Three people have died and 37 million people are at risk after intense flooding hit California.
A hurricane warning has been issued after a deadly Pacific storm swept the West Coast in less than a week, dumping torrential rain over the south of the state.
Extreme-weather advisories for floods, high wind and winter storm conditions were posted on Monday across parts of California and southwestern Arizona.
Around 37 million people are expected to be impacted by the storm, with authorities urging residents to limit their driving.
A vehicle drives on a flooded street in Santa Barbara, California
Ofer Naaman/via Reuters
One person died on Sunday afternoon when a tree fell on a home in Santa Cruz County, leaving the person trapped in their property.
Two men were killed when trees fell on them in their gardens in separate incidents, one in Sutter County and the other in Sacramento County.
The National Weather Service documented staggering rainfall amounts from the storm, which lashed Northern California on Sunday with hurricane-force gusts of wind, along with heavy precipitation that intensified as the system moved south on Sunday night and Monday.
Los Angeles officials reported 120 mudslides and debris flows throughout the city on Monday, and at least 25 structures damaged by heavy rainfall or mudslides as of Monday evening.
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An aerial view of the remains of a home destroyed by a mudslide caused by an ongoing rain storm in Los Angeles
Reuters
Chief NWS meteorologist in Los Angeles Ariel Cohen said: “We’re talking about one of the wettest storm systems to impact the greater Los Angeles area since records began. Going back to the 1870s, this is one of the top three.”
Some of the worst mudslides happened in upscale communities built on the slopes of the Hollywood Hills, Beverly Hills and Topanga Canyon.
Beverly Hills resident Jeb Johenning said: “I was driving up here last night, right after the Grammys, and coincidentally, my neighbor, who was in this SUV behind us, was being dropped off at his house, and the driver’s coming down the hill, and the mud is chasing the driver.”
Los Angeles officials reported 120 mudslides and debris flows throughout the city on Monday, and at least 25 structures damaged by heavy rainfall or mudslides as of Monday evening.
Gavin Newsom has spoken to President Biden about federal aid
Getty
The White House has confirmed President Joe Biden spoke to California Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and pledged to provide federal aid to worst hit areas.
Fire Chief Kristin Crowley said her crews had responded to at least 130 flooding incidents by Monday morning.
In one incident, a fire department helicopter team rescued a man who had jumped into the churning waters of the Pacoima Wash, a concrete flood channel, in a desperate attempt to save his dog, department officials said.
The man was ultimately hoisted to safety, as seen in video footage shot by a firefighter and posted to social media, while his pet managed to dog-paddle to the edge and also survived.
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