SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — California was hit by more volatile weather on Sunday as storms, snow and damaging winds moved into the northern part of the state ahead of a new round of storms and increased potential for street flooding, river rise and landslides. mud on the ground. saturated after rainy days.
The National Weather Service warned of a “relentless parade of atmospheric rivers” — storms that are long plumes of moisture stretching across the Pacific capable of dumping staggering amounts of rain and snow.
In the state capital, more than 60,000 customers were without power Sunday — down from more than 350,000 — after 60 mph (97 km/h) gusts knocked down trees on power lines, according to the Sacramento Municipal Utility District.
Joey Kleemann was listening to the howling wind just after midnight, wondering if he should move his car, when he heard a “huge, booming, crashing noise” as a huge tree fell on the Sacramento home he’s lived in for 25 years for years. .
The gusts were strong enough to uproot the tree, dragging the concrete sidewalk with it.
Cracks in Kleemann’s roof meant that rain poured into his living room throughout the night. He planned to put a tarp over the damaged area in anticipation of another flood.
“I just had a feeling with the winds. There were scary winds,” he said. “I mostly focused on: It could be a lot worse.”
Gov. Gavin Newsom said 12 people had lost their lives to severe weather in the past 10 days and warned that this week’s storms could be even more dangerous. He urged people to stay at home.
“Be cautious over the next week, especially the next day or two or so,” Newsom said during a meeting with California officials, outlining the state’s preparations for the storm.
Kathleen Ronayne via Associated Press
The Weather Service office in Sacramento said the region should brace for the last of the atmospheric river to come ashore between Sunday and early Monday.
“Widespread power outages, downed trees and rough driving conditions will be possible,” the bureau also said Chirp.
There were evacuation notices for about 13,000 residents in a flood-prone area of Sonoma County, north of San Francisco, where the swollen Russian River is expected to overflow in the coming days.
And Sacramento County ordered the evacuation of people living around Wilton, a town of about 6,000 about 20 miles southeast of downtown Sacramento, with warnings of imminent flooding. The countryside along the Cosumnes River was flooded by an earlier storm.
“Residents must leave now before roads become impassable,” the county said.
The state Department of Transportation warned drivers to stay off mountain roads after closing a stretch of US 395 in Mono County along the eastern Sierra due to heavy snow, ice and whiteout conditions.
“With the severe nature of this storm, Caltrans is asking all drivers to limit non-essential travel until after the peak of the storm has passed,” the department said in a statement.
The wet weather comes after days of rain in California as Pacific storms last week knocked out power to thousands, flooded roads, battered the coast and killed at least six people.
The first of the latest and strongest storms prompted the Meteor Service to issue a flash flood warning for a large swath of northern and central California, with 6 to 12 inches (15 to 30 centimeters) of rain expected through Wednesday on the slopes already saturated with Sacramento. area. .
Scattered rain fell in the Los Angeles region over the weekend, and stormy conditions were expected to return on Monday, with the potential for up to 8 inches (20 cm) in the foothills. Surf was expected until Tuesday, with large waves on west-facing beaches.
Since Dec. 26, San Francisco has received more than 10 inches (25 centimeters) of rain, while Mammoth Mountain, a popular ski area in the Eastern Sierra, has received nearly 10 feet (3 meters) of snow, according to National Weather. Service. reported.
The storms won’t be enough to officially end California’s ongoing drought, but they helped.
State climatologist Michael Anderson said at a news conference Saturday that officials are closely monitoring Monday’s storm and another one behind it, and monitoring three other systems farther offshore in the Pacific.
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