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California Officials and weather forecasters urged holiday travelers to avoid roads and reconsider Christmas travel as a series of powerful winter storms brought persistent rain, heavy winds and mountain snowfall.
The storm began arriving late Tuesday evening and was expected to intensify by Christmas Eve. Officials said millions of people traveling across the state could face dangerous, if not impossible, conditions as several atmospheric rivers are forecast to make their way through the state. National Weather Service Gave warning.
“If you’re planning on being on the roads for the Christmas holiday, please reconsider your plans,” said National Weather Service meteorologist Ariel Cohen. los angelesDuring Tuesday’s press conference.
forecasters said Southern California It could see the wettest Christmas in years and there have been warnings of flash floods, landslides and debris flows in areas scorched by last January’s bushfires. Los Angeles County Authorities said they were knocking on the doors of about 380 particularly vulnerable families to order them to leave.
Much of the Sacramento Valley and San Francisco Bay Area were under a flood watch and high wind warning as of Friday. Heavy snow and thunderstorms are expected to cause “near whiteout conditions” in parts of the Sierra Nevada on Wednesday and make travel through mountain passes “almost impossible,” forecasters warned.
There is also a slight chance of severe storms and tornadoes on the North Coast.
Heavy rain and flash flooding have already prompted water rescues across Northern California and at least one death, local officials said. Shasta County Sheriff Michael L. Johnson declared a state of emergency on Monday to prepare for more rain and allow the state to mitigate the threat and help with search and rescue operations.
National Weather Service meteorologist Mike Wofford said Southern California typically gets a half-inch to 1 inch (1.3 to 2.5 centimeters) of rain this time of year, but many areas could get between 4 to 8 inches (10 to 20 centimeters) of rain this week. It can be even higher in the mountains. Winds could reach 60 to 80 mph (96.5 to 127.8 kph) along parts of the central coast.
Officials expect numerous road closures and airport delays during the storm. Trees and power lines are also likely to fall. Parts of Los Angeles have been warned to evacuate this week.
The county installed K-Rail, a type of barrier, around the burn scar to help catch sliding debris during rain. Residents can also pick up free sandbags to protect their homes, said Los Angeles County Supervisor Katherine Barger, who represents Altadena.
Los Angeles Police Department Chief Jim McDonnell said that many people in areas with burn scars decided not to leave after receiving evacuation notifications. He urged them to reconsider.
“The threat posed by this storm is real and imminent,” he said.
Local and state officials have been preparing to respond to emergencies throughout the week. The state has deployed resources and first responders to several counties along the coast and in Southern California. The California National Guard is also ready to assist.
An atmospheric river is a long, narrow band of water vapor that forms over the ocean and flows through the sky, delivering moisture from the tropics to northern latitudes.
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Associated Press writers Sophie Austin in Sacramento, California, and Jessica Hill in Las Vegas contributed to this report.