A neighborhood is flooded in Merced, California, on Tuesday, January 10.
The week in 34 photos
A neighborhood is flooded in Merced, California, on Tuesday, January 10.
Josh Edelson/AFP/Getty Images

Published 7:43 PM EST, Thu January 12, 2023

California has been struggling with mammoth flooding after being hammered by a cascade of atmospheric rivers — long, narrow regions in the atmosphere that can carry moisture thousands of miles.

At least 18 people have died, neighborhoods have turned into lakes, and countless homes have been destroyed as a string of storms toppled trees and paralyzed communities over the past two weeks.

Because much of the state has been scarred by historic drought or devastating wildfires, California is extremely vulnerable to flooding. The land just can't soak up much rainfall.

Here are some of the stories that made headlines over the past week, as well as some photos that caught our eye.

Kevin McCarthy celebrates with the gavel after being elected speaker of the House of Representatives on Saturday, January 7. The Republican leader triumphed early Saturday morning after <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2023/01/03/politics/gallery/house-speaker-vote-2023/index.html" target="_blank">15 rounds of votes held over five days</a>. It was the first time in 100 years that the election for House speaker had gone to multiple ballots. It was also the longest speaker contest in 164 years.
Kevin McCarthy celebrates with the gavel after being elected speaker of the House of Representatives on Saturday, January 7. The Republican leader triumphed early Saturday morning after 15 rounds of votes held over five days. It was the first time in 100 years that the election for House speaker had gone to multiple ballots. It was also the longest speaker contest in 164 years.
Win McNamee/Getty Images
Ukrainian soldiers fire artillery while battling Russian forces in Donetsk, Ukraine, on Saturday, January 7. Russia invaded Ukraine in February.
Ukrainian soldiers fire artillery while battling Russian forces in Donetsk, Ukraine, on Saturday, January 7. Russia invaded Ukraine in February.
Diego Herrera Carcedo/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images
Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett celebrates after the Bulldogs <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2023/01/09/sport/georgia-tcu-national-championship-how-to-watch-spt-intl/index.html" target="_blank">won their second straight College Football Playoff</a> on Monday, January 9. Georgia crushed TCU 65-7 in the championship game. Bennett threw for four touchdowns and ran for a fifth.
Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett celebrates after the Bulldogs won their second straight College Football Playoff on Monday, January 9. Georgia crushed TCU 65-7 in the championship game. Bennett threw for four touchdowns and ran for a fifth.
Ashley Landis/AP
Supporters of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro are pictured through broken glass on Sunday, January 8. Hundreds of Bolsonaro supporters <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2023/01/09/world/gallery/bolsonaro-supporters-storm-brazilian-congress/index.html" target="_blank">stormed major government buildings in Brasilia</a> on Sunday, including the congressional building and the Planalto Presidential Palace. The breaches came about a week after the inauguration of Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who defeated Bolsonaro in a runoff election on October 30.
Supporters of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro are pictured through broken glass on Sunday, January 8. Hundreds of Bolsonaro supporters stormed major government buildings in Brasilia on Sunday, including the congressional building and the Planalto Presidential Palace. The breaches came about a week after the inauguration of Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who defeated Bolsonaro in a runoff election on October 30.
Adriano Machado/Reuters
Ke Huy Quan accepts the Golden Globe for <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2023/01/10/entertainment/ke-huy-quan-golden-globes-win-cec/index.html" target="_blank">best supporting actor in a motion picture</a> on Tuesday, January 10. Quan, who starred in the film "Everything Everywhere All at Once," harkened back to his days as an '80s child actor in his speech. <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2023/01/10/entertainment/gallery/2023-golden-globe-winners/index.html" target="_blank">See all the Golden Globe winners</a>.
Ke Huy Quan accepts the Golden Globe for best supporting actor in a motion picture on Tuesday, January 10. Quan, who starred in the film "Everything Everywhere All at Once," harkened back to his days as an '80s child actor in his speech. See all the Golden Globe winners.
Rich Polk/NBC/Getty Images
Morning mist surrounds deer at a zoo in Langå, Denmark, on Tuesday, January 10.
Morning mist surrounds deer at a zoo in Langå, Denmark, on Tuesday, January 10.
Bo Amstrup/Ritzau Scanpix/AFP/Getty Images
Residents in Piru, California, work to push back wet mud that trapped cars and invaded some houses on Wednesday, January 11. <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2023/01/10/weather/gallery/california-weather-flooding/index.html" target="_blank">See more photos from the flooding in California</a>.
Residents in Piru, California, work to push back wet mud that trapped cars and invaded some houses on Wednesday, January 11. See more photos from the flooding in California.
David McNew/Getty Images
Buffalo's Nyheim Hines runs back the opening kickoff for a touchdown during the Bills' 35-23 win over New England on Sunday, January 8. It was the NFL team's <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2023/01/09/sport/buffalo-bills-nyheim-hines-touchdown-damar-hamlin-spt-intl/index.html" target="_blank">first play since teammate Damar Hamlin suffered a cardiac arrest</a> during a game on January 2. Hamlin celebrated the moment while recovering in the hospital.
Buffalo's Nyheim Hines runs back the opening kickoff for a touchdown during the Bills' 35-23 win over New England on Sunday, January 8. It was the NFL team's first play since teammate Damar Hamlin suffered a cardiac arrest during a game on January 2. Hamlin celebrated the moment while recovering in the hospital.
Barry Chin/The Boston Globe/Getty Images
A Ukrainian serviceman smokes a cigarette on the front lines near Bakhmut, Ukraine, on Wednesday, January 11.
A Ukrainian serviceman smokes a cigarette on the front lines near Bakhmut, Ukraine, on Wednesday, January 11.
Evgeniy Maloletka/AP
A vehicle passes by a London bookstore displaying "Spare," the new autobiography from Britain's Prince Harry, on Tuesday, January 10. The tell-all memoir <a href="https://www.cnn.com/style/article/harry-spare-publication-record-scli-intl/index.html" target="_blank">sold more than 1.4 million copies</a> in its first day of publication.
A vehicle passes by a London bookstore displaying "Spare," the new autobiography from Britain's Prince Harry, on Tuesday, January 10. The tell-all memoir sold more than 1.4 million copies in its first day of publication.
Peter Nicholls/Reuters
Serena Liebengood, widow of Capitol Police officer Howie Liebengood, is comforted by members of Congress on Friday, January 6, after a ceremony marking the second anniversary of the <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2022/01/03/politics/gallery/january-6-capitol-insurrection/index.html" target="_blank">2021 Capitol attack</a>.
Serena Liebengood, widow of Capitol Police officer Howie Liebengood, is comforted by members of Congress on Friday, January 6, after a ceremony marking the second anniversary of the 2021 Capitol attack.
Kent Nishimura/Los Angeles Times/Getty Images
Heavy snow falls in Mammoth Lakes, California, on Monday, January 9.
Heavy snow falls in Mammoth Lakes, California, on Monday, January 9.
Patrick Griley/Mammoth Lakes Tourism/AP
Actress Jenna Ortega walks the red carpet before the Golden Globe Awards on Tuesday, January 10. <a href="http://www.cnn.com/style/article/red-carpet-golden-globes-2023/index.html" target="_blank">See more photos from the red carpet</a>.
Actress Jenna Ortega walks the red carpet before the Golden Globe Awards on Tuesday, January 10. See more photos from the red carpet.
Matt Winkelmeyer/FilmMagic/Getty Images
US Rep. Richard Hudson pulls back Rep. Mike Rogers as GOP leader Kevin McCarthy <a href="https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/house-speaker-leadership-vote-01-06-23/h_adb55dd6df1e35f36ff55a6946e5388d" target="_blank">had a tense exchange with Rep. Matt Gaetz</a> during one of the failed House speakership votes on Friday, January 6. McCarthy confronted Gaetz on the House floor over Gaetz's vote on the 14th ballot. McCarthy was elected speaker on the 15th ballot.
US Rep. Richard Hudson pulls back Rep. Mike Rogers as GOP leader Kevin McCarthy had a tense exchange with Rep. Matt Gaetz during one of the failed House speakership votes on Friday, January 6. McCarthy confronted Gaetz on the House floor over Gaetz's vote on the 14th ballot. McCarthy was elected speaker on the 15th ballot.
Andrew Harnik/AP
People visit a floating cafe in Nakhon Pathom, Thailand, on Sunday, January 8.
People visit a floating cafe in Nakhon Pathom, Thailand, on Sunday, January 8.
Manan Vatsyayana/AFP/Getty Images
American skier Mikaela Shiffrin reacts on the podium after winning a World Cup giant slalom race in Kranjska Gora, Slovenia, on Sunday, January 8. <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2023/01/08/sport/mikaela-shiffrin-lindsey-vonn-record-spt-intl/index.html" target="_blank">Shiffrin tied Lindsey Vonn's record of 82 World Cup wins</a> — most by a female skier.
American skier Mikaela Shiffrin reacts on the podium after winning a World Cup giant slalom race in Kranjska Gora, Slovenia, on Sunday, January 8. Shiffrin tied Lindsey Vonn's record of 82 World Cup wins — most by a female skier.
Pierre Teyssot/AFP/Getty Images
US President Joe Biden greets Border Patrol agents near the Mexican border in El Paso, Texas, on Sunday, January 8. He was making <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2023/01/08/politics/joe-biden-border/index.html" target="_blank">his first visit to the southern border as president</a>.
US President Joe Biden greets Border Patrol agents near the Mexican border in El Paso, Texas, on Sunday, January 8. He was making his first visit to the southern border as president.
Andrew Harnik/AP
A dove is released during a Blessing of the Seas ceremony in Margate, England, on Sunday, January 8.
A dove is released during a Blessing of the Seas ceremony in Margate, England, on Sunday, January 8.
Dan Kitwood/Getty Images
US Attorney General Merrick Garland arrives to speak at the Department of Justice in Washington, DC, on Thursday, January 12. Garland announced that he has <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2023/01/12/politics/joe-biden-classified-documents-counsels-office/index.html" target="_blank">appointed a special counsel</a> to take over the investigation into the Obama-era classified documents found at President Joe Biden's home and former private office. Biden said the documents at his home were in a "locked garage" and that he was cooperating fully with the Department of Justice.
US Attorney General Merrick Garland arrives to speak at the Department of Justice in Washington, DC, on Thursday, January 12. Garland announced that he has appointed a special counsel to take over the investigation into the Obama-era classified documents found at President Joe Biden's home and former private office. Biden said the documents at his home were in a "locked garage" and that he was cooperating fully with the Department of Justice.
Al Drago/Bloomberg/Getty Images
American tennis star Coco Gauff practices in Melbourne, ahead of the Australian Open, on Thursday, January 12.
American tennis star Coco Gauff practices in Melbourne, ahead of the Australian Open, on Thursday, January 12.
Patrick Hamilton/AFP/Getty Images
Nurses picket outside the Montefiore Hospital in New York City on Tuesday, January 10. A <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2023/01/12/business/nyc-nurses-strike-ends/index.html" target="_blank">nurses strike</a> at two private New York City hospital systems came to an end Thursday after 7,000 nurses spent three days on the picket line. The New York State Nurses Association union reached tentative deals with Mount Sinai Health System and Montefiore Health System, which operates three hospitals in the Bronx that had been struck.
Nurses picket outside the Montefiore Hospital in New York City on Tuesday, January 10. A nurses strike at two private New York City hospital systems came to an end Thursday after 7,000 nurses spent three days on the picket line. The New York State Nurses Association union reached tentative deals with Mount Sinai Health System and Montefiore Health System, which operates three hospitals in the Bronx that had been struck.
Jeenah Moon/The New York Times/Redux
Several people had to be rescued after two vehicles fell into this sinkhole in Chatsworth, California, on Tuesday, January 10.
Several people had to be rescued after two vehicles fell into this sinkhole in Chatsworth, California, on Tuesday, January 10.
David Swanson/Reuters
US Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene tries to hand a phone to Rep. Matt Rosendale during the frantic final House speakership votes on Saturday, January 7. The "DT" on the phone <a href="https://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/2023/01/09/marjorie-taylor-greene-trump-call-kevin-mccarthy-speaker-vote-ip-vpx.cnn" target="_blank">was former President Donald Trump</a>.
US Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene tries to hand a phone to Rep. Matt Rosendale during the frantic final House speakership votes on Saturday, January 7. The "DT" on the phone was former President Donald Trump.
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
Wildlife officials investigate the <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2023/01/11/us/killer-whale-beaches-orca-florida/index.html" target="_blank">death of a female orca</a>, or killer whale, that grounded itself on a beach in Palm Coast, Florida, on Wednesday, January 11.
Wildlife officials investigate the death of a female orca, or killer whale, that grounded itself on a beach in Palm Coast, Florida, on Wednesday, January 11.
Flagler County Sheriff's Office
Actress Jennifer Coolidge gives an <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2023/01/11/entertainment/jennifer-coolidge-acceptance-speech-golden-globes/index.html" target="_blank">acceptance speech</a> after winning the Golden Globe for her role in the television show "The White Lotus," on Tuesday, January 10. During her speech, she singled out "White Lotus" creator Mike White, who she said has "given (her) hope."
Actress Jennifer Coolidge gives an acceptance speech after winning the Golden Globe for her role in the television show "The White Lotus," on Tuesday, January 10. During her speech, she singled out "White Lotus" creator Mike White, who she said has "given (her) hope."
Earl Gibson/HFPA/Reuters
Koltin Hevalow competes in a Professional Bull Riders event in New York City on Saturday, January 7.
Koltin Hevalow competes in a Professional Bull Riders event in New York City on Saturday, January 7.
Jamie Squire/Getty Images
Lava erupts from the Halemaʻumaʻu Crater of the Kilauea volcano on Friday, January 6. The volcano in Kilauea, Hawaii, <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2023/01/06/us/kilauea-hawaii-volcano-january-eruption/index.html" target="_blank">resumed eruptions</a> after almost a month of inactivity.
Lava erupts from the Halemaʻumaʻu Crater of the Kilauea volcano on Friday, January 6. The volcano in Kilauea, Hawaii, resumed eruptions after almost a month of inactivity.
Andrew Richard Hara/Getty Images
US Rep. George Santos rides an elevator inside the US Capitol on Thursday, January 12. Santos, the recently elected GOP congressman from New York who has admitted to lying about parts of his resume, <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2023/01/12/politics/george-santos-calls-to-resign/index.html" target="_blank">is facing escalating backlash from his own party</a> as a growing number of House Republican lawmakers call for him to resign or say he can't serve effectively.
US Rep. George Santos rides an elevator inside the US Capitol on Thursday, January 12. Santos, the recently elected GOP congressman from New York who has admitted to lying about parts of his resume, is facing escalating backlash from his own party as a growing number of House Republican lawmakers call for him to resign or say he can't serve effectively.
Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc/Getty Images
People at the Teppozu Inari Shrine take a bath in cold water during a New Year ritual in Tokyo on Sunday, January 8.
People at the Teppozu Inari Shrine take a bath in cold water during a New Year ritual in Tokyo on Sunday, January 8.
Philip Fong/AFP/Getty Images
Boxer Gervonta Davis does a backflip off the top rope after defeating Hector Luis Garcia in a WBA lightweight title bout on Saturday, January 7.
Boxer Gervonta Davis does a backflip off the top rope after defeating Hector Luis Garcia in a WBA lightweight title bout on Saturday, January 7.
Patrick Smith/Getty Images
Bolivian biker Daniel Jager Nosiglia competes in the 10th stage of the Dakar Rally on Wednesday, January 11. The rally race is taking place in Saudi Arabia this year.
Bolivian biker Daniel Jager Nosiglia competes in the 10th stage of the Dakar Rally on Wednesday, January 11. The rally race is taking place in Saudi Arabia this year.
Franck Fife/AFP/Getty Images
Damar Hamlin, the NFL player who suffered a cardiac arrest during an NFL game earlier this month, <a href="https://twitter.com/HamlinIsland/status/1612146641527799809/photo/1" target="_blank" target="_blank">tweeted this photo from the hospital</a> on Sunday, January 8, just before his team, the Buffalo Bills, was getting ready to play. <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2023/01/11/sport/damar-hamlin-buffalo-bills-hospital-release-spt/index.html" target="_blank">Hamlin was discharged</a> a few days later.
Damar Hamlin, the NFL player who suffered a cardiac arrest during an NFL game earlier this month, tweeted this photo from the hospital on Sunday, January 8, just before his team, the Buffalo Bills, was getting ready to play. Hamlin was discharged a few days later.
From Damar Hamlin/Twitter
A few Republican members of the US House of Representatives speak to the media on Friday, January 6, after flipping their speakership votes to Kevin McCarthy. <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2023/01/05/world/gallery/photos-this-week-december-30-january-5/index.html" target="_blank">See last week in 31 photos</a>.
A few Republican members of the US House of Representatives speak to the media on Friday, January 6, after flipping their speakership votes to Kevin McCarthy. See last week in 31 photos.
Nathan Howard/Getty Images