CALIFORNIA – Flood watches were in place over a swathe of California after a powerful storm dumped several inches (centimeters) of rain, with forecasters warning of yet another incoming front.
Central and northern parts of the state were walloped overnight Wednesday as a bomb cyclone, fueled by a moisture-laden atmospheric river, unleashed torrents of rain on already-soaked ground.
The rainfall resulted in localized flooding, while gusty winds downed power lines, knocking out electricity to tens of thousands of people.
At least two people died, including a young child whose mobile home was hit by a falling tree.
The storm came on the heels of a ferocious downpour on New Year’s Eve, which had left the ground sodden and waterlogged.
The National Weather Service said it was the wettest 10-day period for San Francisco in 150 years, with more than 10 inches (25 centimeters) of rain falling on the city.
By Thursday afternoon, the rain was beginning to peter out, but its effects continued to be felt.
“Winter Storm Warnings remain in effect across the Sierra Nevada and Flood Watches remain over both central and coastal regions of California into early Friday,” the National Weather Service (NWS) said according to AFP.
“As the overall wet pattern remains locked in place over the West Coast, the next surge of moisture to move inland is forecast to enter northern California and southwest Oregon late Friday.
“Rainfall could become hazardous and lead to scattered instances of flash flooding over the coastal ranges of northern California.
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