Debris flows carry mud and water, and their power, speed and thick consistency allow them to also transport heavy objects like a boulder the size of a Volkswagen Beetle. “It becomes a flood on ...

According to NOAA's Earth System Research Laboratory, strong atmospheric rivers can transport water vapor equivalent to 7.5 to 15 times the average flow of water at the mouth of the Mississippi River.

Beyond the initial damage to structures and property the destruction of trees, shrubs and grass can lead to long-term issues. Areas downhill and downstream from burned areas are at risk of debris ...

SALINAS — Danger lingers beyond the heat of a wildfire’s flames. Soils burned by wildfires lose vegetation and permeability, making it easier for debris flows and flash flooding to be trigger… ...

Brent Larson awoke at 4 a.m. to the shake and rumble of what felt like a freight train rolling down the hill toward his Santa Barbara County home. He leaped from his bed and woke his two sons. In ...

Deadly Debris Flows - The Flood After the Fire. by EMILY GRACEY | The National Weather Desk. Mon, May 19th 2025 at 11:40 AM. Updated Mon, May 19th 2025 at 12:09 PM. 5. VIEW ALL PHOTOS (Credit: NOAA) ...

“While we remain at risk for debris flows, our highest-risk or more likely event is flooding.” Taylor and other emergency leaders spoke at a community meeting in front of more than 100 people ...

"A debris flow is kind of a flood on steroids," Jason Kean, a debris flow expert with the U.S. Geological Survey, told weather.com in a previous interview.