The Pacific Weather Was Foul

Rain, floods, high seas and a tornado

For Queen Elizabeth, the California weather was a surprise. For residents, it was a grim and ugly rerun of the storms that had lashed the state in late January. Only this time it was worse. Last week's floods, high waves and winds left at least 16 dead, caused more than $160 million in damage, and forced 10,000 residents to flee their threatened or damaged homes. "I'm getting tired of this," said San Francisco Meteorologist Chuck Terrell.

The rains came—and came and came—in record torrents. The Mount Wilson...