Wildfire Burn Scars Posing Flash Flood Risk in California

news image
Special Stories
22 Mar 2018 10:40 AM
With the heavy rain that Southern California is getting, the National Weather Service is most concerned about the recent wildfire burn scar areas creating an elevated flood risk. https://twitter.com/WeatherNation/status/976861345948880898 The National Weather Service posted this graphic to explain why those wildfire burn scars are a flood risk. "Water repellent materials are created during wildfires that prevent the soil from absorbing water. Heavy rain runs off as it would run off of pavement...taking mud, rocks, and other debris along with it. This is why burn scars in steep terrain are so dangerous...and fires are often accelerated and burn hotter up steep slopes or canyons," the National Weather Service Office in Los Angeles writes. In this video, you can clearly see water falling onto the ground but after a recent fire in the area, the ground cannot absorb any of the water. It runs off, collects any loose debris, and heads downhill before coming to a halt downstream. In the same way, when rain comes down to those burn scar areas, boulders, trees, and other large debris gets picked up and they become extremely dangerous.     A more detailed explanation can be found here: https://media.weathernationtv.com/news/debris-flows/   For more information about the dangers of debris flows and what causes them. Here’s WeatherNation’s John Van Pelt:   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_If_zQSJTDI  
All Weather News
More
Potential Indirect Impacts to the Caribbean from Philippe

Potential Indirect Impacts to the Caribbean from Philippe

We are now down to one tropical wave and one

27 Sep 2023 3:15 AM
Florida Weather: Soaking Rain for the Sunshine State

Florida Weather: Soaking Rain for the Sunshine State

Over the next few days, the State of Florida

27 Sep 2023 3:00 AM
Midwest Severe Weather Threat

Midwest Severe Weather Threat

A surface trough will be the focus for shower

27 Sep 2023 2:00 AM
Drought threatening Drinking Water along the Mississippi River

Drought threatening Drinking Water along the Mississippi River

The southern tier of the country has been no

27 Sep 2023 1:40 AM
Surf's Up for the West Coast

Surf's Up for the West Coast

WEST COAST: An early-season atmospheric river

27 Sep 2023 1:00 AM
After Baseball Hail in Texas Destroys Cars, Threat Shifts West

After Baseball Hail in Texas Destroys Cars, Threat Shifts West

Huge hail fell in Texas on Sunday night, hitt

26 Sep 2023 6:40 PM
Fall Colors in Full Effect for the Rockies

Fall Colors in Full Effect for the Rockies

Right now much of the fall foliage is seen in

26 Sep 2023 6:30 PM