California has had a wet two years. What does that mean for Oaklanders and their environment?
The wet weather of the past two years has been a stark contrast to the drought conditions that California has become accustomed to. Floods, landslides, and overflowing streets were a winter staple as storms from atmospheric rivers–so named for their shape and the amount of moisture they carry–dumped buckets of rain on the Golden State. Now that we’ve moved out of the rainy season into the drier, warmer summer months, we can begin to take stock of the effects of the wet years. These include filled groundwater supplies and lush hills, along with worse allergies and more fuel for wildfires, to say nothing of the considerable toll taken on road infrastructure. Here’s a look at some of the ways that the statewide effects of the rain might show up for Oakland residents.