Pacific Storm Train Continues to Wreak Havoc in California, Atmospheric Rivers No End in Sight

The Pacific storm train has continued to wreak havoc in California over the weekend.

Heavy rain driven by atmospheric rivers caused another round of floodwaters due to riverine flooding and mountain runoff in Santa Cruz County, California.

The flood threat prompted local authorities to issue evacuation orders and led a vehicle to be stranded only to be saved by rescue crews.

For several weeks, the West Coast storms have bombarded the region, especially California, with torrential rain and strong winds.

The weather hazards caused widespread disruption, including power outages, displacement, and infrastructural damage.

US meteorologists have not yet concluded for a definitive end of atmospheric rivers, a weather phenomenon responsible for the brutal storm system.

West Coast Storms

(Photo : Photo by DAVID MCNEW/AFP via Getty Images)
This aerial view shows the damaged lifeguard tower on the Seacliff peer after recent storms in Aptos, California, on January 15, 2023. - Soggy Californians on Sunday wearily endured their ninth successive storm in a three-week period that has brought destructive flooding, heavy snowfalls and at least 19 deaths, and forecasters said more of the same loomed for another day.

AccuWeather reported that several creeks and rivers in the Santa Cruz were inundated again due to the heavy downpour and floodwaters coming from mountains; these bodies of water include the Corralitos Creek located north of Watsonville, which left business establishments surrounded by water and threatened local homes.

In addition, rescue service members were deployed into the Scotts Valley area of the county after a car driver got stuck in high floodwaters.

California resident Brian Thom told AccuWeather's National Reporter Bill Wadell that firefighters were able to remove the driver and a passenger from the stranded vehicle.

Furthermore, residents in the Felton Grove area, one of the neighborhoods which received the hardest hit by rainfall over the past week, were informed again to evacuate due to downed trees and debris fell into the San Lorenzo River, AccuWeather said.

Also Read: New Pacific Storm Poses Risks to Life and Property for California by Early Next Week: Meteorologists Warn

California Storm Onslaught

The storm onslaught in the Golden State is likely to continue in the coming days, based on recent forecasts.

This means that the recurring inclement weather cold further lead not only to groundwater flooding and riverine flooding, but also landslides and mudslides.

California Governor Gavin Newsom issued a statement that the adverse weather is not over and urged the public to remain vigilant, as well as limit non-essential travel, as cited by CNN.

Newsom added that "floods, landslides, and storms" do not care for one's status or their area of residency since it will hit individuals the same, citing the incurred deaths from the storms and waters.

The latest death toll figure stands to at least 19 people, who were either directly or indirectly killed by the said weather hazards.

Bracing for Another Storm

California is preparing for another storm which is expected to bring precipitation in the form of snow and rain in the mountain ranges north of Los Angeles and east of San Diego, dropping twi to four inches of rain from late Sunday to Monday, January 15 to January 16, according to Marc Chenard, a meteorologist from the National Weather Service (NWS), as cited by Reuters.

On Saturday, January 14, US President Joe Biden approved California's request for a disaster declaration, which will allow the state to access federal funding to assist in recovery efforts, primarily in the most impacted states: Merced, Sacramento, and Santa Cruz.