California flooding: More storms forecast for weekend as experts warn heavy rain won’t fix drought
Death toll likely to rise in California as deluge and flash floods set to continue
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California is bracing for more extreme weather this weekend, when two more storms barrel into the state on Friday and over the weekend.
The National Weather Service is forecasting heavy rain and flooding in the northern parts of the state on Saturday and into early Sunday morning, urging residents late on Thursday to “stay weather aware and prepare now”.
Since the start of the year, California has been hammered by a succession of storms with northwestern and central California already soaked by between 10 and 20 inches in the last two weeks alone.
While the heavy rain has started to raise reservoir levels, experts say it will take far more to reverse the effects of years of drought.
At least 18 people have now died in incidents linked to the extreme weather with the body of a 43-year-old woman discovered in a submerged vehicle in Sonoma County on Wednesday.
Near the city of Paso Robles, five-year-old Kyle Doan, swept away in the floodwaters when he and his mother Lindsey Doan got stuck in their car, is still missing.
Kyle’s father said that his wife unbuckled their son and the pair climbed out of the sinking car when it got stuck.
“He was calm. He was trying to say, ‘Stay calm, Mom,” he said. “She was doing her best.”
Parents describe horror of losing missing 5-year-old child Kyle Doan in California floods: ‘Hug your kids extra hard’
Residents of remote California canyon airlifted to safety after getting stranded by storms
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Palm Springs residents rescued as California’s desert city is hit by flash floods
The Palm Springs Fire Department carried out the swift water rescue after flooding in a desert wash in the city. A wash is an area in the desert where water once flowed or that floods during heavy rain or flash flooding.
Palm Springs residents rescued as California’s desert city is hit by flash floods
Officials say at least 17 people killed by string of intense winter storms across state
Half the annual rainfall - in two weeks
Large parts of central California received over half their annual rainfall in the past 16 days, the National Weather Service reported on Wednesday.
California has averaged 8.61 inches of rain and the San Francisco-Oakland metropolitan area averaged 13.34 inches after a wave of atmospheric rivers deluged the state from 26th December.
The 24-hour period from 4am (Pacific Time) on 9th January to 10th January ranks as the third wettest one-day period since 2005, forecasters added.
Clean-up gets underway after high winds downed trees across state
IRS cuts Californians a break
The Internal Revenue Service announced on Tuesday that California’s storm victims would have an extra month to file their tax returns after catastrophic impacts to large areas of the state.
Those affected now have until May 15, 2023, to file federal, individual and business tax returns and make tax payments.
The IRS is offering relief to any area designated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The change covers both individuals and households that reside, or have a business, in affected counties.
Boy, 4, and two adults rescued by good samaritans after Tesla crashes into California swimming pool
Three people, including a four-year-old boy, were dramatically rescued by good samaritans after their Tesla plunged into a swimming pool in California.
The terrifying ordeal unfolded at around 9am on Tuesday along the 700 block of West California Boulevard in Pasadena, according to the Pasadena Fire Department.
Officials said that two adults and the young boy were travelling in the Tesla when the driver hit the accelerator instead of the brake, sending the car crashing through a wall and into the swimming pool of a home.
The driver may have been distracted by the weathers, officials said, according to the New York Times.
Rachel Sharp reports.
Boy, 4, and two adults rescued after Tesla crashes into California swimming pool
Terrifying ordeal unfolded at around 9am on Tuesday along the 700 block of West California Boulevard in Pasadena, according to the Pasadena Fire Department
Dramatic video captures aftermath of California mudslides
Flooding isn’t the only danger from California’s string of recent heavy rain storms.
Many rural, mountainous areas in California have suffered both wildfires and drought in recent years, making them extremely vulnerable to landslides after sudden deluges of rain.
Video from Caltrans shows extensive damage drom mudslides on State Route 33.
5 million under flood watch as rains set to continue
An estimated 5 million Californians remain under flood watch as heavy rains are set to continue through the week, CNN reports.
“The state has been experiencing drought for the last four years, and now we have storm upon storm,” California Lt Gov Eleni Kounalakis said Wednesday.
“We’ve had six storms in the last two weeks. This is the kind of weather you would get in a year and we compressed it just into two weeks.”
A reminder: the drought isn’t over yet
Despite the apocalyptic rains and floods taking place across California, the state’s historic drought isn’t over just yet.
“It’s important to remember that these storms haven’t ended the #drought,” the state Department of Water Resources wrote on Wednesday. “Major reservoir storage remains below average, & conditions could turn dry again this winter, offsetting recent #storms. Statewide CA reservoir storage is currently only 82% of average for this time of year.”
Here’s or report on how the atmospheric river will affect the state’s drought.
Will epic California storms be enough to end state’s drought?
It will take more than a few storms to rescue California from its historic drought
Video shows massive tree falling after storm soaks soil
Following days of heavy rains, the soil in California’s Santa Cruz mountains is thoroughly soaked through.
A lineman for PG&E captured striking video on Wednesday of a massive tree falling across Highway 9 in the aftermath.
Woman found dead in submerged car in Sonoma
The death toll from the California storms keeps inscreasing.
A woman was found dead inside a submerged car on Wednesday in Forestville, according to the Sonoma County Sheriff’s office, ABC News reports.
Officials said Daphne Fontino, 43, was buried beneath 8 to 10 feet of water approximately 100 feet from the road.
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