A series of powerful storms drenched Southern California, bringing flooding, high winds, and devastating impacts. Warm ocean waters influenced by the El Niño and amplified by climate change have intensified the storms, causing significant downpours and offering a glimpse of the region's future. The atmospheric river parked over the state resulted in mudslides, drowned highways, and upended homes, causing catastrophic debris flows in the canyons and hillsides. These relentless storms also forced the spill of millions of gallons of raw sewage and dealt a blow to L.A.'s flood-control system, revealing its vulnerability to climate change. The region saw astronomical rain totals, easily surpassing the average for the entire month of February. This convergence of climate hazards raises health risks and poses a significant challenge to California's resilience against future climate extremes.