be the most disastrous and expensive natural disaster in history. It is projected to be 5x more disastrous than Hurricane Katrina and more damaging than a large magnitude earthquake.

How Is Climate Change Increasing the Likelihood of the California Megaflood?

In an explanation provided in a CNN report, climate change boosts the amount of rain that the earth's atmosphere holds, which, in effect, doubles the amount of downpour that could lead to heavier flooding.

Based on the study, climate change increases the occurrence of week-long, recurring strong-to-extreme atmospheric rivers, which are like fire hoses in the sky.

Initially, this is a good case for drought-stricken regions like California, but if it is doubled with an increasingly warming climate, the study describes it to be "hazardous" because of the vulnerable forests destroyed by wildfires.

"I think the extent of (megaflood) losses can be significantly reduced by doing certain sorts of things to revamp our flood management and our water management systems and our disaster preparedness," UCLA Climate Scientist and study researcher Daniel Swain said in a statement.

Recently, California Governor Gavin Newsom's climate agenda is making its way to the legislature. He is pressuring them to prioritize his policies on curbing climate change in the state through greenhouse gas cuts, switching to sustainable energy, and even boosting the use of wind energy.

The currently published study was the first part of a three-phase study. There are two more phases to be released in the coming years to study the effects of the possible California megaflood in the state.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Ivan Korrs

WATCH: California governor Gavin Newsom discusses state's climate action plans - From CBS Mornings