At PG&E's weather lab in San Ramon, Scott Strenfel studies a huge digital map on the wall displaying temperatures, dew points and humidity levels across California. At a spot in Kern Hills outside of Bakersfield, wind gusts of 39 mph were forecast to hit. Hey team, thunderstorm outflow down in Kern at 3 p.m., Strenfel calls out to his fellow scientists, each behind double computer screens.
Meteorologists have warned that a surge in tropical moisture could set off dangerous flash floods all the way from the Gulf Coast to the Ohio Valley, impacting residents in parts of 11 states from now through this weekend.