California Braces for Heavy Rains and Severe Winds
California is facing the onslaught of another powerful storm as a second atmospheric river sweeps through the state. The storm has already caused flooding, power outages, and evacuations in several areas, compounding the damage caused by last week's system.
Starting in the San Francisco Bay Area, the storm brought fierce winds exceeding 60 mph (96 kph) in some areas and gusts of over 80 mph (128 kph) in the mountains. This led to downed trees and power lines, as well as widespread flooding on streets. In San Jose, emergency crews had to rescue stranded individuals from a car trapped in floodwaters, and people from a homeless encampment along a rising river.
Moving southward, the storm wreaked havoc in Southern California, where officials warned of potentially devastating flooding and ordered evacuations in canyons that had previously been affected by wildfires. Santa Barbara County, which suffered from devastating mudslides in 2018, canceled classes for schools on Monday in anticipation of the storm's impact.
Ventura, a city located further down the coast, experienced treacherous conditions with heavy rain and strong winds. Local resident Alexis Herrera struggled to bail out his car that was filled with floodwater, as all the freeways in the area were reportedly flooded.
The storm's impact on power infrastructure was significant, with more than 845,000 customers left without electricity across the state, according to poweroutage.us. San Francisco International Airport also experienced delays due to high winds, with over 150 departures delayed and 69 canceled. Other airports in San Jose and Sacramento faced similar issues.
In the Sierra Nevada region, the storm brought heavy snowfall to Palisades Tahoe ski resort, which reported six inches of snowfall per hour, potentially accumulating up to two feet. Motorists were urged to avoid mountain roads due to hazardous conditions.
This storm, known as a 'Pineapple Express' due to its plume of moisture that stretches from near Hawaii to California, arrived last Saturday, following a previous system that had already caused flooding and brought some relief to drought-stricken areas.
The National Weather Service issued a rare 'hurricane force wind warning' for the Central Coast, with expected wind gusts of up to 92 mph (148 kph) in certain areas. The slow-moving nature of the storm, combined with its depth and proximity, has led to high rainfall totals and increased flooding risks.
Evacuation orders and warnings have been implemented in various counties, including Monterey, Santa Barbara, Ventura, and Los Angeles, particularly in areas previously affected by wildfires. Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency in multiple counties and activated the Governor's Office of Emergency Services.
The storm is expected to continue moving down the coast, bringing heavy rain, flash-flooding, and mountain snow to the Los Angeles area before impacting Orange and San Diego counties on Monday. The Los Angeles Unified School District, however, has announced plans to open schools as usual for now.
Weather forecasters anticipate up to 8 inches (20 cm) of rainfall in coastal and valley areas of Southern California, with the possibility of 14 inches (35 cm) in foothills and mountainous regions. The heavy rain is expected to persist until Tuesday.
As California braces for more severe weather, residents are urged to stay informed about evacuation orders and take necessary precautions to ensure their safety.
