Three Pacific storms are going to hit California with rain, snow and wind. This could cause floodling in areas such as Los Angeles and Santa Barbara. Worse still, areas that were burned in the deadly wildfires last year could even get mudslides, the National Weather Service has warned.
The first storm barrelled into California on Monday, which resulted in travel chaos as roads were closed.
The main north-south highway in the state, Interstate 5, was also closed yesterday due to heavy snow grouping cars and trucks.
Residents are being evacuated in Los Angeles and Santa Barbara from today, due to the risk of strong winds causing debris to fly through the air.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release that people in the Woolsey Fire burn area were evacuated at 8am local time with “door-knock notifications and posted notice”.
Later in the morning, Sherpa, Whittier and Thomas fire burns areas were then evacuated.
California officials said residents in several zones in Riverside County, east of Los Angeles, needed to leave immediately too.
A press release said: “People in these zones must go now.
“Rainstorms carry the potential for dangerous debris flows that can send mud, boulders and trees crashing down hillsides.”
Why is California being hit by storms and floods?
A strong jet stream over the Pacific Ocean has brought an “atmospheric river” of moisture into the state.
This is a stream of water vapour that can extend thousands of miles into western US from the Tropics.
Snow levels could potentially reach seven feet in some areas.
AccuWeather meteorologist Alex Sosnowski said: “In the mountains, there can be at least a couple of yards of snow in the high country of the central and southern Sierra.”
Source: “Los Angeles” – Google News