Schools closed, evacuations issued as Southern California braces for storm: Updates
last month.
Evacuation warnings and orders were in effect in Los Angeles, Ventura, and Orange counties, along with several communities near the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains in San Bernardino County. In Santa Barbara, people in high-risk areas were instructed to leave by 3 p.m. on Wednesday.
Heavy downpours aren't the only weather problem. Up to 6 feet of snow is forecast to blanket California's mountains, and strong winds are causing power outages and disruptions at airports.
Begin your day with a head start. Get all the news you need delivered right to your inbox every morning.
On Topanga Canyon Boulevard in Malibu, the public school district closed all classrooms on Thursday "due to road closures and weather concerns."
Residents are advised to stay informed about emergency updates, gather essential documents and medications, and immediately leave their homes if instructed to do so.
When you're given an evacuation order, take it seriously and leave as soon as possible. Nothing back at your home is more important than your life," said Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna at a news conference on Wednesday. "If you choose to stay in a evacuated area, damage from the burn scar and any storms may block roads and we may not be able to reach you.
Los Angeles prepares for severe storm conditions.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass advised residents to stay off the roads as the worst of the storm's rain is predicted to occur Thursday afternoon through Friday morning.
Heavy rain is forecasted to hit in a few hours," Bass said at a news conference Thursday morning. "There are hazards throughout Los Angeles, including mudslides in our hills, flooded streets, downed trees, and fallen power lines.
Authorities, including state officials, have announced a series of measures to minimize damage in the burn areas. These measures include installing thousands of feet of concrete barriers to stop potential mudflows. Additionally, hundreds of personnel have been placed in position to help with the disaster response.
Forecasters are warning of life-threatening surf conditions
A severe storm is causing hazardous surf conditions along the California coastline, as reported by the National Weather Service.
A coastal hazard warning was issued indicating that extremely large waves of 20 to 40 feet are crashing against the state's beaches on Thursday. According to the weather service in San Francisco, such waves "can sweep people off jetties and docks, and into treacherous waters," and sudden exposure to cold water also heightens "the risk of drowning in rough open waters."
"Hazardous swimming conditions and substantial beach erosion are anticipated," the weather service stated.
Authorities are delivering door-to-door evacuation notices in preparation for the storm.
Before the storm hit, authorities went from house to house, warning residents that their homes were at a higher risk of being affected by mudslides and severe flooding.
The California Department of Public Works identified these residences. Department director Mark Pestrella stated Wednesday that vulnerable areas are not limited to neighborhoods such as Altadena and Pacific Palisades, which were severely affected by wildfires last month, but also include any area where wildfires have occurred within the past year.
Pestrella stated that authorities believe they've made contact with every susceptible resident, but recommended that those with concerns about their residence get in touch with the department. He clarified that susceptible structures are those situated below a slope that has been damaged by the fire and don't have a mechanism in place to capture falling debris.
Flight delays reported in San Francisco due to strong gusts.
Flights departing from San Francisco International Airport were delayed, on average, by about two hours Thursday morning "due to high winds," according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
Strong wind advisories were issued along the California coast, stretching from the San Francisco area to San Diego. In San Diego, forecasters predicted winds of 25 to 35 miles per hour, with gusts potentially reaching speeds of up to 60 miles per hour.
Damaging winds could knock down trees, break power lines, and cause property damage," the weather service office in San Francisco warned. "Widespread power outages are likely. Travel could be extremely difficult and hazardous, especially for high-profile vehicles. The combination of wind and wet soil will increase the risk of trees falling down.
Schools are closing due to snow and extremely cold temperatures in the Northwest.
Hundreds of schools in Oregon, Nevada, Idaho, and Northern California canceled classes on Thursday due to the heavy snowfall from the atmospheric river.
Of all the western states, Oregon was hit the hardest, with all Portland Public Schools, serving over 44,000 students, forced to close. In Portland, forecasters predicted that up to two inches of snow and sleet were likely, along with winds gusting as high as 40 mph, prompting weather officials to advise people to stay off icy roads.
Roads, and particularly bridges and overpasses, are likely to become slippery and treacherous," the weather service in Portland stated. "Significant ice accumulation on power lines and tree branches may lead to power outages.
How much precipitation has occurred in California up to now?
As of Thursday at 7 a.m. local time.
- Rocky Butte, San Luis Obispo County - 5.24 inches
- Las Tablas, San Luis Obispo County – 2.02 inches
- San Marcos Pass, Santa Barbara County - 1.69 inches
- Porter Ranch in the San Fernando Valley area received 1.42 inches of rain.
- Ventura County's Matilija Dam - 1.20 inches
Six feet of snow is forecasted for the Sierra Nevada mountains.
In the Sierra Nevada mountains, some areas could see up to 6 feet of snow, prompting authorities to advise people to avoid traveling over mountain passes. Strong wind gusts of 60 mph were also a concern at high elevations.
Travel could be extremely challenging or even impossible," the weather service office in Hanford stated. "The hazardous conditions may affect the Thursday morning and evening commutes. Extremely powerful gusts could result in widespread tree damage.
"If you must travel, make sure to have an extra flashlight, food, and water in your vehicle in case of an unexpected emergency," the weather service advised.
Winter weather prompts state of emergency in Oregon
The snowfall won't be confined to the California mountains. Winter storm warnings have been issued for Oregon, Idaho, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico, as reported by the weather service.
In the Portland metropolitan area, which includes Multnomah County in Oregon, officials extended a state of emergency through at least Thursday evening. The county set up six emergency shelters on Wednesday night after hundreds of people arrived at the open shelters a day earlier.
The National Weather Service in Portland issued a warning that freezing rain and snow are forecasted to affect parts of Oregon and Washington state throughout the night into Friday. This weather is also expected to impact major highways, including Interstate 5, Interstate 205, and Interstate 84, as reported by the weather service.
What are atmospheric rivers?
The Earth's atmosphere has long, narrow areas that collect moisture from the tropics near the equator and move it toward the poles.
They can greatly differ in size and strength, but the average atmospheric river carries an amount of water vapor "roughly equivalent to the average flow of water at the mouth of the Mississippi River," as stated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Exceptionally strong atmospheric rivers can move up to 15 times that amount, often resulting in "extreme rainfall and floods," according to NOAA.
Contributing: Thao Nguyen
Schools closed, evacuations ordered as Southern California prepares for storm: Updates
Posting Komentar