Monday February 24, 2025
SF Gate —
Within the next 25 years, Los Angeles, San Diego, and San Francisco will be more at risk from flooding than wildfires, a new study has found.
“The fires in Los Angeles this January followed two years of wet winters which encouraged the vegetation growth that became wildfire fuel,” says the study from CoreLogic.
“Now, the metro’s burned areas lack the vegetation that can absorb water, making them more vulnerable to flood.”
The study estimates that in Los Angeles, 762,000 homes will be affected. The estimate is 231,000 homes in San Diego and 65,000 homes in San Francisco.
In 2050, Los Angeles will have a “high” flood risk score of 58, soaring from the current “very low” level of only 9. In contrast, the risk of wildfire rises only to 51 from the current level of 46.