Severe Storm Threatens California
State officials warn of flooding, mudslides amid heavy rains
A massive storm system is hitting much of California, bringing prolonged downpours and high winds to the nation’s most populous state.
The deluge was expected to grow with intensity Sunday and last through at least Tuesday, causing widespread flooding to neighborhoods and roadways and raising the threat of mudslides across parts of the state. Officials in the state of 39 million people have issued evacuation orders and warnings for numerous areas, and they urged people to stay off roadways if possible. Schools and government offices have been closed in many areas.
“This is a particularly dangerous situation,” Ariel Cohen with the National Weather Service said at a Saturday press conference in Santa Barbara County. “I can’t stress enough the importance that everyone be at a very high state of readiness.”
Storm warnings have been issued from San Diego up past the San Francisco area. The National Weather Service for the Los Angeles area issued a warning Sunday morning stating, “All systems are go for one of the most dramatic weather days in recent memory.”
The heaviest rainfall is expected late Sunday and overnight into Monday, but high wind and precipitation will continue with varying intensity into Tuesday, according to Marc Chenard, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service’s Weather Prediction Center.
This is the second atmospheric river—a flowing column of condensed water vapor that can produce significant rain and even snow—to pummel California in recent days. The most powerful atmospheric rivers can generate extreme rainfall and damaging floods. Around 30% to 50% of the annual precipitation on the West Coast occurs in just a few atmospheric river events, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Meteorologists predict the storm will bring 3 to 6 inches of rainfall in the coastal and valley areas of south and central California, and 6 to 12 inches of rain in the foothills and mountains of the state, especially from Santa Barbara south.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom activated the state’s emergency operations center. Thousands of state workers, including national guard units, have been placed on alert.
“If you don’t need to be on the roadways during this storm event, we’re asking you please, please postpone any nonessential travel,” Tony Tavares, director of the state’s department of transportation, said at a briefing Saturday.
Bill Brown, sheriff of Santa Barbara County, said at that county’s press conference that the storm in expected to be “one of the largest and most significant in our county’s history.” Strong winds likely will knock down power lines, he said. He urged people with cars in low-lying areas to move them to higher ground.
About 36,000 customers were without electricity early Sunday, according to PowerOutage.us.