A devastating atmospheric river has largely moved on from California, but the state faces a continued threat from lingering thunderstorms and a significant risk of mudslides, particularly in areas of Los Angeles County recently scarred by wildfires.
Casualties and Ongoing Search Efforts
The powerful storm system has been blamed for at least six confirmed deaths. In a tragic incident in Monterey County, a five-year-old girl was swept into the ocean by massive 15-foot (4.6-meter) waves on Friday. Her father, 39-year-old Yuji Hu from Calgary, Alberta, lost his life while attempting to rescue her. Authorities are still searching for the missing girl.
Further north, a 71-year-old man died in Sutter County after his vehicle was swept off a flooded bridge. Off the coast of San Diego, a migrant boat capsized in the stormy seas, leading to at least four fatalities and leaving four others hospitalised, according to the US Coast Guard.
Widespread Impact and Continued Advisories
The long plume of tropical moisture, which formed over the Pacific Ocean, began drenching the state on Wednesday night, starting with the San Francisco Bay Area. It then unleashed torrential rain over Southern California on Friday and Saturday. Coastal Santa Barbara County saw more than 4 inches (10 centimetres) of rain, while parts of the Sierra Nevada were blanketed with over a foot of snow.
Although the main event has passed, flood advisories remained active through Sunday afternoon for Los Angeles, Ventura, and Santa Barbara counties. The National Weather Service issued a stark warning, stating, "Due to the abundant rainfall the past couple of days, it will not take as much rainfall to cause additional flooding or rockslide conditions."
Lingering Threats and Future Forecast
The primary concern now shifts to lingering thunderstorms and the heightened potential for mudslides, especially in wildfire-ravaged zones where the soil has lost its natural stability. The weather service has indicated that scattered rain could persist through Tuesday in the southern part of the state.
Residents are urged to remain vigilant as the saturated ground increases the risk of further disasters. The reprieve may be short-lived, as forecasters predict another storm is expected to arrive on Thursday.
