California battered by mudslides and flooding during three-day storm

The storm triggered several landslides throughout the state

Floodwaters rush through Montecito, California on Monday afternoon

A brutal storm that battered California is winding down as of Wednesday morning, with heavy rain beginning to subside.

Much of California was on flood watch on Monday and Tuesday as some regions approach ten inches of total rainfall while bracing for floods and landslides.

Road blockages, landslides and toppled trees have already been reported in and around Los Angeles. A massive tree also crashed in a Los Angeles neighbourhood on Monday, damaging parked vehicles and downing power lines.

Officials warned Californians to avoid road travel and prepare for power outages, mud or rock slides and coastal flooding. Portions of the US-101 and Pacific Coast Highway were blocked on Monday as rainfall intensified and floodwaters rushed onto the major roadway.

Meanwhile, Santa Barbara County officials issued evacuation warnings for some waterfront neighbourhoods, which could persist through Wednesday.

Many parts of California are already saturated from the heavy rain after a storm earlier this month caused hundreds of landslides so far.

Key Points

• Entire Bay Area under flood watch
• Mudslide damages roadside fence in Los Angeles
• SEE IT: Massive tree falls in Los Angeles neighbourhood, damaging cars and power lines
• Southern California rainfall total approaches 10 inches in some areas

[19 February 2024 12:00 · Mike Bedigan]

In pictures: Scenes of destruction in California

Across California, residents were still battling the impacts of last week’s atmospheric river-driven storms which caused flash flooding and hundreds of devastating mudslides.

An SUV sits buried by a mudslide, Monday, Feb. 5, 2024, in the Beverly Crest area of Los Angeles (AP)

The remains of a piano and a collapsed carport are what's left of a house demolished by mud flows caused by heavy rains in the Beverly Glen section of Los Angeles (Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

Cars are seen buried by mud in the garage of a home in Los Angeles on Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2024 (Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

A local resident checks the damage to her neighbor's house after heavy rains and mud flows caused it to slide down from the hill in Beverly Glen (Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

A woman stands among the wreckage of a house that was abruptly destroyed by a landslide as a historic atmospheric river storm inundates the Hollywood Hills area of Los Angeles, California, on February 6, (AFP via Getty Images)

[19 February 2024 13:00 · Mike Bedigan]

Watch: Rock landslide covers street with trees and debris in California

[19 February 2024 14:00 · Mike Bedigan]

Fresh concerns for LA County ahead of new California atmospheric river storms

Weather officials say there is “concern” for Los Angeles County ahead of a new atmospheric river weather system that threatens to bring more potential destruction to the area.

The National Weather Service (NWS) Los Angeles says that overly saturated ground – a result of recent poor weather and flooding – may raise the chances of further landslides in and around LA.

California was previously battered by similar weather systems, during which nine people were killed, and billions of dollars worth of damage was incurred.

[19 February 2024 14:21 · Katie Hawkinson]

California residents survey damage caused by historic storms: ‘We were in shock’

During torrential downpours earlier this month, firefighters responded to a heavy debris flow in the Beverly Crest area of Los Angeles, evacuating seven homes.

Residents told Mike Bedigan they had “not even remotely had anything like this before”.

Read the full report here:

[19 February 2024 14:40 · Katie Hawkinson]

SEE IT: Satellite imagery of storm barreling towards West Coast

[19 February 2024 15:06 · Katie Hawkinson]

California mountains could see up to ten inches of rain

The Saint Lucias and Saint Ynez Ranges could see up to ten inches of rain through Wednesday morning, according to the National Weather Service.

Up to three inches of snow is also possible in the region.

Officials are warning residents to prepare for significant flooding as a result of the downpour and to move parked cars out of flood-prone areas.

[19 February 2024 15:20 · Katie Hawkinson]

SEE IT: Heavy rain in San Francisco, California

San Francisco saw heavy rain and winds on Sunday night as the first clouds of the upcoming storm rolled into California.

Gusts up to 50 miles per hour, as well as thunderstorms and flooding, are expected throughout Monday in the Bay Area, according to the National Weather Service.

Heavy rain and subsequent flooding hit San Francisco, California on Sunday (Anadolu via Getty Images)

[19 February 2024 15:40 · Katie Hawkinson]

Power outages begin

Across California, officials are warning residents to prepare for power outages as they brace for heavy rain and wind in several regions.

As of Monday morning, nearly 20,000 homes are already without power, according to PowerOutage.us. The vast majority of those homes are in Nevada County, which is being hit with heavy rain and wind this morning, according to the National Weather Service.

More outages across the state are to be expected as weather conditions intensify through Wednesday morning.

[19 February 2024 16:00 · Katie Hawkinson]

Los Angeles officials prepare shelters for unhoused people amid storm

Los Angeles city officials have opened winter weather shelters for unhoused people as a powerful storm hits the region, according to a statement from Mayor Karen Bass.

The Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority outreach workers will also be offering transportation and hotel vouchers, the statement reads.

Earlier this month, the city faced heavy criticism from community organisers over their efforts to protect the unhoused population during a record-breaking storm.

“[The system] is not designed to help anyone that’s actually out there… It was such an abysmal response,” community organiser Carla Orendorff told The Independent several days ago. Read more about Ms Orendorff’s response and the impact of storms on unhoused people in Los Angeles, California from Mike Bedigan:

[19 February 2024 16:20 · Katie Hawkinson]

Northern California to see heavy thunderstorms, possible tornadoes in coming hours

Severe thunderstorms and heavy winds are set to hit the Sacramento, California region in the next two hours.

Residents should prepare for brief tornadoes, hail, rain, lightning and heavy gusts, the National Weather Service said.

Forecasters predict up to 6 inches of rain in the region through Wednesday. Up to eight inches of snow are also possible in California’s northeastern mountain ranges, bringing the possibility of whiteouts for mountain drivers.

The National Weather Service said tornadoes are possible in northern California today (National Weather Service)