An atmospheric river storm has caused chaos across California, leaving at least three people dead from falling trees and prompting flood alerts for nearly 38 million residents. The storm, which stalled over Los Angeles on Monday, has brought record rainfall, destructive mudslides, and violent winds, with officials warning that dangers persist as waters continue to rise.
In Los Angeles, streets in steep hillside communities turned into rushing rivers, forcing evacuations. Two landslides converged on the Beverly Crest neighbourhood, inundating multimillion-dollar homes with mud. The National Weather Service (NWS) described the situation in the Santa Monica mountains and Hollywood Hills as “extremely dangerous”, warning of life-threatening landslides and flash flooding.
Rainfall totals have been alarming: UCLA recorded over 11.8 inches, more than three times the February average. Downtown Los Angeles received nearly 6.5 inches. The storm has also hit Topanga, Bel Air, Sepulveda Canyon, and Woodland Hills with over 10 inches in two days. The NWS warned the rain could intensify through Monday afternoon and continue into Tuesday.
California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency for eight counties, including Los Angeles. LA Mayor Karen Bass said it had been “a tough day for our city” and confirmed she is in contact with state and federal officials. Earlier, a rare hurricane force wind warning was issued for the San Francisco Bay Area, with winds gusting close to 70mph.
Fatalities occurred when trees fell on properties: an elderly man in Yuba City, a person trapped in a home in Boulder Creek, and a 41-year-old man in Sacramento county. Power outages affected half a million homes and businesses, though utilities restored service to many by Monday afternoon, leaving about 379,000 customers without electricity.
