Torrential rain and flash floods hit California, with debris flow warnings in fire-scarred areas and high winds forecast to continue through Friday.
CALIFORNIA: Torrential rains have unleashed flash floods and debris flow warnings across southern California’s fire-scarred areas.
A series of Christmas storms, driven by an atmospheric river known as “the Pineapple Express,” are pummelling the state with downpours and high winds forecast through Friday.
The National Weather Service forecast southern California, including Los Angeles, was at risk of excessive rainfall on Thursday.
It warned of a “broad plume of moisture” producing heavy rain and numerous possible flash flooding events.
“The flooding may include debris flows in or near recently burned areas,” the service said.
Some areas could see wind gusts of up to 55 miles per hour, the NWS warned on Thursday.
State authorities have declared a state of emergency in several counties, including Los Angeles.
“We’re not out of it yet. Rain continues to fall across LA County making roadways, waterways and flood channels extremely dangerous,” Los Angeles County officials said Thursday.
Heavy rain began lashing Southern California on Wednesday, where some communities had already seen 10 inches of rain.
At least three people have died in storm-related incidents, including a man killed by a falling tree.
In San Bernardino County, authorities are working to divert the flow of floodwater.
Muddy water streamed through the mountain town of Wrightwood a day earlier, trapping people in their homes.
“Fire department personnel were out there rescuing people, assisting them from their houses, getting them to safety,” said county fire spokesperson Christopher Prater.
Fire-burn scar zones, including Pacific Palisades and Malibu, were under special alert as they are less able to absorb water.
In northern California, a dangerous storm developed in the San Francisco Bay Area early Thursday, with an emergency alert for flash flooding issued.
The NWS office in San Francisco later warned a severe thunderstorm near Santa Cruz could spawn a tornado.
The service also predicts a winter storm could bring heavy snowfall to the Sierra Nevada Mountains.
