What would this mean for Tahoe?

[rideit]

Scientists warn California could be struck by winter ‘superstorm’
By Liz Goodwin


A group of more than 100 scientists and experts say in a new report that California faces the risk of a massive "superstorm" that could flood a quarter of the state's homes and cause $300 billion to $400 billion in damage. Researchers point out that the potential scale of destruction in this storm scenario is four or five times the amount of damage that could be wrought by a major earthquake.

It sounds like the plot of an apocalyptic action movie, but scientists with the U.S. Geological Survey warned federal and state emergency officials that California's geological history shows such "superstorms" have happened in the past, and should be added to the long list of natural disasters to worry about in the Golden State.

The threat of a cataclysmic California storm has been dormant for the past 150 years. Geological Survey director Marcia K. McNutt told the New York Times that a 300-mile stretch of the Central Valley was inundated from 1861-62. The floods were so bad that the state capital had to be moved to San Francisco, and Governor Leland Stanford had to take a rowboat to his own inauguration, the report notes. Even larger storms happened in past centuries, over the dates 212, 440, 603, 1029, 1418, and 1605, according to geological evidence.

The risk is gathering momentum now, scientists say, due to rising temperatures in the atmosphere, which has generally made weather patterns more volatile.

The scientists built a model that showed a storm could last for more than 40 days and dump 10 feet of water on the state. The storm would be goaded on by an "atmospheric river" that would move water "at the same rate as 50 Mississippis discharging water into the Gulf of Mexico," according to the AP. Winds could reach 125 miles per hour, and landslides could compound the damage, the report notes.

Such a superstorm is hypothetical but not improbable, climate researchers warn. "We think this event happens once every 100 or 200 years or so, which puts it in the same category as our big San Andreas earthquakes," Geological Survey scientist Lucy Jones said in a press release.

Federal and state emergency management officials convened a conference about emergency preparations for possible superstorms last week. You can read the whole report here.

(A 2005 California storm: AP)

[Elkhound Odin]

combine an earthquake with a super storm and CA will really fall into the ocean. The drive from the beach to mountains will be a lot shorter.

[fallguy]

provided i survived, i'd have beach front property. sweet.

[userA]

tahoe would be fine, lower downstream would get hosed.

[Steven S. Dallas]

They say the superstorms are the reason we have such lovely sunsets here in California.

[4matic]

If it keeps on raining levee's going to break
When the levee breaks have no place to stay

http://californiaspigot.blogspot.com...levees-in.html

[powdork]

tahoe would not be fine. there would be major damage, but not devastating. 50 would almost definitely be closed indefinitely. likely other major roads would also be close for long periods as landslides are not uncommon here. the carson and washoe valleys would also be hard hit. tahoe might be an island of safety, but we'd also be an island. it is conceivable that we would be without power, gas, and any open roadways for an extended period in the middle of the winter.

[lionelhutz]

Don't think once ever 100 or 200 year storms are something that never happen.
See March 1993.

Shit happens though writing about it is pretty useless.

[jon gaper]

In january 2000, after all the dire predictions of complete meltdown from computer failure fizzled, and new fear was dredged up by the media.
Right around mid-january 2000, the headlines screamed "asteroid may hit earth"
Remember that ?

Now it is jan 2011, and we need a new fear headline.(actually i believe we have enough already)

And here it is.

The only thing you need fear is being a dupe.

[warthog]

After the 2004 hurricane season, "experts" predicted that we would see 10 years of such patterns.

We haven't even had as much as a close call since. They keep warning us it is coming though, and our insurance rates remain inflated. It is like a Seattle weatherman predicting rain. He will eventually be right.

[whipski]

FKNA can't wait to go surfing in Moab!

[Tippster]

Here's hoping for rampant Nymphomania...

[jfost]

tahoe would not be fine. ....

so what you're saying is, Kirkwood would be the ONLY area with lifts turning!?! Ironic, and excellent!

[WICS]

[THIS WON'T HAPPEN. EVER.]


ANY FACK-TARD WITH A PC CAN DROP A Z-SCORE OF 10 ON ONE OR TWO VARIABLES IN A MICKEY MOUSE MODEL, AND CALL IT A LIFETIME EVENT. FUCK THAT. US-GS SCIENTISTS ARE LIKE RENTACOPS ... NOT THE REAL COPS.

[tokinskier]

10 feet of moisture=1200 inches of snow for Tahoe

[userA]

powdork the donner party figured it out without electricity during a harsh winter, i bet theirs enough resourceful no. cal. kids who would be just fine with a deep tahoe winter. it is california, winter is not that long, even at 12,000' or something.
maybe the state does need a good flush, just hope shit flows south.

[2FUNKY]

Don't think once ever 100 or 200 year storms are something that never happen.
See March 1993.

Shit happens though writing about it is pretty useless.

I was at Sugar Bowl that winter. Fucking insane amount of snow. That winter is forever etched in my brain.

[powdork]

powdork the donner party figured it out without electricity during a harsh winter, i bet theirs enough resourceful no. cal. kids who would be just fine with a deep tahoe winter. it is california, winter is not that long, even at 12,000' or something.
maybe the state does need a good flush, just hope shit flows south.

so you're saying we'll be fine. well. at least as fine as the donner party.

[jfost]

so you're saying we'll be fine. well. at least as fine as the donner party.

yeah! The skiing is gonna rule for that ONE lucky fellow, fresh trax 4-eva!!!

[2nd mate]

+1 for some kind of Kirkwood shenanigans.

[userA]

you guys the donner folks weren't even from cali., they were a bunch of flatlanders trying to find the pacific, ended up in one epic winter instead. the survivors crawled out, some food issues arose, the thaw came and the journey continued. I've shoveled a bunch of sierra snow and the only way it lasts is in the freezer.

[yippeekiyayMF]

everyone knows the only place to be during the 100-year storm is Bells Beach.