California, including Oxnard and Port Hueneme in Ventura County, witnessed evacuation orders on Thursday for cities and beach towns along its southern coast due to a sluggish Pacific storm, prompting authorities to urge residents to find shelter as floodwaters submerged streets.
Collaborating with the police department, the Oxnard Fire Department conducted water rescues, emphasizing the hazards of navigating flooded roads. Thankfully, there have been no reports of injuries or fatalities. Ventura County witnessed a brief tornado warning overnight, as per USA Today.
California Faces Rare 500-Year Storm
OXNARD, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 21: A driver does a detour after a creek overflows during heavy rains in Zuma Beach during heavy rains on December 21, 2023 in Malibu, California. Southern California saw heavy rain storms that caused flooding and led to evacuations in Ventura County.
A storm system is anticipated to impact the California coast, bringing with it heavy rainfall, thunderstorms, and the possibility of waterspouts or tornadoes until Friday. According to the National Weather Service in Los Angeles, Southern California is expected to experience the most severe weather conditions from Wednesday afternoon through Thursday.
Meteorologists highlight the storm's "optimal route" for maximum rainfall, with an atmospheric river delivering over 4 inches of rain from late Tuesday to early Thursday. Anticipated rainfall rates exceeding 2 inches per hour raised concerns of flash flooding, leading to evacuation warnings in Ventura County until noon Friday.
Oxnard, the largest city in the county, was hit with an astonishing amount of rainfall on Thursday morning. Within just a few hours, the city received over 2.5 inches of rain, a truly extraordinary occurrence. This level of precipitation is so rare that it is estimated to happen only once every 500 years.
In Ventura County, floodwaters have wreaked havoc on a minimum of 60 homes, causing significant damage and distress for the affected residents. The dire situation has prompted an overwhelming surge of emergency calls, with a staggering 275 distress calls flooding in within a mere five-hour period. The number of calls far surpasses the average volume typically handled by the local emergency department.
Swift water rescues were initiated to assist trapped vehicles as roadways became inundated. The situation extended to Santa Barbara, where intense rainfall forced the closure of multiple ramps leading to Highway 101 due to flooding, according to New York Times.
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Heavy Rainfall Warning For Southern California
Southern California is expected to receive rainfall totals of 2 to 5 inches, with an additional 5 to 10 inches possible in south-facing foothills and coastal slopes. Flood watches are in effect for parts of Los Angeles, San Diego, Santa Barbara, and Palm Springs, with warnings of significant and potentially life-threatening flooding.
The weather service underscores the risk of extensive roadway flooding, rock and mudslides, debris flows near recent burn scars, and significant creek flooding. A Level 3 of 4 moderate risk for excessive rainfall is in effect, particularly for Santa Barbara and the Los Angeles metro area.
While thunderstorms are possible on Thursday, the likelihood of them turning severe is low. Earlier this week, Northern California experienced a rare event-an EF-1 tornado in Oroville, causing minimal damage.
On the opposite coast, the Northeast is contending with extreme weather, including torrential rain and flooding. In Maine, over 130,000 power customers have endured days without power amid freezing temperatures. Restoration efforts are challenged by ongoing strong wind gusts, impeding the recovery from the early-week storm that closed numerous roads due to downed trees and power lines, CNN News reported.
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