A motorist has died in California amid heavy flooding as the state braces for a week of severe storms, with forecasters predicting extensive rainfall over the Christmas weekend.
The death occurred in Redding, northern California, on Sunday. Authorities said the victim became stranded in a vehicle that was filling with water. The city's mayor, Mike Littau, said police broke the car's windows and administered CPR, but the person did not survive. He added that the city was concerned about rain from Tuesday to Friday having bigger impacts than the previous night.
The storms are being driven by a strong atmospheric river known as a 'Pineapple Express,' originating in the tropical Pacific. Southern California could experience its biggest Christmas storm in years, with 4 to 8 inches of rain expected in coastal areas and 8 to 12 inches in the foothills between Tuesday and Saturday.
The state has already seen a wet winter. A previous atmospheric river system in December brought deadly flooding, breached levees and caused power outages in Oregon and Washington. In late November, Los Angeles received 5.5 inches of rain, its wettest November in decades. Officials are concerned about mudslides and debris flow in areas scarred by the Eaton and Palisades fires.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has announced a flash flood warning beginning Tuesday and urged caution for holiday travel. The city is deploying staff with the Los Angeles homeless services authority to provide supplies and hotel vouchers to people living outside. Bass said first responders, public works crews and utility personnel were ready to respond.
Atmospheric rivers form in tropical regions where warm temperatures cause water vapor to rise. They can carry vast amounts of moisture, with studies showing seven to 15 times the average daily discharge of the Mississippi River. On the west coast of the US, they account for 30% to 50% of annual precipitation.
