As atmospheric river exits, another awaits to hit California
STRATHMORE, CA - MARCH 10: In an aerial view, an oil sheen spreads across the water at a flooded farm on March 10, 2023 near Strathmore, California. Another in a series of atmospheric river storms from the Pacific Ocean has brought a warm rain to the
WATSONVILLE, Calif. - Wet, miserable weather continued across huge swaths of California on Sunday as an atmospheric river that caused major flooding flowed eastward and makes way for another onslaught of rain and snow — accompanied by strong gusts — that could yet again pummel the beleaguered region as soon as Monday night.
The National Weather Service said the next torrent could exacerbate the severe flooding that overwhelmed the area in the past few days, including a levee failure that prompted widespread evacuations Saturday in farming communities near the state’s Central Coast.
The next weather system is not expected to bring as much rain, but weather officials nevertheless cautioned that "considerable flooding" could occur in lower elevations from additional rain and snowmelt that could swell creeks and streams.
"Definitely prepare for some more flooding impacts. The ground is very saturated. We’re already seeing some impacts from some light amounts even today," National Weather Service forecaster Eleanor Dhuyvetter said Sunday.
The rain and snow is expected to extend from Central California to Oregon, as well as northern Nevada.
Of particular concern are the strong winds that are expected to accompany the approaching weather system. NWS is predicting wind gusts of up to 50 mph (81 kph) in some places — which could potentially snap tree branches and damage power lines.
Fortunately, the new storm is a fast-moving one which means it won’t have time to dump as much rain.
SEE MORE: Storm breaches California river’s levee, thousands evacuate
As much as a foot of rain fell in the Big Sur area of the state over a two-day period, according to weather data.
Authorities suggest that residents have a plan in case further evacuations orders are issued.
Across Monterey County, more than 8,500 people were evacuated Saturday, including roughly 1,700 residents — many of them Latino farmworkers — from the unincorporated community of Pajaro.
The atmospheric river, known as a "Pineapple Express" because it brought warm subtropical moisture across the Pacific from near Hawaii, was melting lower parts of the huge snowpack built in California’s mountains.
Because of the massive flooding over the early weekend, more than 50 people had to be rescued by first responders and the California National Guard. One video showed a member of the Guard helping a driver out of a car trapped by water up to their waists.
The extent of property damages was still uncertain but Luis Alejo, the chair of the Monterey County Board of Supervisors, sought help from the state and federal governments.
"The need will be great! Will take months for our residents to repair homes!" he wrote in a tweet Saturday.
SEE MORE: How a road trip to Mexico turned deadly for 4 South Carolina friends
Gov. Gavin Newsom has declared emergencies in 34 counties in recent weeks, and the Biden administration approved a presidential disaster declaration for some on Friday morning, a move that will bring more federal assistance. President Joe Biden spoke with Newsom on Saturday to pledge the federal government’s support in California’s response to the emergency, the White House said.
Weather-related power outages affected more than 17,000 customers in Monterey County late Saturday, according to the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services.
The governor’s office said it was continuing to monitor the situation in Pajaro.
The Pajaro River separates the counties of Santa Cruz and Monterey in the area that flooded Saturday. Floodwaters that got into the region’s wells might be contaminated with chemicals, officials said, and residents were told not to drink or cook with tap water.
Officials had been working along the levee in the hopes of shoring it up when it was breached around midnight Friday into Saturday. Crews began working to fix the levee around daybreak Saturday as residents slept in evacuation centers.
This week’s storm marked the state’s 10th atmospheric river of the winter, storms that have brought enormous amounts of rain and snow to the state and helped lessen the drought conditions that had dragged on for three years. State reservoirs that had dipped to strikingly low levels are now well above the average for this time of year, prompting state officials to release water from dams to assist with flood control and make room for even more rain.
In San Francisco, an 85-foot (25.91 meter) eucalyptus tree fell onto the Trocadero Clubhouse early Saturday morning. The 1892 clubhouse, a San Francisco historical landmark, was left severely damaged, with part of the roof crushed and the inside flooded.
Funnel clouds were spotted in the Jamestown area — the heart of California’s Gold Rush — on Saturday afternoon and the weather service issued a tornado warning — later canceled — for the Sierra Nevada foothills as severe thunderstorms, hail and high winds blanketed the region.
Another set of tornado warnings were briefly issued in Fresno County, nearly 100 miles (161 kilometers) south of Gold Country. Flash flooding warnings were in effect late Saturday in Tuolumne County, with roads submerged around Sonora and neighboring communities.