
Atmospheric River Hits California Hard, But More Severe Conditions Ahead – Reuters
By Daniel Trotta and Maria Caspani
CARLSBAD, Calif. – California experienced heavy rainfall and hurricane-force winds on Sunday, leaving 900,000 customers without power and raising concerns about significant flooding. Meteorologists predict that the storm will linger over major cities for the next day or two.
This storm marks the second Pineapple Express weather system to hit the state within a week, coinciding with the arrival of celebrities in Los Angeles for the Grammy Awards. While the red carpet was tented, many attendees struggled through the downpour, some relying solely on handbags for cover.
The National Weather Service issued a rare hurricane-force wind warning for the Big Sur area due to the severe weather conditions.
The rain caused the final round of a professional golf tournament at Pebble Beach in Monterey County to be canceled. Citing forecasts of continued heavy rainfall for Monday, the PGA Tour concluded the event early, declaring Wyndham Clark the winner.
To address the emergency, California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency across eight counties, which together have a population exceeding 20 million. Flash flood warnings have been issued for parts of Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo counties.
"This has the potential to be a historic storm, with severe winds, thunderstorms, and even brief tornadoes," warned Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass during a news conference.
The San Francisco Bay Area and Los Angeles County are experiencing significant rainfall, with the storm expected to stall or even change direction in some areas through Tuesday, creating heightened risks for flooding and mudslides.
"The Monday evening commute is going to be a complete disaster," stated Daniel Swain, a climate scientist at the University of California Los Angeles. He recommended that residents in L.A. stay home if possible.
The National Weather Service recorded wind gusts reaching 80 mph or higher in some locations.
Over 900,000 homes and businesses were without electricity on Sunday afternoon. In Long Beach, a port city near Los Angeles, Mayor Rex Richardson forecasted that the area could receive more rain this week than it typically does in an entire year, with expected totals of 5-7 inches from Sunday through Tuesday.
California’s southern and central coasts are on alert for up to an inch of rain per hour, with total accumulations of 3-6 inches anticipated. The foothills and lower-elevation mountains could see as much as 6-12 inches.
The Los Angeles and Santa Barbara areas face high risks for excessive rainfall over Sunday and Monday, with forecasts indicating "near continuous rainfall" for 48 hours.
Evacuation orders have been issued for residents in certain counties, as well as in the San Jose region, Ventura County, and parts of Los Angeles County that have previously experienced wildfires, increasing vulnerability to mudslides due to damaged terrain.