A short history of California’s biggest storms
Known for its warm dry air, endless sunny days, and cooler nights, Southern California’s mediterranean-like climate attracts people from around the world.
But come fall, when the Santa Ana winds start blowing and the rainy season rolls in, some locals may find themselves surprised by just how extreme and dramatic weather events can get in this part of the country. Tropical hurricanes rarely make landfall in Southern California, but there have been a few occasions where the climate was ripe. Then there are the impacts of atmospheric rivers that bring flooding and landslides.
When speaking about the worst storms in SoCal history, we have to go back to the 1860s, when the “Great Flood” of 1862 devastated parts of Southern California after weeks and weeks of rain. Listen to historian and Wrigley Institute faculty affiliate Bill Deverell as he shares the incredible events surrounding this and some of the region’s other epic storms.