LOS ANGELES, California — California is in the midst of an atmospheric river’s impact, with moderate to heavy rains causing significant problems across the state. The mountains north of Santa Barbara are experiencing rainfall totals nearing double digits, while flood watches are affecting more than 35 million people along the coastline from Eureka to the Mexican border. The threat of additional flooding is expected to last into Wednesday, with debris flows and mudslides already having occurred in Los Angeles.
Numerous road closures have been reported due to high water, mud, and debris in Central and Southern California, with the westbound lanes of the Pacific Coast Highway and other major routes being impacted. The hardest-hit areas appear to be between Los Angeles and San Luis Obispo, with Montecito reporting 8.84 inches of rain and the Ventura County mountains receiving at least 6 inches of rain.
In addition to the heavy rains, there is also the risk of isolated tornadoes or waterspouts in Southern California, with high winds in the central and northern parts of the state causing power outages for over 10,000 customers. Despite the challenging conditions, the influence of the atmospheric river is expected to wane by Wednesday evening.
The atmospheric river, which is a filament of deep, tropical moisture from near Hawaii, is being swirled ashore by low pressure stationed off Oregon, and is now aimed at Southern California. This weather system is expected to bring scattered downpours, thunderstorms, and the risk of flash flooding to the region, with snow levels in the Sierra Nevada dropping and high winds continuing to impact mountain areas.
By Thursday, the upper-air disturbance behind this atmospheric river is expected to have exited, bringing a brief period of tranquil weather before the next atmospheric river is anticipated to arrive late Sunday. The ongoing impact of these weather patterns continues to present significant challenges for the state of California, with the possibility of further storm systems on the horizon.