the california floods

For weeks, a string of major storms have hit California, causing extreme flooding. While it might seem as if rain should have a silver lining for a state stuck in a historic drought, the reality is far more complicated.

Today, how California’s water management in the past has made today’s flooding worse and why it represents a missed opportunity for the future of the state’s water crisis.


Christopher Flavelle, a climate reporter for The New York Times.

The total rainfall in California over the past few weeks has been five to seven times its average level, according to federal officials.
Mario Tama/Getty Images

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Christopher Flavelle contributed reporting.

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