As a traveller, I have always been fascinated by the beauty of California. However, in January 2023, my trip to California took an unexpected turn. The Golden State experienced severe flooding in many regions, and unfortunately, my Central Coast Road trip coincided with the floods, and I had to change my travel plans accordingly. You can read more about that in my previous blog post. I will share what I witnessed during the California floods in this article.
Although California is no stranger to natural disasters, the floods in January 2023 were terrible. A sequence of nine atmospheric rivers hammered California during a three-week period in January 2023, bringing over 700 landslides, power outages affecting more than 500,000 people and causing financial damages now expected to exceed $30 billion. The floods in California in 2023 were a result of heavy rainfall from December 31, 2022, to January 25, 2023, in a small time window — 400% to 600% above average in that time — caused several rivers and streams to overflow their banks, leading to severe flooding in many parts of the state. Most impacted were parts of Southern California, the California Central Coast, Northern California, and Nevada. From north to south in the Golden State this week, flooding, mudslides, or threats have led to evacuations, road closures, and desperate rescues. In the first ten days of January, at least 20 people died in California storms and flooding — more than the number of civilians who died in wildfires in the last two years.
Some of the worst affected cities that I happened to experience first-hand were Santa Cruz, San Jose, Monterey, Paso Robles, and Oxnard. In this article, let me share what I witnessed during the California floods.
Flooding In San Jose
San Jose, the largest city in Silicon Valley, was one of the areas heavily affected by the California floods. The floods caused significant damage to the city’s infrastructure, with roads and highways washed out, homes lost power, and major roadways turned into impassable rivers leading to school closures and limited mobility exacerbated by fallen trees and mudslides. High winds gusting to nearly 50 miles per hour, accompanied by heavy rain and thunderstorms, battered Santa Clara county.
The Guadalupe River, which runs through the city, was flowing to its brink, and there was a significant fear of damaging the nearby homes, businesses, and roads. At least eight Santa Clara County roads were closed.
Due to torrential rainfall, I couldn’t get out for days. Restaurants closed early, and food deliveries were unavailable. Those without cars could not even get to nearby stores. The entire city was dull, and there were flood warnings everywhere. I was stranded in my apartment, and it was impossible to move around.
Flooding In Santa Cruz
Similarly, Santa Cruz, a coastal city in Central California, was one of the hardest hit by the floods. The town experienced significant damage to its infrastructure, including roads, bridges, and buildings. The city’s downtown area was also heavily affected, with many shops and restaurants forced to close their doors temporarily. When I was there, I was confined to my hotel Dream Inn as there was a major flood warning. The Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park was closed, and part of the scenic 3-Mile Drive was washed out.
One of the most notable landmarks affected by the floods in Santa Cruz was the iconic Capitola Wharf. The wharf, a popular spot for fishing and recreation for over a century, was severely damaged by the flooding and is now unusable for at least a year. The Capitola Wharf was a beloved icon in the community, and its destruction has been deeply felt by locals and visitors alike. The wharf had been a gathering place for generations of families, who would come to fish, picnic, and enjoy the beautiful views of the coastline.
The damage to the wharf is just one example of the extensive destruction caused by the floods in Santa Cruz. Many homes and businesses in the area were also severely impacted, with some entirely destroyed by the flooding.
Flooding In Monterey Bay
Monterey County, the scenic coastal area about 100 miles south of San Francisco that includes Big Sur and the famed golf courses of Pebble Beach, too was heavily impacted by California flooding that almost transformed the Monterey Peninsula into an island. The towns of Carmel, Monterey and Pacific Grove are also at risk of being isolated from the rest of the county. Highways 1 and 68 were the most vulnerable to flooding from the Salinas River. More than 17,000 residents living in low-lying areas near the river were ordered to evacuate, and six emergency shelters were set up for evacuees.
The city’s famous Cannery Row area was inundated by seawater. Many of the historic buildings in the area suffered damage, and there were concerns about the impact on the city’s tourism industry.
All sea adventures were closed, including my anticipated whale-watching tour, but as they say — better safe than sorry.
