California Braces for Flood Watches as New Atmospheric Rivers Target the State

California Braces for New Storms Amid Flood Watches

Swaths of California, including San Francisco and portions of Los Angeles, are under flood watches until early next week as two impending storms threaten to unleash additional rainfall across the state, just weeks after a three-day atmospheric river led to significant flooding and mudslides.

Key Details:

• The initial storm commenced bringing rain to northern California on Saturday and is anticipated to persist through Sunday, with snowfall expected in the northern Rockies.

• A more expansive storm is slated to reach the coast on Sunday, impacting the central coast with rainfall into Monday before traversing into Southern California, including Los Angeles, from Monday into Tuesday, as forecasted by AccuWeather meteorologists.

• The National Weather Service cautions that Sunday’s rainfall could result in heavy rain, strong winds, flooding, and potential power outages in the Los Angeles area, with concerns about flooding and shallow landslides in the Bay Area, which could be affected by both storms.

• While the storms are projected to be less intense than those that triggered flooding and mudslides earlier this month, the rainfall comes as the state is still recuperating from those incidents, particularly in Southern California.

• Both San Francisco and Los Angeles will remain under flood watches from Sunday through Wednesday morning, according to the National Weather Service.

• Additionally, heavy snowfall of potentially up to three feet is expected in the Sierra Nevada mountains early next week.

Background:

• The powerful atmospheric river storms that battered California earlier this month led to nearly 500 mudslides in the Los Angeles area, with reports from The Los Angeles Times indicating that up to nine individuals lost their lives during the storms. Similar atmospheric rivers, characterized by long bands of water vapor capable of precipitating heavy rain, claimed the lives of at least 20 people across the state in January 2023.

Significant Statistic:

• Rainfall totals for Santa Barbara, San Diego, and Los Angeles from December 1 to February 17 have been approximately 170% higher than their typical observed rainfall, according to AccuWeather.

Side Note:

• Amid the storms earlier this month, a Southern California mansion garnered attention after a nearby landslide created an impression that the home was perilously perched on the edge of a cliff. However, officials have since clarified that the residence is not in danger of collapsing.