{
  "id": 6766459,
  "title": "Study reveals link between Tibetan Plateau heat and record rain in California",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/11/study-reveals-link-between-tibetan-plateau-heat-and-record-rain-in",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-09-11T14:00:08.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Reuters Business via SCMP",
    "slug": "reuters-business-via-scmp",
    "url": "https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3367230/study-reveals-link-between-tibetan-plateau-heat-and-record-rain-california"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A recent study has uncovered a significant connection between high temperatures on the Tibetan Plateau and severe rainstorms in California. In the winters of 2016-2017 and 2022-2023, the US state experienced unprecedented rainfall, leading to billions in damage and numerous fatalities. Researchers from UCLA found that these rainy events occurred shortly after unusually high land surface temperatures on the Tibetan Plateau in early winter. As global temperatures rise, understanding these far-reaching climate connections could enhance weather forecasting and preparedness. The extreme rainfall in 2016-2017 ended California's five-year drought, causing around $2 billion in property damage, while the 2022-2023 event brought severe flooding, killing several people and causing about $4.6 billion in damage. Notably, these events took place during La Niña years, typically associated with drier conditions in California. Despite the forecasts, no computer simulations could replicate the extreme flooding after the storms had occurred. The researchers used Earth system models to confirm that heating over the Tibetan Plateau drives the extreme precipitation across the Pacific Ocean. Xue Yongkang, a UCLA professor and study author, emphasized that this discovery could revolutionize forecasting systems. The Tibetan Plateau, located in southwestern China, has been heating up rapidly due to climate change. Scientists anticipate a potentially record-breaking El Niño event, raising concerns about its impact on land and ocean temperatures and the likelihood of extreme weather events.",
  "summary": "Abnormally high temperatures across the Tibetan Plateau in early winter can trigger catastrophic rainstorms in California, according to a new study revealing a previously unidentified climate connection. In the winters of 2016-2017 and 2022-2023, record-breaking rain swept across the US state and surrounding areas, causing billions of dollars in damage and several deaths during years when drier…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "South China Morning Post",
        "title": "Study reveals link between Tibetan Plateau heat and record rain in California",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/11/study-reveals-link-between-tibetan-plateau-heat-and-record-rain-in-6767432",
        "published": "2026-09-11T14:00:08.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}