Tuesday, February 20, 2024
A fierce winter storm soaked California, closing an airport and prompting rescues as rivers swelled, with more rain expected.
A fresh winter deluge engulfed California, leading to the shutdown of a local airport and numerous swift-water rescues as rivers overflowed their banks.
Heavy downpours on Monday inundated areas throughout California, causing significant flooding that affected the Santa Barbara airport along the state’s central coast. The airport was forced to close due to the accumulation of as much as 10 inches (25 centimeters) of rain by midday, which left the runways submerged.
Officials announced the suspension of commercial flights and general aviation activities, alongside the closure of the airport terminal, urging passengers to reach out directly to their airlines for flight information.
The National Weather Service had previously alerted to the potential for “significant flooding” across California’s central coast, forecasting up to 5 inches (12 cm) of rainfall in many locales, with isolated amounts reaching up to 10 inches (25 cm) in the Santa Lucia and Santa Ynez mountains as the storm advanced toward the Los Angeles area.
This storm was anticipated to pass more swiftly than a prior atmospheric river event that wreaked havoc across Southern California, transforming streets into waterways, triggering numerous landslides, and resulting in the deaths of at least nine individuals.
Despite moderate rainfall in the afternoon, additional precipitation was forecasted to affect the region into Tuesday.
Emergency services were mobilized for several rescues, including in San Luis Obispo County, where individuals were saved from the engorged Salinas River in Paso Robles. In an incident reported by KSBY-TV, Paso Robles Fire and Emergency Services were preparing for swift-water rescue training when they were alerted to a person stranded on a river island.
In the north, two individuals were saved from atop their vehicle amidst rising floodwaters in Sloughhouse, near Sacramento, as reported by the Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District.
An earlier rescue involved a camper in El Dorado Hills, who was stranded in a tree due to surging creek waters, according to Deputy Fire Chief Dave Brady speaking to KCRA-TV.
The Sacramento weather service office warned of potential thunderstorms capable of producing short-lived tornadoes, significant hail, intense rainfall, lightning, and strong winds.
The weather service advised residents in areas including Sacramento, Chico, Yuba City, Stockton, and Modesto to remain vigilant of the weather conditions, cautioning that the storm could lead to flash flooding and power disruptions. Flood advisories were in place across coastal and mountainous regions statewide.
Snowfall was projected to reach several feet at higher elevations in the Sierra Nevada, prompting warnings for travelers to avoid mountain passageways.
In response to the impending storm, the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services activated its operations center on Saturday, strategically deploying resources and personnel to the most vulnerable areas.
Sunday, April 28, 2024
Sunday, April 28, 2024
Monday, April 29, 2024
