CALIFORNIA - High levels of precipitation are once again raining down on the state of California. Over this past weekend, the atmospheric river moving over the state led to intense flooding in some areas as well as prompted warnings and evacuations in several counties.

In what may have been the most impactful event from the storm, a levee on the Pajaro River in Monterey County failed, leading to intense flooding and urgent evacuations on Friday and into Saturday. According to the Los Angeles Times, patrol officers identified water “bubbling up in the adjacent farmland” just 30 minutes before the levee failed. By Saturday morning, the area’s population, primarily made up of farmworkers, was flooded.

Meanwhile, evacuation warnings were issued in Merced, San Luis Obispo, Santa Cruz, Fresno, Tulare, Madera, Mariposa, Kern, and San Benito counties. Flood warnings were especially urgent in Fresno, Madera, San Luis Obispo, Tulare, and Santa Cruz counties. Another report from the Los Angeles Times noted that winter storm and avalanche warnings have gone into effect in the Greater Lake Tahoe Area and other regions of Northern California.

In a phone call to Governor Gavin Newsom, President Biden said California will have the “full support of the federal government” when responding to the devastation caused by the storms, according to the news source.

As for how this is impacting growers throughout these regions, we are still unsure. With the transition back to Salinas on the horizon for many operators, the impacts of these storms leaves questions as to when that transition will be possible to make.

ANUK will be checking with our industry friends as they assess the impacts, so keep a tab open for us.