Evacuations ordered in California as deadly storm slams into coast
Heavy rain and powerful winds are pounding the northern California coast and forecasters have warned people to expect more flooding and mudslides.
The powerful storm system known as a bomb cyclone has killed at least two people, including a toddler who died when a redwood tree fell on his home.
California has been under a state of emergency since Wednesday. Over 160,000 home and businesses have lost power.
Officials say the rain is falling on ground already soaked by past rainfall.
Much of the state has been hit by atmospheric rivers – an airborne current carrying dense moisture from the ocean – bringing heavy rain to low-lying areas, powerful winds to San Francisco and snow to the Sierra Nevada mountains.
The National Weather Service said California will continue to be impacted by atmospheric river conditions through Thursday, “with heavy to excessive rainfall, flooding with debris flows and landslides near recent burn scar areas, heavy mountain snow and high winds.”
Evacuation orders and advisories were in place in parts of northern California, and local authorities have warned of threats to life and property, especially around San Francisco and Sacramento.
The National Weather Service said California will continue to be impacted by atmospheric river conditions through Thursday, “with heavy to excessive rainfall, flooding with debris flows and landslides near recent burn scar areas, heavy mountain snow and high winds.”
Evacuation orders and advisories were in place in parts of northern California, and local authorities have warned of threats to life and property, especially around San Francisco and Sacramento.
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In a statement declaring a state of emergency on Wednesday, Governor Gavin Newsom said his order would “allow the state to respond quickly as the storm develops and support local officials in their ongoing response”.
The storm comes just a year after California recorded one of its driest years on record. On Saturday, San Francisco saw its second-wettest day in over 170 years.
More than 105 million people across the US are currently at risk of severe weather, according to the NWS.
Further east, some 30 million people are facing large storms that have already produced tornadoes in several states.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/