LOS ANGELES – Forecasters have highlighted Southern California, including downtown Los Angeles, for a rare “high risk” of flash flooding on Sunday and Monday due to a powerful atmospheric river that promises to dump several inches of rain across the area. region.
California Governor Gavin Newsom even declared a state of emergency for several Southern California counties to support storm response and recovery efforts.
“High risk” is the highest rung on NOAA’s flash flood threat scale and is only issued under the most dire flood forecasts.
The storm has already hit the northern and central parts of the state, and snow is already accumulating along the Sierra Nevada.
“The high risk was also expanded southward to cover all of Los Angeles County south of the Transverse Range based on coordination with (the National Weather Service office in Los Angeles),” the Weather Prediction Center (WPC) said. NOAA. “Life-threatening urban flash flooding is possible in the high-risk area.”
The WPC warned that it is a category 5 atmospheric river, the highest category.
According to the Governor’s office, the Golden State mobilized and prepositioned a record 8,500 emergency responders ready for floods, mudslides and travel emergencies.
A woman walks along a flooded sidewalk in Santa Barbara, California, during an atmospheric river storm on February 4, 2024. Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images The threat of flash flooding on Sunday, February 4, 2024. FOX Weather
The state of emergency included the counties of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Luis Obispo and Ventura.
The National Weather Service office in Los Angeles continues to use strong language in its forecasts, indicating a significant threat of widespread dangerous flash flooding through Monday.
Forecasters warned that flooding problems would not be limited to generally prone areas in the foothills, mountains and burnt areas and that numerous landslides and debris flows were expected.
Additionally, moist, unstable air will likely lead to scattered strong or even some severe thunderstorms along and just off the central California coast.
Palm trees blown by strong winds during the storm in Santa Barbara. Photo by DAVID MCNEW/AFP via Getty Images
Some storms could generate waterspouts on Sunday in central and southern coastal waters from the Santa Barbara Channel north past Santa Cruz.
One or two brief tornadoes are also possible as waterspouts reach the coast, the NWS said.
The NWS in Los Angeles said rainfall could reach up to 1.5 inches per hour in the event of a storm. Los Angeles typically only receives 2.89 inches of rain during the entire month of January.
Evacuation warnings were issued due to multiple days of excessive rain expected in Southern California.
A ship washed ashore during the storm in Santa Barbara. Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images
‘Extreme’ Precipitation Totals Possible in Southern California
An area of low pressure points another atmospheric river toward the California coast through Monday and will bring a blast of moisture directly from the tropics, according to the FOX Forecast Center.
Unlike the last system, this storm will be in no hurry to leave. That will keep the atmospheric river of moisture pointed toward California for about three days as rain persists into Tuesday.
Several sporting and televised events that were due to be held in Southern California on Sunday have been postponed due to the extreme threat.
Rain forecast through Wednesday, February 7, 2024. FOX Weather A car submerged during flooding caused by the atmospheric river storm in Long Beach on February 1, 2024. CAROLINE BREHMAN/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
While all of California will be affected by the rain, the areas of greatest concern will be along the coastal ranges south to the Los Angeles basin.
The heaviest rain will fall between Sunday and Monday, with maximum rainfall expected Sunday night.
On Monday, the Level 4 flood risk remains centered just over the Los Angeles metropolitan area, while the Level 3 risk extends from north of Los Angeles south to the San Diego area.
Here’s a look at the flash flood threat in California through Tuesday, February 6, 2024. FOX Weather
“This shows confidence that we know this is going to be a bigger storm,” Merwin said. “It has much more humidity. There is a much greater threat of flooding for Southern California.
The Los Angeles metropolitan area may see 5 inches or more by midweek.
Los Angeles only averages just over 14 inches of rain per year.
Rain forecast for the Los Angeles area through Tuesday, February 6, 2024. FOX Weather
As mentioned above, the surrounding mountains and their foothills could see 10 to 12 inches of rain. Favored mountains and foothills could see 8 to 15 inches of rain.
Several feet of snow likely in Sierra Nevada
The plume of moisture will create a significant winter storm for the Sierra Nevada, with 4 to 6 feet of snow likely above 5,000 to 6,000 feet, the FOX Forecast Center said.
Disruptions to daily life are expected, including difficult or impossible travel conditions.
In the Southern California mountains, snow levels are expected to be around 7,000 feet, but 2 to 4 feet above that level are possible.
People walking under heavy snowfall in Kings Canyon National Park in California on February 1, 2024. Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images A major winter storm is anticipated for the Sierra Nevada, with several feet of snow likely above 5,000 to 6,000 feet. FOX Weather
Damaging winds for the coast of San Francisco, central and northern California
In addition to the threat of heavy rain, damaging winds have been battering California’s central coast south toward Santa Barbara. This includes parts of the San Francisco Bay Area.
High wind warnings gusting up to 70 mph will extend along the coast through the afternoon and evening.
Funt Ranch already saw an 88 mph gust, Pebble Beach saw a 65 mph gust, and Oakland saw a 62 mph gust.
Wind gust forecast for California. FOX Weather
About 50 miles north of San Francisco, in Santa Rosa, a driver was injured after a tree fell on his vehicle on the northbound 101 Freeway Sunday morning, according to the Sonoma County Fire District.
Elsewhere in Sonoma County, homes were damaged in Bodega Bay after a falling tree hit them Sunday morning. The officials said no injuries were reported in this incident.
Even stronger winds are likely in the mountains surrounding Southern California, with gusts reaching 70 to 80 mph.
In southern Santa Barbara County, high winds toppled a massive 70-foot tree onto a condo complex in Goleta early Sunday, according to Scott Safechuck, Public Information Officer, Santa Barbara County Fire Department.
At least four adults and a dog were displaced from the complex.
70′ Tree Falls in Condo Complex: 7600 Blk. Hollister Avenue, Goleta. Two units labeled red by the Building Department (1 up and 1 down), displacing 4 adults and 1 dog. Firefighters are assisting with rescue and recovery of personal items of displaced residents. CT 4:19 am. pic.twitter.com/dJC6m5Hev9
—Scott Safechuck (@SBCFireInfo) February 4, 2024
On the coast, these winds will also hit the Pacific Ocean with 10 to 20 foot waves that will likely hit beaches across the state.
Moisture flowing behind the storm will keep periods of rain forecast for much of this week, although there will be longer dry periods between the rains to drain.
First hurricane-force wind warning issued off central California coast
The NWS Bay Area office issued its first hurricane-force wind warning for waters off parts of California’s central coast, where boaters could encounter hurricane-force wind gusts (greater than 74 mph ).
Extremely dangerous winds.
Waters from the Big Sur coast out to 60 nautical miles have been updated to Hurricane Force Wind Advisories for winds of 35 to 55 knots with gusts up to 80 knots (approximately 92 mph).#CAwx pic.twitter.com/Zbt2dNryJ1
– NWS Bay Area 🌉 (@NWSBayArea) February 4, 2024
“Extremely strong winds will cause dangerous seas that are likely to capsize or damage boats and severely reduce visibility,” forecasters wrote in the warning.
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