California Superstorm: A New Worry for the Golden State?

January 17, 2011 02:20 PM EST

More than 100 scientists and experts think the possibility of a superstorm is looming over the state of California. Scientists with the U.S. Geological Survey warn that cataclysmic storms such as the one predicted have occurred in the past, and emergency management officials have taken the warnings to heart.

Geological Survey director Marcia K. McNutt told the New York Times that in 1861, flooding in the Central Valley was so bad that the state capital had to be moved to San Francisco. Larger storms are said to have occurred in 212, 440, 603, 1029, 1417, and 1605, this supported by geological evidence.

Yahoo News reports that scientists predict the storm could last for 40 days, dumping 10 feet of water on the state, comparing the effects to 50 Mississippi Rivers flowing to the Gulf of Mexico, accompanied by 125 mph winds.

Of course the superstorm is a theory, but climate researchers think it fits right in with the San Andreas earthquake hypothesis. Federal and State emergency management officials attended a conference last week to discuss the preparations.

With all the apocalyptic predictions and media attention to the global warming theories, is this warning just an exaggerated doomsday prediction, or do we have reason for real concern and immediate action? Weather patterns do seem more volatile and frequent, but can we really “predict” disasters and when they might occur? We’ll just have to wait and see.