A powerful atmospheric river storm has swept through California, leaving at least seven dead and causing widespread damage. Among the victims was a seven-year-old girl who was swept into the ocean by waves estimated at up to 20ft at a state beach on Friday. Her father, 39-year-old Yuji Hu of Calgary, Alberta, died while attempting to rescue her.
In northern California's Sutter County, a 71-year-old man died after his vehicle was swept off a flooded bridge. Further south, a wooden boat believed to be carrying migrants from Mexico capsized off the coast of San Diego, resulting in four deaths and four hospitalisations.
The storm, which began drenching the San Francisco Bay Area last Wednesday night, brought record rainfall to downtown Los Angeles, breaking a November record set in 1985. More than 4in of rain fell over coastal Santa Barbara County, and parts of the Sierra Nevada received over a foot of snow.
Lingering thunderstorms continue to pose a risk of mudslides in areas of Los Angeles County recently ravaged by wildfires. The National Weather Service warned that due to abundant rainfall over the past few days, additional flooding and rockslides could occur with minimal rain. Rain is expected to continue through Tuesday, with another storm forecast to arrive on Thursday.
Flooding has been reported in the Palm Springs area and throughout the Coachella Valley, with road closures in effect. Scientists note that amid the climate crisis, warming oceans are supercharging such atmospheric river storms, making them deadlier and costlier.
