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Weather News
Published February 4, 2024 11:43pm EST


LOS ANGELES, SAN DIEGO UNDER STATE OF EMERGENCY AS ATMOSPHERIC RIVER LASHES
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA


A DANGEROUS ATMOSPHERIC RIVER STORM IS BLASTING CALIFORNIA WITH WIDESPREAD
IMPACTS FROM HEAVY RAIN, DAMAGING WINDS AND POTENTIALLY LIFE-THREATENING FLASH
FLOODING.

By Chris Oberholtz , Brian Donegan Source FOX Weather
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HEAVY RAIN, SNOW AND HIGH WINDS HEADED FOR LOS ANGELES

FOX Weather continues to track a dangerous atmospheric river-fueled storm.
Northern California is cleaning up downed trees while Southern California is
bracing for the worst.

FOX Weather's continued coverage of the deadly atmospheric river hitting
California on Monday has moved to this link.




LOS ANGELES – A dangerous atmospheric river storm is blasting California with
widespread impacts from heavy rains, damaging winds and potentially
life-threatening flash flooding. 

Forecasters have highlighted Southern California, including downtown Los
Angeles, for a rare "high risk" of flash flooding as the storm has already
dumped several inches of rain across the region Sunday with more to come Monday.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom even declared a State of Emergency for several
counties in Southern California to support storm response and recovery efforts. 

The "high risk" is the highest rung on NOAA's flash flood threat scale and is
only issued under the most dire of flooding forecasts. "Life-threatening flash
and urban flash flooding possible in the high risk area," NOAA's Weather
Prediction Center (WPC) said.





   
 * next
   Image 1 of 7
   
   Firefighters assist evacuating 4 adults and a dog from the red tagged units.
   Take a look at the tree on the right that fell through the roof.
   (@SBCFireInfo/X)

   
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   Image 2 of 7
   
   Rain weighed down the leaves and branches of a tree in Bodega, Bay
   California. The tree split and fell on two separate homes. (Sonoma County
   Fire District)

   
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   Image 3 of 7
   
   A dangerous situation in Arroyo Grande, California after storm winds knocked
   trees into powerlines, stripping the poles. (San Luis Obispo County Office of
   Emergency Services)

   
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   Image 4 of 7
   
   Downed trees closed the Pacific Coast Highway through Carmel Valley,
   California Sunday. (Caltrans)

   
 * prevnext
   Image 5 of 7
   
   Heavy snow closed Ebbetts Pass. Caltrans posted that travel is discouraged
   around the Tahoe, California area unless absolutely necessary. (Caltrans)

   
 * prevnext
   Image 6 of 7
   
   Crews stop vehicles through mountain roads near Tahoe, California on Sunday
   as feet of snow come down. (CHP Truckee)

   
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   Image 7 of 7
   
   Oregon State Police caught this near miss accident on dash cam. Crews were
   assisting a disabled vehicle on the side of the road when a car with balding
   tires slid on rain-slicked roads, according to police. After hitting the
   slope, the car overturned. No one was hurt. (Oregon State Police)

Flash Flood Warnings covered nearly 11 million people in the greater Los Angeles
area through Sunday night.  

The storm hasn't spared the northern and central sections of the state either,
with torrential rain and wind gusts climbing over 70 mph. Nearly 900,000
customers were without power across California as of late Sunday evening.

WHY RARE ‘HIGH RISK’ FLOOD DAYS NEED TO BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY

The flash flood threat into Monday morning.
(FOX Weather)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


 

The Golden State mobilized and prepositioned a record 8,500 emergency responders
ready for flooding, landslide and travel emergencies, according to the
Governor's office. The State of Emergency included Los Angeles, Orange,
Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Luis Obispo and Ventura Counties.

In Santa Barbara, the swollen Mission Creek forced police to evacuate residents
along streets near the downtown corridor. 

The National Weather Service office in Los Angeles continues to use strong
language in its forecasts, indicating a significant threat of widespread and
dangerous flash flooding through Monday. Forecasters warned that flooding issues
would not be confined to the usually prone areas in the foothills, mountains and
burn areas and that numerous mudslides and debris flows are expected.

WHAT IS AN ATMOSPHERIC RIVER?

A car trying to drive through a flooded street in Santa Cruz County, California
due to heavy overnight and Sunday rain.

(CHP Santa Cruz / FOX Weather)

The NWS in Los Angeles stated that rainfall rates could be up to 1.5 inches per
hour in a thunderstorm. Los Angeles usually only sees 3.38 inches of rain for
the entire month of January.

A three-hour radar loop showing where rain (green) and snow (blue) are ongoing.
Flash Flood Warnings are indicated in green, while Flash Flood Emergencies are
indicated in pink. Severe Thunderstorm Warnings are indicated in yellow. Tornado
Warnings are indicated in red, while Tornado Warnings with a confirmed tornado
are indicated in purple.
(FOX Weather)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


 


‘EXTREME’ RAINFALL TOTALS POSSIBLE ACROSS SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

An area of low pressure aims another atmospheric river at the California coast
through Monday and bring a slug of moisture straight from the tropics, according
to the FOX Forecast Center. 

Unlike the last system, this storm won't be in a hurry to leave. That will keep
the atmospheric river of moisture pointed at California for about three days as
the rain lingers into Tuesday.

Already saturated soils, more rain and strong winds continue to knock trees into
power lines and the number of Californians without power continues to rise.

Power outages.
(FOX Weather)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


 

Several televised and sporting events that were supposed to be held in Southern
California on Sunday have been postponed due to the extreme threat. 

WILL GRAMMY STARS BE DOUSED BY ATMOSPHERIC RIVER STORM? OTHER SOUTHERN
CALIFORNIA EVENTS ALREADY RESCHEDULED

Rainfall forecast through Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2024.
(FOX Weather)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


 

While all of California will get in on the rain, areas of most concern will be
along the southern coastal ranges down through the Los Angeles Basin. The
heaviest rain will fall between Sunday and Monday, with the peak rainfall rates
expected Sunday night.

On Monday, the Level 4 risk of flooding remains centered right over the Los
Angeles metro area, while the Level 3 risk extends from just north of Los
Angeles southward to the San Diego area.

Here's a look at the flash flood threat in California through Tuesday, Feb. 6,
2024.
(FOX Weather)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


 

"It shows you the confidence that we know this is going to be a bigger storm,"
Merwin said. "It has a lot more moisture to it. There's a much larger flood
threat for Southern California.

The Los Angeles metro area may see 5 inches or more by the middle of the week.
Los Angeles only averages just over 14 inches of rain per year. As mentioned
earlier, the surrounding mountains and their foothills could see 10-12 inches of
rain. Favored mountains and foothills could see 8-15 inches of rain or more.

Rainfall forecast for the Los Angeles area through Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2024.
(FOX Weather)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


 

HOW TO WATCH FOX WEATHER


SEVERAL FEET OF SNOW LIKELY IN SIERRA NEVADA

The plume of moisture will generate a significant winter storm for the Sierra
Nevada, with 4-6 feet of snow likely above 5,000-6,000 feet, the FOX Forecast
Center said. Disruptions to daily life, including difficult to impossible travel
conditions, are expected. 

In the mountains of Southern California, snow levels are expected to be around
7,000 feet, but 2–4 feet of snow is possible above that level.

A significant winter storm is anticipated for the Sierra Nevada, with several
feet of snow likely above 5,000-6,000 feet.
(FOX Weather)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


 


DAMAGING WINDS FOR SAN FRANCISCO, CENTRAL AND NORTHERN CALIFORNIA COAST

In addition to the heavy rain threat, damaging winds have been punishing the
Central California coast southward toward Santa Barbara. This includes parts of
the San Francisco Bay Area. 

High Wind Warnings for gusts to 70 mph will work their way down the coast
through the evening and overnight hours. 

Already, Funt Ranch saw an 88 mph gust, while San Francisco International
Airport clocked two gusts over 70 mph, including a 77 mph gust Sunday afternoon.
Pebble Beach saw a 65 mph gust and Oakland a 62 mph gust.

Some 50 miles north of San Francisco in Santa Rosa, a driver was injured after a
tree fell onto their vehicle on Highway 101 northbound on Sunday morning,
according to the Sonoma County Fire District.

A large tree fell onto a vehicle on Highway 101 northbound in Santa Rosa,
California, on Sunday, Feb. 4, 2024.

(Sonoma County Fire District / FOX Weather)

Elsewhere in Sonoma County, homes were damaged in Bodega Bay after a falling
tree struck them on Sunday morning. Officials said no injuries were reported in
this incident.



Even stronger winds are likely in the mountains around Southern California, with
gusts reaching as high as 70-80 mph. 

In southern Santa Barbara County, the strong winds toppled a massive 70-foot
tree onto a condominium complex in Goleta early Sunday morning, according to
Santa Barbara County Fire Department Public Information Officer Scott Safechuck.
At least four adults and one dog were displaced from the complex.



At the coast, these winds will also whip up the Pacific Ocean into a frenzy with
10-20 foot waves likely to slam into beaches up and down the state.

Moisture streaming in behind the storm will keep periods of rain in the forecast
through much of this week, though there will be longer dry periods between the
showers to wring out.


FIRST-EVER HURRICANE-FORCE WIND WARNING ISSUED OFF CENTRAL CALIFORNIA COAST

The NWS office in the Bay Area issued its first-ever Hurricane-Force Wind
Warning for the waters off parts of the Central California coast, where mariners
could encounter wind gusts over hurricane force (74-plus mph). Point Conception
Lighthouse did register a gust of 74 mph Sunday afternoon.



"Extremely strong winds will cause hazardous seas which will likely capsize or
damage vessels and severely reduce visibility," forecasters wrote in the
warning.

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