From December 2022 to March 2023, California experienced a lot of rain which led to floods in different areas of the state as well as nearby states like Nevada, Arizona, and Utah. The floods caused significant damage to property and resulted in the loss of at least 22 lives, making it the deadliest meteorological event in the US in 2023.
The floods caused power outages, evacuations, and the closure of more than 40 state parks and one national park. In addition, several Amtrak trains had to modify their schedules or cancel services due to the floods. Landslides, sinkholes, and flooded roads also caused disruption and property damage.
On January 4, 2023, Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency, and on January 9, 2023, President Joe Biden declared a state of emergency in 17 California counties. Later, a major disaster declaration was approved for several counties. President Biden and Governor Newsom surveyed the damage on January 19.
The media reported the floods as an example of how climate change is causing extreme weather patterns, with alternating periods of drought and heavy precipitation. Flood watches were already issued in Northern Nevada in December, and flooding in Yavapai County, Arizona, on January 1, and the city of Draper, Utah, on the night of January 10, further underscored the scale of the event.
The 2022-2023 California floods caused extensive disruption and damages, highlighting the urgent need for effective measures to mitigate the impact of extreme weather events and address the underlying causes of climate change.