Hurricanes rarely reach California. How did Tropical Storm Kay do it?
California is a hotbed for extreme weather. A historic heat wave brought a punishing 10 days with record-shattering high temperatures. The Mosquito Fire in Placer and El Dorado counties created a huge plume of smoke visible from 60 miles away. Atmospheric rivers produce torrential downpours and can cause widespread, damaging floods. Hurricanes — rotating storms with sustained winds 74 mph and over — typically aren’t a concern on the West Coast. And history shows that it’s incredibly rare for a hurricane to get close to California.