Powerful California Storm Kills 2, Thousands Without Power
A powerful storm is pummeling California with high winds, flooding rain and feet of snow. At least two people have been killed since a storm fueled by an atmospheric river slammed into the state on Wednesday. It is expected to continue through today with more storms arriving during the weekend. Evacuations have been ordered in areas prone to mudslides and debris flows.
“We anticipate that this may be one of the most challenging and impactful series of storms to touch down in California in the last five years,” said Nancy Ward, the new director of the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services.
A portion of the Pacific Coast Highway was shut down after a landslide Thursday morning, the California Department of Transportation said. The slide occurred at Polar Star, a mile south of Ragged Point at the southern end of Big Sur.
The National Weather Service said Thursday that Dec. 26 through Jan. 4 was the wettest 10-day period for San Francisco since 1871. The city received 10.33 inches of rain during that 10-day stretch. The record, set in January 1862, was 14.37 inches over 10 days.
A mudslide is blocking a northbound lane on State Highway 1 north of the Monterey Road onramp in Pacifica, the Police Department said in a tweet. Sharp Park Road is an alternate route. In Santa Barbara County, State Highway 154 is closed from Highway 246 to Highway 192 because of multiple rock and mudslides, according to Caltrans. State Highway 23, also known as Decker Road, in Malibu is closed in both directions from State Highway 1 (PCH) to Decker School Road because of a rock slide.
California is mobilizing to keep people safe from the impacts of the incoming storm,” Newsom said in a press release. “This state of emergency will allow the state to respond quickly as the storm develops and support local officials in their ongoing response.”
Evacuations were ordered along Pacheco Creek in San Benito County because water was expected to top the spillway of the North Fork Dam in San Benito County near Hollister. Residents downstream of the dam were advised to move to higher ground.
We recognize the severe impact that current conditions are having on our customers, and we are committed to restoring service levels as quickly as possible. As a result of these weather issues, the ALG Client Service Team will send daily updates as we monitor the progress and track job level impact.