Landslides are wreaking havoc in California. Here’s how they work
Downpours from an atmospheric river storm triggered landslides in the Santa Cruz Mountains Monday, burying highways in heaps of mud and trapping residents in place. The damage is the consequence of weeks of rain fueled by atmospheric rivers. … Rain is one of the primary forces that trigger landslides. As water trickles into the tiny gaps between soil and rocks, it adds pressure, which makes soils more unstable. … The New Year’s Eve storm produced hundreds of landslides across the Bay Area, with a focus in the East Bay, Collins said. This week in the Santa Cruz Mountains, waterlogged soil from weeks of frequent rain is breaking free from deeper layers of earth and slipping down slopes onto roads.
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