California: powerful ‘atmospheric river’ storm prompts evacuation warnings | California

A powerful storm pelted California with heavy rain on Friday, prompting evacuation warnings as the state braced for the possibility of flooding, mudslides, thunderstorms and even a tornado through the weekend.

More than 4 inches of rain fell on coastal Santa Barbara County as the storm moved south toward Los Angeles, according to the National Weather Service.

Communities in Santa Barbara, Ventura and Los Angeles counties, especially those near burn scars where the risk of mudslides and debris flows are higher, could experience a dangerously wet weekend, with two spells of precipitation expected through Sunday.

Evacuation warnings issued as communities brace for storm surge expected on Saturday It was published through Sunday morning in areas affected by recent wildfires, including massive fires in Los Angeles in January.

Forecasters at the National Weather Service in Los Angeles warned that roads and highways could experience flooding, as well as debris flows that could clog major roads and damage infrastructure. “Current flows in streams and rivers will be heavy and anyone in or near these channels will be at risk of being swept away,” officials said. wrote In the Friday morning update.

While there remains some uncertainty about the timing and location of the most intense impacts, there is also the possibility that the storm will stall in a particular area for an extended period of time.

“We expect all of these impacts to be exacerbated, including the risk of shallow water infiltration into businesses and homes in a neighborhood or two, regardless of location,” forecasters warned. “In addition to water risks, there is also a significant threat of very localized but damaging winds and/or severe storms that could produce a brief tornado.”

From 2 to 5 inches of rain expected in low-lying areas of Southern California within 48 hours, according to the NWS. This incident happened in downtown Los Angeles face your wettest self November since the 1980s.

Estimated totals on coastal slopes are even higher; Rain in the transverse mountain ranges could exceed 6 inches by Sunday.

Extreme weather has already caused closures and disruptions. Tyler, the Creator, a musician, postponed the festival It will be played at Dodger’s Stadium this weekend due to stormy conditions.

Local amusement parks Knott’s Berry Farm and Six Flags Magic Mountain They closed their doors impatiently Topanga Canyon Boulevard, a mountain road hit hard by the Palisades fire at the beginning of the year, was closed at 10 p.m. Thursday due to the storm due to the high risk of debris flowing there, according to the California Department of Transportation.

While there was no major damage yet, a large tree fell and destroyed a car in a Los Angeles neighborhood Friday morning, local news outlets reported. No injuries were reported.

Such powerful rainstorms, known as atmospheric rivers, have long been prominent features of weather systems in the western United States and are vital to replenishing the state’s reservoirs and snowpacks. The rains are expected to provide at least some relief for dry lands and the high fire risks that persist in the fall.

But the powerful systems that carry water across the Pacific, filled with enough moisture to rival (and often orders of magnitude more) the volume of flow at the mouth of the Mississippi, can often cause the most devastating floods.

The second surge, which is expected to start from Friday night to Saturday, causes the most concern. While it’s still unclear how much precipitation will fall in certain parts of the state and when, forecasters at the National Weather Service in Los Angeles said there was an “increased risk for severe impacts on Saturday, including dangerous flooding, damaging debris flows and major road closures” and urged residents to heed the advice of local officials.

“Saturday may be a great day to plan indoor activities and avoid travel if possible to stay safe,” the National Weather Service in Los Angeles said in a forecast update Thursday evening.

Heavy snowfall of up to 12 inches is expected on the Sierra Nevada’s slopes and up to 18 inches at its highest peaks.

In the San Francisco Bay Area, most of the danger has passed and officials allowed previously issued wind and flood warnings to expire Thursday evening. strongest winds Reached speeds of 80 miles per hour in Marin County.

However, more rain is expected for next week.

“Cooler, wetter weather continues as multiple systems pass through the region this weekend into next week,” NWS Bay Area said.

Associated Press contributed reporting