California may face severe weather threats during this Christmas holiday season as a powerful atmospheric river is set to hit southern California starting from Tuesday. This weather system is expected to bring continuous days of rain and strong winds, with rainfall intensity possibly exceeding 1 inch per hour. In northern California, heavy rain has already triggered flooding threats, resulting in one fatality and many areas facing a high risk of severe flooding.
Over the past weekend, a person in Shasta County, Redding, northern California, lost their life due to heavy rain and severe flooding, with the situation expected to worsen this week. Redding Mayor Mike Littau confirmed the fatality on Sunday through social media.
Littau urged the community to prioritize safety, stating, “The Public Works Department and the Redding Electric Utility (REU) are working diligently to clear roads and restore power.” He also mentioned, “Law enforcement and fire departments have initiated water rescue operations, with one fatality confirmed so far.”
Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office, adjacent to Redding, also issued flood rescue alerts via social media. Authorities have been actively rescuing affected residents near Freshwater, with images showing roads submerged and water levels reaching halfway up garage doors, necessitating the use of small boats for water rescues.
Due to the severity of the situation, the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) closed both directions of Highway 101 north of Loleta on Sunday, with no specified reopening time for this crucial north-south coastal transportation route.
Weather analyst Colin McCarthy posted on social media on Sunday afternoon that over 400,000 Californians are under flood alert conditions.
Heavy rain caused flight disruptions at San Francisco International Airport, disrupting holiday travel plans. As the atmospheric river continues to bring heavy rainfall, moisture bands will progressively move towards southern California, posing threats to San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego areas. Extreme weather is expected to affect flight schedules at San Francisco International Airport and Los Angeles International Airport in the coming days.
The National Weather Service (NWS) indicated that from Tuesday afternoon through Wednesday night, flood watches have been issued for most areas in Los Angeles County. Foothill and mountain regions, as well as areas recently affected by wildfires, may face risks of mudslides and landslides. Additionally, rainfall will be accompanied by strong winds, with peak wind speeds possibly reaching up to 80 miles per hour, posing greater threats to the local population.
According to NWS forecasts, rainfall intensity will rapidly increase after midnight on Tuesday; Wednesday is expected to be the peak of the storm, with heavy rain and strong winds throughout the day; Thursday is projected to bring a second wave of heavy rain and strong winds, potentially impacting holiday travel plans directly; Friday and Saturday will see decreasing rainfall, turning into sporadic light showers, until stable weather returns on Sunday.
Officials are reminding the public to ensure that drains and house gutters are clear to prevent flooding. Residents living near wildfire-prone areas should be prepared to evacuate at a moment’s notice.