California, weather

2023 - 1 - 10

Post cover — Image courtesy of "BBC News"

California storm: Montecito residents told to flee deadly downpour (BBC News)

Around 90% of Californians - some 34 million people - are under flood watches and advisories.

The agency has issued a flood warning in areas around Los Angeles, including Orange County and the San Bernardino County Mountains. The storm damaged homes and businesses, and killed at least 12 people. The boy and his mother were reportedly in a car that was swept into floodwaters in San Luis Obispo County. "We expect to see the worst of it still ahead of us," Governor Gavin Newsom said at a news conference. Atmospheric rivers can cause extreme rainfall and floods. Residents unable to flee are being told to move to their innermost room or high ground.

California storm forces thousands to flee homes and leaves 1 dead (NBC News)

Thousands of people in California were forced to flee their homes as severe weather continued to batter the state.

Moderate to heavy rains were expected across much of California through Tuesday and into the night, while several more feet of snow were expected to accumulate along the Sierra Nevada, it said. Two people killed in what appeared to be storm-related deaths in Sacramento County over the weekend were identified by the county’s coroner’s office Monday. Heavy rainfall in the area, which is home to 10,000 people, had already flooded roads and creeks, he said. "All commercial flights are canceled until further notice, and the terminal is closed," it said. It was not immediately clear Tuesday morning when the search would resume. A child is also missing after being swept away when floodwaters swamped a vehicle in the northern section of the county, near Paso Robles, according to Scott Jalbert, another official with the agency. [Climate change](https://www.nbcnews.com/climate-in-crisis) has made extreme precipitation in California twice as likely, with extreme weather predicted to generate 200%-400% of surface runoff, rainwater that cannot be absorbed by soil, by the end of the century, according to research by the [UCLA](https://newsroom.ucla.edu/releases/climate-change-makes-catastrophic-flood-twice-as-likely) environment and sustainability department. "When all is said and done, precipitation totals over the next few days will be in the 3-7 inch range through the Transverse Range of southern California, northward along the central to northern California coast ranges and through the Sierra," it said. Two people were able to get themselves out of the sinkhole, while firefighters were able to safely extricate the other two, who were treated and taken to a hospital with minor injuries, it said. The heavy rains are expected to worsen the ongoing flooding and prolong the risk of flash flooding and mudslides across the state. Moderate to heavy rains were expected to continue to hammer much of California on Tuesday as a fresh low-pressure system barreled toward the state as part of a [severe weather](https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/california-faces-parade-cyclones-power-outages-rcna64836) continued to batter the state, leaving one person dead this week and a child missing, while tens of thousands of utility customers were still without power Tuesday morning.

Thousands flee homes, death toll rises as endless storms slam ... (USA TODAY)

Thousands of Californians fled their homes. Another massive storm was forecast for Wednesday as tornado and thunderstorm warnings were issued.

Although wet winters and dry summers are a natural part of California's weather patterns going back millennia, the question arises: ] [Are this year's storms something out of the ordinary](https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2023/01/09/california-storms-climate-change/11017796002/)? What experts say.](https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2023/01/09/california-storms-climate-change/11017796002/) [California storms: Climate change or something else?] [California could face a "parade of storms" over the next several weeks, on top of recent deluges that have killed at least 14 people, triggered flooding, knocked out power and forced evacuations and school closures up and down the coast. "And that is both unusual, but also typical in the longer context." [ posted video on Instagram of flooding](https://www.instagram.com/p/CnNnn09hYD4/?hl=en) near her home. The primary target will be northern California northward up the coast of the Pacific Northwest. Farther south, about 10,000 residents in and around the Santa Barbara County community of Montecito were ordered to evacuate.

California weather tracker: Where are extreme storms headed? (The Independent)

At least 14 people have been killed and the search was called off for a five-year-old boy who was swept away in raging floodwaters.

As the atmosphere continues to heat up, it becomes capable of holding more water and leads to more rainfall. Winter storm warnings were put in place over mountain ranges from the Sierra Nevada and Klamath Ranges to portions of the central Rockies. The heavy rain has also led to rapid water rises in rivers and streams across California and portions of far western Nevada. These weather phenomenon occur globally, but are common on the west coast where they drag moisture onshore from the Pacific creating up to half of annual rainfall. Forecasters also warned that mountain communities faced increased avalanche risk due to the heavy snowfall, and damage to infrastructure. Total rainfall is expected to be three to seven inches in California from recent days of deluges alone.

California weather: Death toll from parade of storms reaches 14 as ... (WPVI-TV)

California weather: A parade of storms is forcing evacuations in places like Montecito and Santa Cruz, CA due to flooding and mudslides.

Yet another atmospheric river -- a long, narrow region in the atmosphere that can transport moisture thousands of miles -- will hit from Northern California into the Pacific Northwest on Wednesday, the prediction center said. To the north, on the central coast, Santa Cruz County saw widespread damage Monday, according to images from Cal Fire. It was wetter in the mountainous areas of Southern California, where more than a foot of rain fell from Sunday to early Tuesday, particularly along the Ventura and Santa Barbara County mountains. "This has resulted in nearly saturated soils and increasingly high river levels." That included several people who were clinging to branches of floodwater-surrounded trees. Major road closures: Flooding has closed numerous roadways this week, including parts of the seaside Pacific Coast Highway (State Route 1) in Southern California, officials said. As of Monday afternoon, at least 14 people in California have died because of recent storms -- "more lives than wildfires in the past two years combined," Gov. Also ordered to evacuate: Residents nearby, including in parts of Santa Barbara, Carpinteria and Summerland. Roads were impacted by boulders, debris and flooding, Santa Barbara city officials reported. An hourslong search for the child was suspended Monday afternoon "because the weather had become too severe and it was not safe anymore for first responders," San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Office spokesperson Tony Cipolla told CNN. Montecito evacuated: In Southern California, the entire oceanside town of Montecito -- a haven for the rich and famous -- was ordered to evacuate Monday because of significant flooding, mudslides and debris flows. On Monday, trees crashed down, homes lost power and major roadways were turned into rivers or otherwise closed as storms unleashed powerful winds and heavy downpours.

Thousands urged to flee their homes as storm wallops California ... (CNN)

A powerful storm battering California has forced thousands to evacuate -- including an entire community -- and prompted dozens of water rescues as ...

To the north, Santa Cruz County saw widespread damage, according to images from Cal Fire. Warning that with the “worst of it still in front of us,” California Gov. “This has resulted in nearly saturated soils and increasingly high river levels.” As of late Monday, 2 to 7 inches of rain had fallen across lower elevations and up to 10 inches in the mountains over a 24-hours period, preliminary rainfall reports showed. Gavin Newsom on Sunday asked the White House for an emergency declaration to support response and recovery efforts. State Route 126 was closed from Fillmore City limits to Fairview Canyon. The hourslong search for the child was suspended in the afternoon “because the weather had become too severe and it was not safe anymore for first responders to be conducting the search,” San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office public information officer Tony Cipolla told CNN. This is a rapidly evolving situation,” Santa Barbara County officials said. “It just came really quick,” Oliveira said. The threat isn’t over yet. Streets turned into rivers, trees came crashing down, homes lost power, rivers swelled and major roadways were shuttered as the storm unleashed powerful winds and heavy downpours. The entire community of Montecito in Santa Barbara County was ordered to evacuate Monday, along with residents in parts of Carpinteria, Summerland and the City of Santa Barbara.

Narcity (Narcity)

It's been five years since 23 people were killed in the Montecito Mudslide on January 9, 2018. Now, the Southern California area is experiencing similarly ...

"Thanks to the President signing off on our request for an emergency declaration, we are mobilizing all available resources at every level of government to protect lives and limit storm damage." There are still several days of severe winter weather ahead, and we need all Californians to be alert and heed the advice of emergency officials," Newsom said. See on InstagramGovernor Gavin Newsom held a State of Emergency press conference on January 9, warning citizens to be safe and "hyper-vigilant."