Sinkhole Swallows Cars in Deadly California Storm

Have you been affected by the storms in the region?

Amtrak cancelled services for much of California’s southern and central coast, and several stretches of road were closed by flooding.

Meantime, power is still out and cars still submerged across Southern California, which experienced one of the most drenching storms to hit the region in recent years.

Rainfall predictions range from 2-6in (5-15cm) on the coast and from 5-10in in foothills and coastal mountains.

The storm was moving out Saturday morning after dumping record rain in some areas and leaving havoc in its wake.

Cleanup was beginning across Southern California on Saturday after a storm that forecasters billed as the most powerful in years caused flooding on multiple freeways, triggered dramatic mudslides and downed hundreds of trees and power lines.

Computer model projection showing the strong Calif. storm.

A fierce and deadly storm has been battering southern California this past 24-hours, leaving a number of people dead, and over 130,000 people without power. Ireland Baldwin was among the celebrities caught-up in the weather front insanity, after a tree smashed through her fence into her backyard and blocked the driveway. The heavy rain could cause flooding in streams and rivers, knock down trees and powerlines and cause mudslides in steep terrains. Officials at first believed the emergency spillway had helped lower water levels in the lake, before they noticed erosion.

Almost 200,000 residents were told to evacuate for fear the Oroville Dam’s spillways could collapse and send walls of water into nearby communities. Police suspected they had been speeding in the rain. Even worse is that the weather is just getting started.

The Golden State is grappling with yet another punishing wave of atmospheric river storms, which dump vast amounts of rain in narrow corridors over a short period of time.

“I expect a mudflow and I expect it to come through here”, he said.

However, there is a growing body of scientific evidence showing that hydrological extremes – both droughts and floods – are more likely to occur and be more severe in a warming world.

“This appears to be the heaviest storm that we have had so far this winter. The neighbors are here so we’re all basically going to help out each other if it comes down to it”, said Alberto Moreno, a local resident as he put up a barricade to protect his home.

Cars trying to make it through the flood waters in Long Beach, California.

Precipitation also moved down the Central Coast counties, but forecasters said it was only a light precursor to a risky atmospheric river taking aim at Southern California.

Get ready for an intense storm.

Dettinger’s work supports this conclusion, he said.