Meteorologists on Saturday issued dire warnings about another atmospheric river system targeting California, saying even major cities could face dangerous flooding.
The National Weather Service's Los Angeles office said flooding will extend to urban areas, with rain starting Saturday night into Tuesday. Meteorologists said the risk of “life-threatening flooding” extended throughout the region.
Rainfall is expected to increase Sunday, especially in Southern California from Santa Barbara southward, which could lead to flash flooding, power outages and landslides. In the Los Angeles area, there could be 3-6 inches of rain along the coast and in the valleys, and between 6 and 12 inches in the foothills and mountains. NWS said.
Already, emergency management offices in Santa Barbara and Ventura counties have issued evacuation warnings and sandbagging in preparation for flooding.
The NWS predicted the recent “Pineapple Express” — an atmospheric river arriving along the state's central coast — would become the largest of the season. The state has already witnessed heavy rain and snowfall from another atmospheric river earlier this week.
“All Californians in the path of the storm — especially those living in Southern California — should prepare now and follow the guidance of local government officials and first responders,” California Governor Gavin Newsom said in a statement on Friday.
AccuWeather estimated Friday that 94% of California's population, or about 37 million people, are at risk of life-threatening flooding. The greatest risk is to those living across the canyons and ridges of Southern California, according to Dan DeBaudouin, senior director of forecasting operations at AccuWeather.
California storms:Feet of rain in Southern California? The latest 'Pineapple Express' forecast is serious.
In the densely populated San Fernando Valley and Los Angeles Basin, the NWS said small streams and rivers would quickly rise into “extremely dangerous raging rivers.” Reducing flood risks.
Meanwhile, evacuation warnings issued by Santa Barbara covered several areas of the county. Other evacuation warnings included several burned areas, including one where a mudflow caused by heavy rains in 2018 killed nearly two dozen people and injured hundreds. People with disabilities and those with large animals should leave now, Santa Barbara's warning said.
The state is also expected to occasionally witness strong and gusty winds that will likely damage property and trees, as well as power outages. Mountains are also expected to see heavy snowfall across the entire state at elevations as low as 2,500 feet in Northern California, and above 5,000 feet in Southern California. Several feet of snow will likely accumulate across several mountain ranges, making travel in these areas extremely difficult.
Governor Newsom announced that the state has more than 8,000 personnel mobilized to respond to the storms. So far, that includes state firefighters, water and urban search and rescue operations in 19 counties, along with the National Guard, transportation personnel, highway patrol and the state Conservation Corps.
