SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — More turbulent weather prevailed in California on Sunday, as thunderstorms, snow and damaging winds lashed the northern part of the state, raising the possibility of road flooding, rivers and mudslides ahead of another round of storms. After days of rain it was completed.
National Weather Service warned “Relentless March of Atmospheric Rivers” – moist storms stretching across the Pacific capable of dropping staggering amounts of rain and snow.
In the state capital, more than 60,000 customers were still without power Sunday evening – out of a total of more than 350,000 – after 60 mph (97 kph) winds knocked down trees and power lines. Sacramento Municipal Utility District.
Joey Kleiman was listening to howling winds shortly after midnight, wondering if he should move his car, when he heard a “huge, booming, crashing sound” as a large tree fell on the Sacramento home he’d lived in for 25 years.
The wind was strong enough to uproot the tree and pull up the concrete pavement.
Cracks in Kleeman’s roof caused rain to pour into her dining area throughout the night. Anticipating another deluge, she planned to lay a tarp over the damaged area.
“I had a feeling with the winds. They were terrible winds,” he said. “Mostly I was focused: This could be a lot worse.”
Gov. Gavin Newsom said 12 people have died in violent weather in the past 10 days, and he warned this week’s storms could be even more dangerous. He urged people to stay at home.
“Be careful over the next week, especially the next day or two or so,” Newsom said during a briefing with California officials outlining the state’s storm preparations.
The weather service’s Sacramento office said the latest storm should roar along the river banks late Sunday and early Monday.
“Widespread power outages, downed trees and difficult driving conditions are possible,” the office said Twitter.
Evacuation warnings remain in place for about 13,000 residents living in the flood-prone area of Sonoma County, north of San Francisco, where the swollen Russian River is expected to overflow its banks in the coming days.
The state Department of Transportation warned motorists to stay off mountain roads after a section of US 395 in Mono County was closed due to heavy snow, ice and whiteout conditions along the eastern Sierra.
“Given the severity of this storm, Caltrans is asking all drivers to limit non-essential travel until the peak of the storm has passed,” the department said in a statement.
The wet weather comes after several days of rain in California from Pacific storms Thousands were left without power last week, flooding streets, battering shorelines and causing at least six deaths.
The first of the new, heavy storms, which prompted the weather service to issue a flood watch for a large swath of northern and central California, could dump 6 to 12 inches (15 to 30 centimeters) of rain through Wednesday in the already saturated Sacramento-area foothills. .
The Los Angeles area saw widespread rain over the weekend, while stormy conditions are expected to return on Monday, with up to 8 inches (20 cm) of rain possible in the foothills. High surf is expected through Tuesday with large waves on west-facing beaches.
Since Dec. 26, San Francisco has received 10 inches (25 centimeters) of rain, while Mammoth Mountain, a popular ski area in the eastern Sierra, received nearly 10 feet (3 meters) of snow, the National Weather Service said. reported.
The storms won’t be enough to officially end California’s current drought – But they helped.
State climatologist Michael Anderson said at a news conference late Saturday that officials are closely monitoring Monday’s incoming storm and another one behind it, as well as three other systems in the Pacific.
