California officials and meteorologists urged holiday travelers to avoid the roads on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day ahead of a series of powerful winter storms that threatened to batter the state with heavy rain, high winds and mountain snow through Friday.
Millions of people are expected to travel through the state. Like many people, they are likely to face dangerous, if not impossible, travel conditions Atmospheric rivers The National Weather Service warned that it was expected to make its way across the state.
“If you plan to be on the roads for the Christmas holiday, please reconsider your plans,” said Ariel Cohen, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Los Angeles.
Forecasters said Southern California could see the rainiest Christmas in years and warned of flooding, mudslides and debris flows in areas scorched by the snow. Forest fires last January. Los Angeles County officials said Tuesday they are knocking on the doors of about 380 particularly vulnerable families to order them to leave.
Most areas witnessed scattered rain on Tuesday morning, and the system is expected to accelerate in the evening and intensify on Christmas Eve. Some areas will see rain and winds ease on Wednesday before another storm hits.
Much of the Sacramento Valley and San Francisco Bay Area were under a flood watch and high wind warning through Friday. Forecasters warned of heavy snow and storms in parts of the Sierra Nevada starting Tuesday, which will create “near whiteout conditions” and make it “almost impossible” to travel through mountain passes.
There is also a risk of severe thunderstorms and a small chance of tornadoes along the northern coast.
Heavy rain and flash flooding that began Saturday in Northern California prompted water rescues At least one deathLocal officials said. Shasta County Sheriff Michael Johnson on Monday declared a state of emergency to prepare for more rain and allow the state to help with hazard mitigation and search and rescue operations.
Southern California typically receives between 1/2 inch and 1 inch (1.3 to 2.5 cm) of rain this time of year, but this week many areas could see between 4 and 8 inches (10 to 20 cm), said Mike Wofford, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service. It can be more in the mountains. Wind speeds could reach 60 to 80 mph (96.5 to 127.8 kph) in parts of the Central Coast.
Widespread flooding, rockslides and mudslides are very likely, especially in areas scorched by last January’s heavy rains. Barrier fireHe added. Officials expect many roads to be closed and airports delayed during the storms. Fallen trees and power lines are also possible. Parts of Los Angeles were under evacuation warnings starting Tuesday.
The county placed K bars, a type of barrier, around the burn scar to help catch sliding debris during rainstorms. Residents can also get free sandbags to protect their homes, said Katherine Barger, a Los Angeles County supervisor who represents Altadena.
“When experts predict this kind of rain in such a short period of time, it’s dangerous,” Barger said.
Several people in burn scar areas decided not to leave after receiving an evacuation notice, Los Angeles Police Department Chief Jim McDonnell said Tuesday. He urged them to reconsider.
He added, “The threat posed by this storm is real and imminent.”
Local and state officials are preparing to respond to emergencies during the week. The state deployed resources and first responders to a number of counties along the coast and in Southern California ahead of the storms. The California National Guard is also ready to assist.
An atmospheric river is a long, narrow band of water vapor that forms over the ocean and flows across the sky. Moisture transport from the tropics To northern latitudes.
Earlier this month, stubborn weather rivers drenched Washington state with nearly 5 trillion gallons (19 trillion liters) of rain in a week. Threatening record flood levelsMeteorologists said. This rainfall has been increased by warm weather and air, as well as unusual weather conditions dating back to a tropical cyclone in Indonesia.
___
Associated Press writers Sophie Austin in Sacramento, California, and Jessica Hale in Las Vegas contributed to this report.