Atmospheric rivers hold a special place in California's weather glossary. A chain formed by this climatic phenomenon left enough rain last year for the State to abandon the drought that hit the region for years. A new storm system entered the State on Saturday, causing heavy rains and winds that have already left 800,000 users without electricity service. The authorities have declared a state of emergency for the south of the entity in order to better coordinate the response to a “powerful and slow-moving” storm. This is expected to last several days, which could leave a record amount of precipitation.
“It is a very serious storm that can have a dangerous impact and represent a risk to life,” the governor, Gavin Newsom, said this afternoon. The local president has proclaimed the declaration of emergency in eight counties in Southern California, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ventura. On Sunday night the storm had downed some trees and a wind of 96 kilometers per hour, with gusts of up to 128 kilometers, had affected the electrical service in the San Francisco Bay. The gusts had also caused dozens of delays at the city's airport.
The Meteorological Service issued an alert for this Sunday due to strong winds and the risk of flooding in the aforementioned counties due to precipitation that will leave up to 35 centimeters of rain. In Los Angeles, authorities have asked residents, if possible, not to drive and to be prepared for “some of the worst weather days in living memory.” Meteorologists are calling it the worst storm of the year… which has just begun.
In the upper parts of the State, atmospheric rivers will also leave a significant amount of snow. “The winds can cause property damage and power outages,” said the State Government. Coastal communities have also been warned of the possibility of large waves and strong sea currents.
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The threat, however, also lies inland. Years of drought have left eroded soil that can cause crazy landslides and avalanches in some areas due to the large amount of water that will fall in the next four days.
“Our goal is to emerge from one of the largest and most important storms in our history without fatalities or injuries,” said Bill Brown, the sheriff of Santa Barbara County, north of Los Angeles. The inhabitants of that coastal town have built barriers with sandbags and have asked the authorities for power generators and flashlights to face the Sunday night.
Some counties have carried out some evacuations in mountainous areas to take precautions. “If you have not left your homes, please do so immediately in the company of your family, pets and medications,” assured one of the Los Angeles County supervisors for those who live in the Topanga and Soledad canyons. Evacuation orders for Sunday night are in effect in neighborhoods of similar geography in Monterey, Santa Barbara, Ventura and Los Angeles.
The storm is expected to track south of the coast throughout Sunday night. In its path it will leave heavy rain and lots of snow in the mountain ranges outside of Los Angeles. At the moment, city authorities have not suspended classes in what is the second largest school district in the United States. On Monday it will impact Orange and San Diego counties, on the border with Mexico.
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