Southern California is bracing for life-threatening rain and flooding
Parts of Southwest California braced for heavy rain Sunday — possibly as much as an inch per hour — that could lead to life-threatening flooding, officials said, prompting evacuation orders in some places and prompting at least one school district to cancel classes for Monday Cancel.
The Weather Prediction Center has issued a rare “high risk” forecast of excessive rain in an area that includes Santa Barbara, Ventura and Oxnard, saying eight or more inches of rain could fall in a 24-hour period.
The heavy rain brings flooding risks that could be “particularly problematic” in areas previously scarred by forest fires, the center said.
Saturday evening, the National Weather Service said “rain totals still appear very impressive” – from at least three to six centimeters over coastal areas and 6 to 12 inches for the foothills and mountains.
The storm is also expected to bring heavy mountain snow and widespread gusty winds, said Eric Schoening, emergency response specialist with the National Weather Service. during a briefing on Saturday.
“The heaviest precipitation amounts for this event are expected along the central and southern coastlines, including the Los Angeles and San Diego metro areas,” Mr. Schoening said.
“This damaging flood will threaten lives and property,” he added. He said the conditions arose from an atmospheric river event.
Mayor Karen Bass on Friday called on Los Angeles residents to monitor the storm and heed extreme weather warnings, adding: “We know the serious impact the weather can have on our communities.”
Santa Barbara County officials issued evacuation orders for properties in the Sycamore Creek area and along waterways associated with the Thomas, Cave and Alisal fire areas.
The The governor's office said it was preparing for the storm with 21 rapid water rescue teams placed on standby and the California State Guard ready for rapid deployment if called upon.
Santa Barbara Unified School District announced on Friday that all schools and the district office will be closed on Monday due to the storm. Santa Barbara City Council said on its website that the campuses will have distance learning on Monday.
Predictors posted a flood watch for Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties from Saturday evening through Tuesday afternoon.
The National Weather Service has reported a warning for strong winds for parts of Southwest California from Saturday evening through Sunday evening 10:00 PM local time.
Winds were expected to be 30 to 70 kilometers per hour, with damaging gusts up to 100 kilometers per hour. Forecasters predicted they could bring down trees and power lines, leading to power outages.
For many Californians, the days when officials stood at the edge of near-empty reservoirs and begged residents to conserve water or let their lawns die now seem like a lifetime ago.
But as 2022 drew to a close, meteorologists began predicting that storms powered by atmospheric rivers would bring significant rain and snow, finally providing a reprieve from the drought that has plagued the state since 2020.
In the months that followed, Californians experienced the other side of the pendulum between weather extremes: swings that have widened as climate change has made dry spells hotter and rainy cycles more intense.
It's all more dangerous.
Huge, crashing waves destroyed coastal piers. Outreach workers worked to ensure that people living on the streets of Los Angeles had shelter. Residents of Montecito, the coastal community favored by some of the world's wealthiest people, were forced to evacuate their homes five years after mudslides killed 23 people there.
A vast, almost mythical lake reappeared in the Central Valley. Rivers that were babbling brooks in previous years became dangerous streams.
Last year's winter and spring were so shocking and deadly that when a hurricane appeared poised to hit Southern California in August, officials issued warnings that were dire.
What became Tropical Storm Hilary caused damage that was less catastrophic than expected. But now, as another atmospheric river flows toward California, forecasters and officials are urging residents to take the warnings seriously.
John Keef reporting contributed.