Call it the Pineapple Express or an atmospheric river: Either way, southern California was being deluged by heavy rain on Thursday, March 22, prompting alerts for flooding and mudslides and evacuation orders.
Particularly under threat were areas scorched by last year’s wildfires, like the Thomas, Rye, Creek, and Skirball fires. Those burn areas have little to stop rainfall runoffs roaring down canyons during the storm. Montecito has already been crushed by deadly debris flows earlier this year.
This satellite imagery shows the region under infrared, visible, and water vapor views Thursday morning. Credit: NOAA via Storyful