At least 12 people were killed in the US state of California as a result of the ongoing storm. Due to the increased risk of landslides and floods, some 25,000 people were evacuated on Monday, including all residents of the stellar Montecito neighborhood.
California has been battling bad weather since Dec. 26. Past fires have destroyed tree and plant growth in the region, increasing the risk of major landslides.
According to experts, severe storms alternating with extreme droughts are signs of climate change. The combination of showers and heavy snow in California’s mountainous regions and major low pressure areas off the coast leads to severe weather that can prove deadly.
Montecito’s nine thousand residents include Britain’s Prince Harry and TV personality Oprah Winfrey.
As of the end of December, 28 people have already died as a result of heavy snow and extremely low temperatures in Buffalo (New York).
