Another atmospheric river is approaching California, where neighborhoods are still flooded, and hundreds of evacuees are in shelters



CNN

Still reeling from storms that flooded neighborhoods, forced rescues and damaged roads, storm-worn California prepares for another atmospheric river that threatens more flooding on Monday.

More than 17 million people remained on watch for flooding in California and Nevada early Monday morning as the storm approached ominously – the 11th atmospheric river that hit the West this winter season.

A new storm is coming on the heels of another atmospheric river, could exacerbate flooding and damage in some areas. Residents of central and northern California are already crowding into shelters and struggling with flooded areas, landslides, dangerous rushing rivers, collapsed bridges and unusable roads.

At least two people died storms, officials said.

This atmospheric river event will first bring rain and snow to much of Oregon and Washington before dropping south into California on Monday. Total precipitation up to 8 inches is possible in parts of northern and central California.

The approaching atmospheric river is already complicating repairs to a dam failure that occurred around midnight Friday on the swollen Pajaro River in Monterey County, one of the state’s hardest-hit areas.

Water poured uncontrollably through a more than 120-foot breach into nearby Pajaro, forcing thousands to flee as crews carried out rescue work during a flood in the flooded area.

According to Monterey Sheriff Tina Nieto, about 200 people have already been rescued in the area due to the flooding.

According to Luis Alejo, chairman of the Monterey County Board of Supervisors, many Pajaro residents are farm workers who could not only lose their property but their ability to make a living for some time if the ongoing flooding affects agriculture.

“These are people who can at least afford such difficulties,” he said.

With upcoming rain, Monterey County officials are currently looking into expanding evacuation orders in the Pajaro River area, where more than 5,000 residents have already been affected by warnings and evacuation orders.

More than 480 people are in 30 shelters across 12 counties, most of them in hard-hit Santa Cruz County, just north of the Monterey area, according to an update from the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Management Sunday.

President Joe Biden approved the emergency declaration requested by the governor. Gavin Newsom. The move frees up funds for millions of residents affected by severe weather since the start of the year.

Newsom on Sunday expanded the declaration to include six more counties, including Calaveras, Del Norte, Glenn, Kings, San Benito and San Joaquin.

An aerial view of a collapsed dam and flooded river in Pajaro, California on March 12, 2023.

Images from across the state show areas that look like lakes due to the heavy rains that have hit California over the past few days, causing rivers and streams to flood.

The Salinas River is already rising as it passes through the Salinas Valley, and Monterey County officials are warning it will feel the impact of our next atmospheric river storm.”

The California Highway Patrol used a helicopter to help rescue a man stranded in the Salinas River in King City, the agency said in a Facebook post.

“The rising river washed away the driver and his car, but the driver was able to get out of the car and reach the island in the middle of the flooded Salinas River,” the report said. mail said.

Similar rescue operations were carried out across the state, with California National Guard troops also responding with flood vehicles to help people stranded in the flood waters.

In parts of Kern County where few evacuation orders remain, the flooding was so severe that one resident described seeing a barn, a hot tub and several full-sized rootball trees floating down the Kern River in Kernville.

“Now the river surrounds several RVs and RVs. It’s really incredible,” said Danny Housh, who has been with Kernville for 17 years and said he’s never seen anything like it before.

In the north, as torrential rains hit Santa Cruz County on Friday, about 700 Sokel residents were trapped after a pipe burst collapsed the only road linking the community to the rest of the region, said Steve Wiesner, the county’s deputy director for public works.

“Now we’re an island,” resident Molly Watson told CNN.

Another hard hit area was Tulare County, where a video from Springville showed devastating destruction following Friday’s massive flooding.

“It’s pretty heartbreaking,” Hattie Shepard told CNN. “Many hard-working people have been displaced with the loss of homes and possessions.”

Firefighters from the Mammoth Lakes Fire Department respond to a propane heater leak and a small fire at a closed restaurant surrounded by snowdrifts on March 12, 2023 in Mammoth Lakes, California.

Recent atmospheric rivers are the latest to flood the state after a squall similar storms in December and January also led to deadly floods and widespread destruction.

atmospheric rivers are long narrow bands of moisture that can carry saturated air thousands of miles like a fire hose.

This new wave of storms is hitting areas already covered in heavy snowfall over the past two weeks. Melting snow cover Forecasters say this will also play a role in extending the flooding in the coming days.

While uncertain about the timing of this system, forecasters know it will bring another round of heavy rainfall, as well as heavy snowfall, to the uplands of the Sierra Nevada.

The National Weather Service Forecasting Center assigned a 3 out of 4 risk of excessive rain in northern California on Monday and parts of the coast of central California and the Sierra Nevada on Tuesday.

rain expected Heavy rain combined with snow melt is forecast to begin intensifying late Monday National Weather Service.

The National Weather Service has warned on “significant flooding impacts” below 5,000 feet in large swaths of central California on Tuesday.

“Additionally, heavy rains and snowmelt could lead to renewed (greater) flooding from Monday to Tuesday, especially at low altitudes and in shallow and warming areas with snow cover,” the National Weather Service said.

Streams and creeks that have already burst their banks are expected to continue to be prone to flooding due to additional rainfall and snowmelt.

In Southern California, in the mountains and foothills, peak rain rates of up to one inch per hour are expected.

weather office in los angeles said residents can expect shallow torrents of mud and debris in recently burned areas, downed trees and power lines, and travel delays from flooded roads and landslides.