El Niño storms threaten drought-stricken California
Camarillo’s airport reported almost an inch of rain, breaking a 1959 record.
After months of anticipation, the first El Nino-generated storm of the season finally arrived Tuesday morning, just in time for the morning commute. Santa Monica got almost 1.5 inches of rain and Malibu got 1.76 inches over the last 24 hours as of 4 p.m. local time (7 p.m. ET), the NWS said.
In Ventura County, firefighters responded to a call for someone screaming in a wash. A dog was rescued in Los Angeles after being trapped by high waters in the West Hills.
In San Diego County, firefighters pulled a body from a creek in the city of Santee.
“We feel very comfortable in terms of the shelter’s capacity”, Garcetti said.
Another storm is set to roll into the area on Wednesday. Officials are concerned about flash floods in those areas, and a voluntary evacuation advisory is planned for Silverado Canyon, which is recovering from a fire in 2014.
The worst storm in a series of storms has come and gone without serious consequences for California, but the El Nino-driven weather was still causing problems around the state.
Elsewhere, the storm caused some flooding near hillside burn sites to the north of Los Angeles and prompted Knott’s Berry Farm in Buena Park and Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia to close as a precaution (Disneyland remained open).
The normally dry basin has golf courses, other recreational facilities and a wildlife refuge. Several major roadways closed temporarily because of a rock slide, crashes and slippery conditions. “We’ve got to keep it going”.
Los Angeles officials have mapped homeless encampments for the first time as they try to contact as many people as possible.
In Long Beach, firefighters rescued a homeless woman who was trapped by rising water in the Los Angeles River shortly before noon.
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) – Despite the potential for flooding and mudslides, storms moving toward California were welcome news for a state suffering from a severe drought. Heavy rain along the coast and heavy snow in the mountains is expected to continue over the coming days. Authorities say the Sepulveda Basin a flood-control area along the Los Angeles River is filling as expected.
Those storms dumped almost 3 inches of rain Tuesday on Southern California, turning Socha’s terraced backyard into a raging torrent of mud and debris. Stronger systems are predicted starting Tuesday following light rain a day earlier.
The National Weather Service issued a flash-flood watch for Northern California communities affected by several destructive wildfires last summer and fall. A weak storm moved in on Monday, bringing scattered showers through the area, but a stronger system hit Tuesday.
Although the rain eased by late afternoon, forecasters said more thunderstorms were expected on Wednesday and Thursday, and possibly Friday.
According to the National Weather Service, this is the strongest of El Niño-related storms bringing long-awaited rain to the state that has suffered drought related weather.