California braces for more storms as thousands are still without power
Thousands of Californians still lack power as the state braces for further storms.
SAN FRANCISCO
With rain beginning to move into the northern part of the state and the San Francisco Bay area on Saturday, preceding a series of strong incoming Pacific storms, California braced itself for more stormy weather. This increased the risk of road flooding, rising rivers, and mudslides on soils already saturated after days of rain.
The National Weather Service issued a warning for the upcoming week, predicting a "relentless parade of atmospheric rivers" that would bring heavy rain and mountain snow. Long plumes of moisture that extend into the Pacific Ocean are known as atmospheric river storms, and they are capable of dumping incredible volumes of snow and rain.
The rainy weather comes following days of rain from Pacific storms in California.
The rainy weather comes following days of rain from Pacific storms in California. Recent weather events have left people without electricity, flooded streets, devastated the shoreline, and resulted in at least six fatalities.
With 6 to 12 inches (15 to 30 cm) of rain forecast through Wednesday in the foothills of the Sacramento region, the weather service issued a flood watch for a significant portion of Northern and Central California as the first of the stronger storms was scheduled to arrive Monday.
Light rain was predicted for the Los Angeles region over the weekend, and stormy weather was predicted to return Monday with the possibility of up to 8 inches (20 cm) of rain in the foothills. Large waves and high surf were anticipated through Tuesday.
The National Weather Service noted that since December 26, Mammoth Mountain, a well-known ski resort in the Eastern Sierra, has gotten about 10 feet (3 metres) of snow, while San Francisco has received more than 10 inches (25 cm) of rain.
Although they won't be sufficient to end California's continuing drought, the storms have made a difference.
Michael Anderson, the state climatologist, said at a late-Saturday news briefing that authorities were closely watching Monday's approaching storm, the one that will follow it, as well as three other systems farther out in the Pacific.
