‘Life-threatening’ storm warnings issued as atmospheric river hits California | US News
An atmospheric river-fueled winter storm has lashed California causing widespread flooding and knocking out power for close to one million people.
The National Weather Service (NWS) office for Los Angeles warned “all systems are go for one of the most dramatic weather days in recent memory”.
The storm is the second so-called Pineapple Express weather system, or atmospheric river storm, to hit the state in the past week and arrived just as Los Angeles welcomed celebrities for the music industry’s Grammy awards.
Cars drive in the torrential rain in Agoura Hills, California. Pic: Reuters
Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency for Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ventura counties.
He said: “This is a serious storm with dangerous and potentially life-threatening impacts. Please pay attention to any emergency orders or alerts from local officials.
“California is ready with a record number of emergency assets on the ground to respond to the impacts of this storm.”
About 900,000 were without electricity statewide by Sunday night, according to poweroutage.us.
A rare warning by officials for hurricane-force winds along the coast was issued as the storm brought down trees, power lines and left areas submerged with more heavy rain on the way.
The storm felled trees in Goleta, California. Pic: Scott Safechuck/Santa Barbara County Fire/via Reuters
…. and so on.
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