"Pineapple Express" to Soak Los Angeles: Experts Debunk ARkStorm Hysteria

drenching!Photo byAtilla BingölonUnsplash

Los Angeles, get ready to face the fury of the "Pineapple Express"! This atmospheric river, originating from Hawaii, is gearing up to drench the city in a downpour of rain this weekend. While concerns of monumental flooding have been raised, experts assure us that it's not the catastrophic ARkstorm that recently set social media abuzz.

Southern California had enjoyed a brief respite from extreme weather while the Pacific Northwest bore the brunt of heavy rains. However, the weather gods seem to have a different plan for L.A.

Atmospheric rivers, characterized by narrow sections of concentrated moisture in the Earth's atmosphere, have been responsible for recent rainfalls. The "Pineapple Express" is a specific atmospheric river set to hit L.A., bringing heavy rain but fortunately moving swiftly through the region.

Fox Weather warns of potential "monumental flooding" in Los Angeles. Meteorologist Bob Van Dillen, however, offers a silver lining, stating, "The good news here is it's going to be strong, it's going to be heavy at times, but it's going to be transient, it's going to be moving pretty quickly. So it's not going to be at the same spot for a long period."

The journey of the Pineapple Express will commence in British Columbia on Tuesday, move down to Northern California on Wednesday, and make its way to L.A. and San Diego on Thursday. Late Friday is anticipated to bring the heaviest rain, possibly triggering flood warnings and high winds from Feb. 2 through Feb. 5 – just in time for Grammys weekend.

Despite the impending deluge, concerns about the ARkStorm have crept into the conversation. The ARkStorm, or "Atmospheric River, 1,000 (k)-year Storm," is a cyclical extreme weather event that historically targets California every few centuries. Recent discussions and a viral social media thread alluded to potential damage, leading to speculative internet hysteria. However, climate scientist Dr. Daniel Swain took to Twitter to debunk the immediate danger of such a storm, stating, "There is not currently any indication that an extreme flood event anywhere near this magnitude is on the horizon."

The ARkStorm's last occurrence was in 1861, lasting a staggering 45 days. The storm created a lake in Central Valley that spanned 300 miles in length and 20 miles in width, lasting for months.

In contemporary times, an ARkStorm would be devastating, with potential costs estimated at a staggering $725 billion, surpassing even the infamous "Big One" earthquake in terms of damage. UCLA scientists released a 2022 report predicting that such a storm "could dwarf California’s droughts, fires, and even earthquakes in overall destruction."

While weather experts assure us that the ARkStorm scenario is not unfolding next week, they emphasize the importance of staying informed through weather reports and understanding proper protocols in the face of weather crises. SoCal residents are urged to brace themselves for the Pineapple Express but take comfort in the fact that it's not the catastrophic event some had feared.