Storms Pound California With Record Rainfall, Disastrous Flooding That Wrangles Roads, Forces Evacuations

John RigolizzoJanuary 10, 2023

The most recent “atmospheric river” California continues to be ravaged by severe flooding and storm systems.

Nearly 34 million California residents, nearly 90% of the state’s population, are under a Flood WatchAccording to maps provided by the National Weather Service, it is. Numerous cities have set new rainfall records, with rainfall totals that are significantly more than the average. The storm system is also threatening infrastructure — closing some roads, collapsing others, knocking out power, and causing at least one mudslide already.

Nearly 100,000 residents They were subject to evacuation orders or warnings Tuesday morning. There were approximately 49,000 in need of evacuation orders. The orders were in place for the entire week. Santa Cruz County The north and some parts of Santa Barbara County, with Montecito as its southern neighbor.

“Nearly all of California has seen much above average rainfall totals over the past several weeks, with totals 400-600% above average values,” The NWS Weather Prediction Center It was Tuesday morning.

Many cities in the state experienced historic rainfall amounts. According to CNNOn Monday, Santa Barbara’s downtown saw 6.37 inches, which was the city’s highest rainfall total. Moorpark, which is nearby, received more than 4 inches of rain on Monday. It was the second-highest rainfall total in the city’s history. San Luis Obispo McChesney Field Regional Airport received 4.1 inches of rain, surpassing the previous record by almost half an inch. The San Francisco Chronicle According to reports, San Francisco got 12.37 inches of rain in 15 days between December 26th and January 9th. This is the third-highest rainfall total in a week since 1862.

Travel across the state has been affected by the storm. The storm damaged or closed dozens of roads throughout the state. According to the San Francisco Chronicle State Route 9 in Santa Cruz County was shut down in four locations by Tuesday morning. State Route 35 and State Route 236 were also shut down. Due to whiteout conditions and high winds, Interstate 80 in Sierra Nevada was also closed later in the day.

The California Department of Transportation released a press release Tuesday morning stating that 9 different highways were closed in the Central Coast region, which included multiple sections of U.S. Route 101.

Multiple roads were closed in the state due to rock slides and fallen trees. Video shared by PG&E local power company. The Weather Channel The large tree fell down a hillside, and then fell onto the road. The Fresno Area Office California Highway Patrol posted video Monday afternoon showing a rockslide closing state route 168 Monday. According to a tweet by the California Highway Patrol, another rock slide blocked Malibu Canyon Road, Southern California. Los Angeles County Public Works Department.

A Sinkhole Monday night, Chatsworth, a suburb near Los Angeles, opened the restaurant. Two vehicles initially held four people in the sinkhole. However, two individuals managed to escape their vehicles before emergency responders arrived. The road was flooding and water began to fill in the hole. However, firefighters were able firefighters to rescue a mother with her daughter from the second vehicle.

At least one mudslide was already caused by floods. Fox 11 Los Angeles reporter Mario Ramirez shared Photos Twitter: A mudslide in Studio City, which covered roads in the neighborhood.

The California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services said that as of Tuesday, the death toll across the state increased to 15, the Chronicle reported.

According to the NWS Prediction Center, heavy rains will continue throughout most of the state tonight. “[S]cattered to widespread instances of flash flooding will be possible, especially near steep terrain and burn scars,” The NWS stated. “There will be a brief break in the rainfall in the West late tonight before the next atmospheric river arrives Wednesday… As the system slowly approaches the West Coast, precipitation will spread north into the Pacific Northwest Wednesday night and continue through the end of the work week.”