Raging Floods Inundate 90% of Californians; Evacuations and Water Rescues Underway Amid Storm

A California storm has caused widespread flooding and mudslides due to heavy rain, threatening most parts of the state with floodwaters. California's adverse weather resulted in large-scale chaos, including evacuations, water rescues, power outages, and travel disruption. This comes as the Pacific storm train continues affecting the West Coast, triggered by the presence of atmospheric rivers or rivers in the sky.

NWS California Weather Forecast

Multiple Storms Batter California With Flooding Rains

(Photo : Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 09: Rain falls as the Los Angeles River flows at a strong rate on January 09, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. California continues to get drenched by powerful atmospheric river events that have brought high winds and flooding rains which have toppled trees, flooded roads and cut power to tens of thousands of residents. Storms are lined up over the Pacific Ocean and are expected to bring more rain and wind through the end of the week.

The National Weather Service (NWS) on Tuesday, January 10, reported the continuance of the endless onslaught of atmospheric river events in California, blaming potent systems carrying moisture and water vapors continue to inundate the Golden State. The Pacific storm train resulted in torrential rain, widespread flooding, flash flooding, and landslides with possible debris flows.

Furthermore, heavy mountain snow and gusty high winds remain a threat to the state. On Tuesday, recurring heavy rain remains possible, especially for Southern California, according to the NWS. This means the mentioned weather hazards are likely to continue in the coming hours and days.

In its short-range forecast, the Weather Prediction Center (WPC) of the NWS confirms the occurrence of another high impact heavy precipitation event on Tuesday for most parts of California, with areas of thunderstorms and very gusty winds.

The same storm system is expected to bring widespread mountain snow across the Western US, adds the WPC, which also forecasted it will be followed by light snow across the central Plains and thunderstorms across the South.

Furthermore, the US weather agency said the next atmospheric river is predicted to impact Northern California and the Pacific Northwest starting on Wednesday, January 11.

Also Read: Rapid Storm to Become Bomb Cyclone Causing Severe Weather Conditions in California; Power Outages and Travel Delays Expected

California Flooding

CNN reported that 34 million Californians or 90% of the state's population are under flood watches, which is also equivalent to 10% of the US population. Multiple areas in the central California coast received 1 to 1.25 inches of rainfall per hour, the WPC adds. The excessive rainfall in the said region on Monday, January 9, caused mudslides, rising floodwaters, debris flows, and closed roadways.

In downtown Los Angeles, a flash flood warning was in effect as of Monday evening until Tuesday midnight local time. A sinkhole also swallowed two vehicles in the Chatsworth area. The evident threats were due to several inches of rain across the Los Angeles area.

Wind Alerts and Evacuations

Other areas of California are also affected by the massive storm, with hurricane-force wind gusts, reaching 74 miles per hour across the American West. Over 37 million people were under wind alerts as of Monday not only in California but also in Nevada, Oregon, Arizona, Wyoming, Utah, and Washington, according to the US media network.

The same powerful storm that struck the central coast and the entire seaside community home to celebrities like Prince Harry and Oprah Winfrey was ordered by local authorities to evacuate during the 5^th anniversary of deadly mudslides in the area, according to The Associated Press. A boy was also swept by raging floodwaters in the area.

On the other hand, a line of thunderstorms across California on Tuesday morning led to the issuance of two tornado warnings for residents south of Sacramento. The first warning was located northeast of Stockton, while the second warning was for the Modesto area, according AccuWeather.