California on Hight Alert: Flood Warnings Issued Statewide Amid Heavy Rainfall

Weather
By Dhivya Easwarasamy
California on Hight Alert Flood Warnings Issued Statewide Amid Heavy Rainfall

There is a severe flood hazard in Los Angeles, and practically the entire population of California is on flood alert as rain drenches the already-drenched state. Officials are encouraging people to avoid the roads due to the potential of flooding and landslides.

• Approximately 37 million people are under flood alerts: Rounds of rain are soaking much of California on Monday, with the heaviest falling in Southern California. Heavy rain moved out from Santa Barbara and Ventura counties on Monday morning and toward the greater Los Angeles area by early afternoon.

• Flooding closes airport and roads: The Santa Barbara Airport closed on Monday and announced that it would be closed until further notice due to “significant flooding,” according to X. There were “numerous reports of flooding and rock and debris across roads,” according to the National Weather Service in Los Angeles. Flooding and rockslides forced the closure of several routes across California, according to the state’s transportation agency.

• Water rescues: Fire officials in San Luis Obispo County reported that two people were successfully evacuated from a flooded vehicle on Monday morning. A shot from the scene showed a vehicle buried up to its hood in dirty brown floodwaters.

• Rare severe weather risk: A Level 2 of 5 risk of severe thunderstorms is in effect for California’s Sacramento Valley on Monday, the first such forecast since February 2015. Severe thunderstorms with severe wind gusts, hail, and maybe a few short tornadoes may form on Monday afternoon and evening.

• Evacuation warnings issued: Santa Barbara County officials issued evacuation warnings for several flood-prone regions on Saturday, ahead of the storm. The sheriff’s office issued an evacuation alert for a portion of southern Los Angeles County on Monday due to concerns of mud and debris flows.

• Torrential rainfall causes flash flood warnings: Flash flood warnings were issued Monday morning for Santa Barbara and Ventura counties, where 2 to 5 inches of rain fell, with higher elevations receiving up to 9 inches. The warning expired on Monday evening. On Monday, another flash flood warning was issued for a portion of Los Angeles County, but it also expired. The county received one to three inches of rain.

California on Hight Alert Flood Warnings Issued Statewide Amid Heavy Rainfall

Days of Rain Keep Flood Threat Rising

Heavy rain will continue throughout Monday as the storm, driven by atmospheric rivers, stops just off the West Coast. Much of California is expected to receive significant rain through Tuesday, according to the Weather Prediction Center.

Rain will continue to fall across much of the state on Tuesday, but heavy downpours will become less common as the storm’s atmospheric river link fades.

Nonetheless, the saturated earth will be unable to withstand additional rains, and flooding remains a major risk.

The major cities experiencing the biggest flood risk over the next several days are Los Angeles (Level 3 of 4 risk on Monday and Tuesday) and Santa Barbara (Level 2 of 4 risk on Monday and Tuesday). San Diego faces a Level 2 of 4 risk on Tuesday.

The National Weather Service’s Los Angeles office warned of “significant flooding” and predicted 2 to 5 inches of rain, with up to 10 inches in isolated portions of the Santa Lucia and Santa Ynez ranges.

Downtown Los Angeles might receive 2 to 3 inches of rain from Monday afternoon to Tuesday. This, combined with the city’s historic rainfall earlier in the month, might make February the wettest on record in Los Angeles.

There are numerous articles like this one where you may get updates and more information:

Atmospheric rivers drove both this week’s storm and the massive storm in early February. However, the current storm is drawing in far less moisture than the early-month storm and is thus unlikely to become as severe.

The Los Angeles forecast office also issued warnings about possible significant mud or rock slides on canyon roads, as well as debris flows in regions recently burnt by wildfires.

Friday night brought an early wave of rain, followed by a separate storm on Saturday. The early weekend rain-soaked soils in Northern California’s Del Norte County resulted in a rock avalanche that closed a section of U.S. Highway 101.

The city of San Francisco, which is also under a Level 2 flooding rain risk until Tuesday, is giving ten free sandbags to households and businesses. Officials are concerned about “excessive runoff from moderate to heavy rain,” which might cause floods, according to a city post on X.

Between Friday night and Monday morning, portions of the Bay Area received 0.75 to 1.5 inches of rain, with greater amounts of 2 to 3.5 inches in higher terrain along the coast.

Flooding began north of the Bay Area on Sunday night. Sonoma County firefighters took a video of river-like floodwaters sweeping over a completely submerged road.

Rounds of rain will finish in California by late Wednesday as the major storm causing the drenching weather moves eastward, passing into the Rockies.

Dhivya Easwarasamy

    Dhivya Easwarasamy, a dedicated content writer at theeastcountygazette.com, brings a unique perspective to Texas news. With a passion for uncovering diverse topics, Dhivya's engaging writing style captures the essence of the Lone Star State. As an information provider and news writer, she excels in delivering top-notch, informative content. Her commitment to delivering quality news shines through in every article, making her a trusted source for readers seeking insightful updates on Texas happenings.

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