Southern California faced the onslaught of a potent storm on Monday, driven by an atmospheric river, resulting in extensive flooding, transforming hillsides into torrents of mud and rocks, causing widespread power outages, and prompting evacuation orders in certain regions.
Approximately 1.4 million residents in the Los Angeles area, encompassing the Hollywood Hills and Beverly Hills, were placed under a flash flood warning on Monday morning.
The National Weather Service reported that up to 9 inches (23 centimeters) of rain had already deluged the area, with additional precipitation expected.
Southern California Hit by Storm (Credits: GMA Network)
The weather service characterized the situation as “particularly dangerous,” citing the imminent threat of flash flooding and mudslides.
Late on Sunday, Keki Mingus, a resident of Studio City in Los Angeles, received a notification about a neighbor’s house at the hill’s summit facing imminent danger.
“Mud, rocks, and water cascaded down through their house and another neighbor’s house and into our street,” Mingus recounted, observing the flowing water around dawn on Monday. “I can’t believe it. It looks like a river that’s been here for years. I’ve never seen anything like it.”
Downtown Los Angeles experienced a record-breaking 4.1 inches (10.41 centimeters) of rain on Sunday, surpassing the previous record set in 1927.
This made Sunday the third-wettest February day ever recorded in the city’s downtown and tied for the 10th-wettest day since records began in 1877.
Northern California also faced the storm’s impact on Sunday, with streets flooded, trees and power lines brought down, and winds exceeding 60 mph (96 kph) in some areas of the San Francisco Bay Area. The storm’s aftermath included gusts surpassing 80 mph (128 kph) in the mountains.
In San Jose, emergency crews rescued individuals from a car stranded due to flooding and evacuated people from a homeless encampment near a rising river.
About 100 miles (160 kilometers) northeast of San Francisco in Yuba City, authorities investigated the death of a man found under a fallen redwood tree in his backyard. It was possible that the man, attempting to clear the redwood, was using a ladder when the tree fell, resulting in his death.
The storm then moved to Southern California, prompting warnings of potentially severe flooding. Evacuations were ordered for canyons affected by recent wildfires, posing a high risk of mudslides and debris flows.
Meteorologist Todd Hall from the National Weather Service reported varied weather challenges, including flooding, gusty winds, and extensive damage, with evacuation orders due to mudslides.
In Santa Barbara County, classes were canceled as a precaution, particularly in areas still recovering from the devastating mudslides of 2018.
Further down the coast in Ventura, the city faced treacherous conditions, with strong winds and heavy rain causing significant flooding. More than 543,000 customers experienced power outages across the state.
Palisades Tahoe, a ski resort northeast of San Francisco, anticipated substantial snowfall, urging caution on mountain roads due to heavy snowfall expected throughout the Sierra Nevada into Monday. Motorists were advised to avoid travel in mountainous areas.
