Wicked weather pounded western regions of the U.S. last week. La Conchita, California, suffered the greatest losses from the deadly storms. Heavy rains triggered a huge mudslide there on January 10. Part of the coastal town was buried in mud and wreckage. Thirteen homes were crushed, and 10 residents were killed.
"We have seen the power of nature cause damage and despair, but we will match that power with our own resolve," said California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger last Wednesday while visiting the town.
According to the National Weather Service, December 27 through January 10 were the wettest 15 days in a row on record for downtown Los Angeles, California.
Rainstorms caused heavy flooding in many areas. The most severe occurred in Saint George, Utah, where 18 homes were destroyed or declared unsafe.
From December 28 through January 11, up to 19 feet of snow fell in the Lake Tahoe area of the Sierra Nevada range. Weather officials say nearby Reno, Nevada, had the second-largest snowstorm in its history. They also say that the storm clouds may have a silver lining. As the snow melts this spring, it may reduce drought conditions in the West.