Why a Blizzard Is Hitting Southern California
Scientific AmericanNov 29, 2022
Southern Calif. Under Blizzard Warning, First Since 1989
Image copyright: Getty Images [via BBC News]
The Facts
Southern California is experiencing its first blizzard warning since 1989, with forecasters predicting that the region's mountains will receive record snowfall of up to 8 ft by Saturday.
The blizzard warning — issued by the National Weather Service (NWS) for the Ventura Counties and Los Angeles County mountains — is set to remain in effect until 4 p.m. local time on Saturday.
The Spin
Narrative A
The media is often quick to link these types of events to climate change. However, researchers have yet to see evidence of that connection in this case. That California is experiencing a blizzard carrying rain and snow after a three-year-long period of drought is not unusual. These recent storms appear no different from other major storms that have struck the Golden State every decade or more since records began in the 1800s.
Narrative B
While this storm alone may not be evidence of climate change, its combination with extreme heat, drought, and rain across the nation — and globally — certainly makes a compelling argument that this is the result of global warming. This weather whiplash is reaching a boiling point, and leaders cannot stand idly by as people worldwide succumb to its effects.