Updated 0201 GMT (1001 HKT) January 17, 2023

California has gone from extreme drought to extreme flooding.

The state has recently been battered by a cascade of atmospheric rivers — long, narrow regions in the atmosphere that can carry moisture thousands of miles. Streets have turned into rivers while trees have been toppled, homes lost power, rivers swelled and major roadways were shuttered.

California is now extremely vulnerable to flooding because much of the state has been scarred by historic drought or devastating wildfires — meaning the land can’t soak up much rainfall.

More than a dozen people have died in winter storms this year, according to the office of Gov. Gavin Newsom.