A deadly atmospheric river hits the Los Angeles area
Homes were severely damaged after landslides sent rocks and debris onto hills in the Los Angeles area due to heavy rains from a deadly weather storm that struck Southern California. FOX Weather reporter Max Jordan was in the Beverly Glen neighborhood of Los Angeles where a mudslide tore a home to its foundation.
Angels – At least five people have died and hundreds of landslides and mudslides have been reported following a powerful river storm that has battered California with heavy rain and hurricane-force winds over the past few days.
Southern California, including the Los Angeles area, felt the brunt of the storm, which caused catastrophic flooding due to torrential rains that inundated the City of Angels.
Los Angeles received more than 7 inches of rain between Sunday and Monday — the third-highest two-day rainfall total on record. The city averages 14.25 inches of precipitation annually and has received half of that total in just 48 hours.
What is an atmospheric river?
Flooding was seen in the Los Angeles area on Monday, February 5, 2024. (Robert Ray)
Residents were urged to stay off the roads and not travel due to the effects of the storm, which led to landslides and floods that covered streets and highways throughout the region.
Several rapid water rescues were performed after vehicles attempted to drive through flooded roads and became stuck.
Why rare 'high risk' flood days should be taken seriously
High humidity is also causing erosion in California's coastal communities.
Rainfall prompted evacuations at an apartment building in Santa Barbara County on Tuesday after erosion on a slope caused the building's roof to crack and fall. The Santa Barbara County Fire Department said 45 people were displaced.
Seashore erosion caused by rainfall from an atmospheric river in Isla Vista, California on February 6, 2024. (Santa Barbara County Fire Department)
More than 300 landslides were reported
'We're trapped': Hundreds of landslides cover roads with debris, cause extensive damage to homes in Los Angeles area
A powerful and deadly storm surge pummeled Southern California with torrential rains this week, leading to numerous reports of flooding and causing hundreds of landslides. FOX Weather reporter Robert Ray was in Los Angeles on Tuesday and spoke with a homeowner who said he was trapped in his home due to the effects of the storm.
So far, 307 landslides and mudslides have been reported in the Los Angeles area alone, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. Valley roads north of Sunset Boulevard and south of Mulholland Drive were hardest hit.
Among the damages are at least 35 buildings that require inspection to ensure their safety. At least five buildings were declared unsafe, and seven others sustained major damage.
The Department of Public Works reported more than 250 fallen trees and branches and about 160 holes that opened up on roads.
How to deal with fox weather
Mud and debris seen in Beverly Glen, Los Angeles. (Fox Weather)
Thousands of first responders were stationed ahead of the storm, and California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency in eight counties to help support storm response and recovery efforts.
“Our first responders have been actively responding to this historic storm since yesterday afternoon,” Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said Monday night. “I spent some time with our Fire Chief meeting with Angelenos impacted by the storm. The City has jumped into action to protect our most vulnerable Angelenos, and we will continue to work around the clock to help those in need throughout this storm.”
Flood Watch, Warning and Emergency: Here are the differences that could save your life
At least 4 dead in Northern California, and 1 dead in Southern California
Total landslides in beverly crest to home
A landslide in Beverly Crest, California, near Beverly Hills, destroyed a home and forced 10 neighbors from five nearby homes to flee very early Monday morning.
At least four people have been killed by falling trees in Northern California, and at least one death has been reported in Southern California.
According to a report from FOX 5 in San Diego, Swift Water crews received a call from U.S. Customs and Border Protection requesting assistance in recovering a body from the swollen Tijuana River channel. According to the report, the person who was found dead was trying to cross the border west of the port of San Ysidro.
Two other people were rescued from the San Diego River in a separate incident, the report said.
Watch: A tree crashes into a house in Sacramento, California
Dramatic footage shows the moment a tree crashed into a house in Sacramento, California, as strong winds battered the area on Sunday, February 4, 2024.
Wind gusts in Northern California reached 60-70 mph in inland valleys, and a 64 mph gust was reported in Sacramento.
However, at higher elevations, wind gusts were much stronger and rivaled a Category 5 hurricane.
High wind reports in California. (Fox Weather)
A wind gust of 162 mph was recorded on Mount Ward in Lake Tahoe on Sunday, and the ski area in Palisades Tahoe It experienced a 148 mph gust. In Mono County, wind gusts peaked at 125 mph at the top of Mammoth Mountain.
Police in a northern California city Yuba Cityabout 40 miles north sacramento, He said They responded to a report of a tree falling on a man on Tres Pecos Drive on Sunday.
According to police, it appears as though the unidentified victim may have been using a ladder to attempt to move the tree away from his home when it fell on top of him.
When officers arrived, they said they found the man under a large redwood tree and attempted to revive him, but he was pronounced dead.
See the devastation caused by an atmospheric river bombarding California
Another person was killed when a tree fell on their home in Boulder Creek. Officials said two people were inside when a tree fell on the home. One of them managed to get out, but a 45-year-old man was trapped inside and killed.
In Sacramento County, a tree fell on a 41-year-old man on Sunday during the storm. He was taken to a nearby hospital where he died of his injuries.
A 63-year-old woman also died when a tree fell on her in her backyard on Tuesday, the Sacramento County coroner said.
Deadly storm affects California for the third day
The deadly atmospheric river continues to impact millions in California for a third day
The threat of flooding in Southern California continues for the third day in a row on Tuesday, extending to parts of Arizona and Nevada, as a deadly weather storm dumped historic amounts of rain on the region.
The weather storm will continue to impact California for a third day on Tuesday, but the FOX Forecast Center said its effects will not be as severe as seen on Monday.
“Today will be a transition day as the main band of rain will head east into Arizona and Nevada,” the Fox Forecast Center said. “In its wake, cold air aloft will enhance the development of atmospheric energy.”
Exclusive FOX Model Futuretrack shows rain continuing across California and moving into Arizona and Nevada. (Fox Weather)
This will then cause precipitation across California to move from widespread rain to scattered rain, heavy rain and some thunderstorms.
These storms could produce heavy rainfall, but scattered activity will greatly reduce the risk of widespread, damaging flooding. However, landslides and mudslides will remain a concern as the ground remains very saturated.
In addition, there may be enough energy and twists in the atmosphere for some storms to produce weak tornadoes.
the National Weather Service office in San Diego A tornado warning was issued late Tuesday morning for South Central San Diego County. A thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located over Paradise Hill near Chula Vista and moving toward the northeast, the NWS said. A video posted on X, formerly Twitter, showed what appeared to be a wall cloud hovering over the area.
San Diego is under a hurricane warning
In a rare move, the NWS issued a tornado watch for San Diego County. A resident spotted something suspicious in the distance. A video posted on X, formerly Twitter, showed what appeared to be a wall cloud hovering over the area.
Flood watches have been expanded to include parts of Arizona, including Phoenix and Yuma, as well as in Nevada.
A flash flood warning remains in effect for areas of southeastern Los Angeles County until 12:30 PM PT. Locations in the warning area include Whittier, Hacienda Heights, Pico Rivera, Norwalk, Diamond Bar, La Habra Heights and La Mirada.
Heavy snow will continue to fall at the higher elevations of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, already adding to several feet of snow that has already fallen.
The event is expected to end on Wednesday, but another disturbance will bring another round of rain and mountain snow to California.
However, rain totals will generally remain less than an inch. However, minor flooding may occur due to how saturated the ground is.
