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Thanks for this update, T. Meanwhile, on the West Coast:

“This is the beginning of a long duration very heavy rainfall event, with rainfall totals exceeding those that caused the mud/debris flow event Jan 9th of this year. Check out the size of the Thomas Fire, and all the other red and orange outlined burn scars.“
https://twitter.com/NWS/status/976259442131046400

NWS Los Angeles: “Rain began about 2 hours ago, and here are totals since then. It's mostly light so far, but we expect the intensity to pick up this evening and overnight. You can see the recent burn areas outlined in red, which are primary areas of concern. #CAwx #SoCal #CAstorm“
https://twitter.com/NWSLosAngeles/statu ... 5284139008

The California Department of Water Resources release a statement that they may use the main spillway at Oroville

https://www.water.ca.gov/News/News-Rele ... te-April-4.

Forecasted storms expected in the Feather River basin this weekend may require using Lake Oroville’s flood control outlet spillway (also known as the main spillway) this week or next.

After last year’s spillway incident, the Department created the 2017/18 Lake Oroville Winter Operations Plan to ensure public safety in the event of major storm events. This plan triggers more aggressive outflow from Hyatt Powerplant and potential use of the main spillway should the reservoir’s elevation reach 830 feet during the month of April. The current forecasts show the potential for inflows to raise the reservoir to near the 830-foot trigger elevation by the middle of next week. Currently, the lake elevation is 794 feet.

In anticipation of the incoming weather, DWR is increasing outflows from Hyatt Powerplant. Outflows were increased from 9,500 cfs to 11,500 cfs at noon, and will be increased to 13,000 cfs at 1PM. Feather River flows are expected to increase as outflows increase. These numbers are approximations.

They are not expecting problems; this is not their emergency spillway that is earthlined. It is the one they had to repair the concrete lining...what could possibly go wrong?

(Thanks to jmshelton at asif for this)

dohboi wrote:The California Department of Water Resources release a statement that they may use the main spillway at Oroville

https://www.water.ca.gov/News/News-Rele ... te-April-4.

Forecasted storms expected in the Feather River basin this weekend may require using Lake Oroville’s flood control outlet spillway (also known as the main spillway) this week or next.

After last year’s spillway incident, the Department created the 2017/18 Lake Oroville Winter Operations Plan to ensure public safety in the event of major storm events. This plan triggers more aggressive outflow from Hyatt Powerplant and potential use of the main spillway should the reservoir’s elevation reach 830 feet during the month of April. The current forecasts show the potential for inflows to raise the reservoir to near the 830-foot trigger elevation by the middle of next week. Currently, the lake elevation is 794 feet.

In anticipation of the incoming weather, DWR is increasing outflows from Hyatt Powerplant. Outflows were increased from 9,500 cfs to 11,500 cfs at noon, and will be increased to 13,000 cfs at 1PM. Feather River flows are expected to increase as outflows increase. These numbers are approximations.

They are not expecting problems; this is not their emergency spillway that is earthlined. It is the one they had to repair the concrete lining...what could possibly go wrong?

(Thanks to jmshelton at asif for this)

So every aspect of all infrastructure that hasn't had a big problem will have a big problem the next time it is used?

Had much probability or statistics? Or just willing to constantly put the worst possible spin on things to imply doom, even if making completely nonsensical implications?

It's one thing to point out that there are serious problems with the US infrastructure which continue to grow worse as politicians and the taxpayers they elect refuse to pay for proper maintenance and upgrades. This is very stupid and short-sighted, and making an expensive problem worse.

It's quite another to claim that no repairs ever work. Has New Orleans been flooded by every storm in the area since Katrina? I don't think so. Does every repaired bridge fall the next time there is bad weather? Hardly.

But I know. You and zerohedge can make wrong predictions frequently, and pretend you're credible when almost none of them pan out. After all, all it costs is your credibility.

....

So if you don't like increasing the flow ahead of time to better manage the expected deluge, how would YOU handle the situation?

I think they did the right thing. But we are going to see all infrastructure ever more often stressed by ever more severe storms, drought, etc. Do you think otherwise?

(And note that I did not criticize anything...I just asked a question. Is that still allowed?)

U.K.

Storm Desmond: Thousands of people flooded out of homes

” Thousands of people have been flooded out of their homes or left without power after Storm Desmond wreaked havoc in parts of the UK.

In Cumbria and Lancashire more than 43,000 homes are suffering from power cuts, while an estimated 5,200 homes have been affected by flooding.

The weather has claimed two lives – in Cumbria and the Republic of Ireland.

David Cameron said the flood defences in Cumbria “were not enough” and some people might not be home for Christmas.

Storm Desmond lashed parts of Northern Ireland, north Wales, southern Scotland and especially north-west England over the weekend, and more heavy rain is expected this week.
Record-breaking amounts of rain fell in Cumbria, the worst-hit county – prompting the county to declare a major incident.

‘Absolutely horrific’
The devastation has resulted in criticism of the government after multimillion-pound defences built following floods in Cumbria in 2005 failed to keep the deluge out from people’s homes. …”

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-35023558

Or just willing to constantly put the worst possible spin on things to imply doom

The alarmist's task is to warn everyone in over-the-top terms of the coming doom, damaging their credibility.
The deniers's sacred solemn duty is to ignore and resist doing anything which may increase taxation.
The result is that nothing is done until it is too late, when several times the original price is desperately spent, all of it to no avail because we delayed too long.
2 * fail => 2* lose.

oz, specify which specific claims you claim to be over the top. Sometimes reality is actually extreme, but just pointing at it and saying 'That's over the top extreme' does not stop it from being reality.

My apologies to all, I failed to clearly indicate irony (if that is the word). Personal stance:
I am an alarmist. I am alarmed at the way things are shaping up.
I fear the fastest way to fall off a tightrope is to not believe you are on one.
I fear that the deniers are already "winning".
I worry that nothing significant seems to be done or will or can be done in time.
Dohboi, I appreciate the restraint you showed in your query.

THE OTHER BIG ONE

California’s next megaflood would be worse than eight Hurricane Katrinas

Worse than the 1906 earthquake. Worse than eight Hurricane Katrinas. Worse than every wildfire in California history, combined. The world’s first trillion-dollar natural disaster.

A wintertime megaflood in California could turn out to be the worst natural disaster in U.S. history by far, and we are making it much more likely, according to an alarming study published this week in Nature Climate Change.

The odds are good that such a flood will happen in the next 40 years, the study says. By the end of the century, it’s a near certainty. (And then another one hits, and another — three such storms are possible by 2100). By juicing the atmosphere, extreme West Coast rainstorms will happen at five times their historical rate, if humanity continues on roughly a business-as-usual path, the new research predicts. ...

https://grist.org/article/californias-n ... -katrinas/

Speaking of deluges:

http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/37957515/flash-flood-watch-posted-statewide

https://watchers.news/2018/05/06/severe ... re-turkey/

"Severe flash flood hits Ankara, described as disaster like never before, Turkey"

Also note, for a broader perspective:

Climate Change Ignores all Borders as Rain Bombs Fall on Kauai and the Middle East Alike

https://robertscribbler.com/2018/05/02/ ... ent-142420

Dam bust in Kenya.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-44065340

“FIVE YEARS of rain in ONE DAY. This is not normal.”

“Mekunu is about 12 hours from a direct hit on Salalah, Oman -- a city of 200,000 people.
Sustained winds currently estimated at 115mph (185kph). About 15 inches (400mm) of total rainfall expected -- five years' worth.”

https://twitter.com/ericholthaus/status ... 8077046784

dohboi wrote:“FIVE YEARS of rain in ONE DAY. This is not normal.”

“Mekunu is about 12 hours from a direct hit on Salalah, Oman -- a city of 200,000 people.
Sustained winds currently estimated at 115mph (185kph). About 15 inches (400mm) of total rainfall expected -- five years' worth.”

https://twitter.com/ericholthaus/status ... 8077046784

Looks like a storm surge magnet:

https://www.google.com/maps/@17.0029376 ... a=!3m1!1e3

Second 1000-Year Flood in Two Years Slams into Historic Maryland City

https://www.rawstory.com/2018/05/17-horrifying-photos-videos-wall-water-ellicott-city-maryland-flood-waters-carry-away-cars/

https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/05/27/second-1000-year-flood-two-years-slams-historic-maryland-city

I wonder what they didn't get the first time around? I mean, that it would happen AGAIN and, probably, soon.

https://twitter.com/Accu_Jesse/status/1 ... 7204246528

“The last report from the USGS gauge at Patapsco River near Elkridge at Patapsco Valley State Park indicated that the all-time record high stage has been broken and that the river rose 17.88 feet in ~2 hours.

https://t.co/s4rKqyQRuT https://t.co/LrBgLieh1J
#mdwx #flooding ”

Ellicott City, Maryland. Mid-Atlantic U.S. The 2016 storm was a ‘1 in 1,000 years’ event.

“This #flooding in #ellicottcity is WORSE than 2016!

#mxwx #mdflood ”

https://twitter.com/JustinWeather/statu ... 5796013057

“Weather station in WeatherUnderground network reporting 115mm/ 4.5 inches of rain at Elliott City so far.”

https://twitter.com/browndutx/status/10 ... 1415696385

“Anyone who is outside around Ellicott City should find higher ground NOW. Another round of rain is coming in.”

https://twitter.com/capitalweather/stat ... 9039194112
Radar GIF at the link.

“So, a tornado at like 8,000 feet elevation in Wyoming, epic flash flooding for th second time in as many years in Ellicott City, MD, an early season subtropical storm, some all time record May heat in the Midwest....just another day in [U.S.] weather.”
https://twitter.com/mattlanza/status/10 ... 8026477568

https://www.ajc.com/news/flash-flooding ... SmmRuNF1K/

A lot of washed out roads to the north and east of me over the last 24 hours or so.

Any extreme weather happening in anyone else's area recently?