(NEW YORK) — A second storm within one week is pummeling nearly the entire state of California with heavy rain and life-threatening flooding.
Gov. Gavin Newsom has issued a state of emergency for Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ventura counties, where floodwaters have inundated roads and high winds are knocking down power lines and trees.
Here’s how the news is developing. All times Eastern:
Feb 06, 12:48 PM
Los Angeles mayor: ‘This storm continues … take precautions’
“This storm continues — and that means we still need Angelenos to take precautions,” Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass warned Tuesday.
Periods of rain will continue Tuesday creating dangerous conditions on the roads and increasing the chance of mudslides and flooding, Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Kristin Crowley said.
No fatalities have been reported in LA, Bass said.
Crews have responded to 307 mudslides and 257 fallen trees, Crowley said.
If you must go outside, use caution, Crowley warned. Slow down if driving and always be on the lookout for downed power lines and trees, she said.
The mayor commended residents who have checked on each other in hard-hit communities and stressed that everyone should check on their neighbors.
The “historic” rain is expected to taper off late Tuesday night, National Weather Service meteorologist Ariel Cohen said.
There’s a chance for more atmospheric rivers this spring, Cohen said.
Feb 06, 10:53 AM
By the numbers
Downtown Los Angeles recorded 7.03 inches of rain on Sunday and Monday, marking the wettest two days in the city since 1956.
Los Angeles averages 14.25 inches of rain for an entire year. So far this year, LA has recorded nearly 11 inches of rain, or 75% of the city’s annual rainfall.
And the rain is still falling. As of Tuesday morning, the three-day rainfall totals have climbed to: 12.2 inches in San Bernardino County; 12 inches in Bel Air in Los Angeles County; 9.4 inches in Santa Barbara County; 8.7 inches in Ventura County and 7.6 inches in downtown Los Angeles.
Feb 06, 7:39 AM
Southern California sees historic rainfall
As of early Tuesday, almost a foot of rain had fallen in Los Angeles’ Bel Air neighborhood over a period of less than three days, according to the National Weather Service
As of Monday, downtown Los Angeles had recorded 7.03 inches of rain in two days, making it the city’s wettest two-day period since 1956 when 7.44 inches of rain fell. It’s also the third wettest two days in Los Angeles’ history, with records dating back to 1877.
Los Angeles typically gets 14.25 inches of rain over an entire year. Since the start of 2024, the sprawling Southern California city has recorded almost 11 inches of rain — 75% of its annual average.
Feb 06, 7:06 AM
Latest forecast
A storm system continues to slam Southern California, with an atmospheric river bringing a plume of moisture all the way from the tropical Pacific Ocean.
The National Weather Service has flood watches in effect Tuesday morning for California as well as Nevada and Arizona. Winter storm warnings and snow alerts were also in effect for nine western states, from Montana to California, as this storm spreads into the Rocky Mountains.
As of early Tuesday, up to 3 feet of snow had already fallen on the Sierra Nevada mountain range.
The threat of flash floods on Tuesday will be mostly from Los Angeles to San Diego in California and from Yuma to Phoenix in Arizona. Locally, less than 1 inch of rain is in the forecast for Los Angeles, but the foothills around the city could get an additional 1 to 2 inches of rain.
On Wednesday, another storm system — much weaker — is expected to move through California from the San Francisco Bay Area to Los Angeles by the evening hours. The storm could dump an additional 1 inch of rain on southern California.
Feb 05, 10:08 PM
President Biden pledges ‘any and all federal support’ California needs
President Joe Biden told California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass he is committed to helping communities impacted by the monster storms with “any and all federal support requested.”
Feb 05, 10:17 PM
LAFD rescues man and dog from LA River
Los Angeles Fire Department personnel rescued a man and his dog from the Los Angeles River Monday.
Around 2:45 p.m. PT, authorities received a report from a bystander that a man had jumped into the water to rescue his dog. Fire crews responded and found that the dog had managed to swim to the edge and escape the rapids.
The dog was taken to a shelter for temporary care.
At a press conference Monday night, officials said LA County Fire had rescued 16 people from flooding conditions and five cats.
Feb 05, 4:50 PM
Flash flood warning in Los Angeles area extended to 6 p.m. PT
A flash flood warning that covers the Los Angeles-area cities of Glendale, Pasadena and Santa Clarita has been extended until 6 p.m. local time.
A flood advisory covering all of LA County is in effect until 3 p.m. local time.
Feb 05, 4:43 PM
3 people killed by fallen trees
Three people have been killed by fallen trees during the monster storm slamming California.
A man in Carmichael died after a tree fell on him, a Sacramento County spokesperson said Monday.
A tree fell on a house in Boulder Creek on Sunday, killing one resident inside, according to the Santa Cruz Sheriff’s Department. A second person managed to escape the home, authorities said.
The third fatality was recorded in Yuba City. An 82-year-old man was in his backyard on Sunday when he was killed by a falling redwood tree, Yuba City police said.
Feb 05, 3:13 PM
Flash flooding, mudslides ongoing threat from Santa Barbara to Los Angeles to San Diego
Flash flooding and mudslides are an ongoing threat from Santa Barbara to San Diego on Monday, with the Los Angeles area in the bull’s-eye, as a historic atmospheric river storm slams Southern California.
Ten inches of rain fell in some areas of Southern California. Many spots saw more than a month’s worth of rain over the last 24 hours.
Los Angeles recorded over 4 inches of rain in 24 hours, marking the city’s wettest day since December 2004.
The heavy rain and flooding will continue through Tuesday morning. Another 2 to 4 inches of rain is possible from Los Angeles to San Diego.
By Tuesday afternoon, the downpours will wind down. By Wednesday morning, the showers will linger in Southern California and most of the heavy rain will move into Arizona.
-ABC News’ Melissa Griffin
Feb 05, 2:59 PM
Over 130 flooding incidents reported in LA
Los Angeles has seen 2 to 5 inches of rain, while the Santa Monica mountains and Topanga Canyon area on the outskirts of Los Angeles are facing 5 to 10 inches of rain, Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Kristin Crowley said at a news conference Monday.
The fire department has responded to over 130 flooding incidents and 49 mudslide and debris flow incidents, and Los Angeles police recorded more than 65 traffic collisions, Crowley said.
“Overall, the county has weathered the storm well,” Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath said.
The atmospheric river event will continue through Tuesday, bringing another 1 to 3 inches of rainfall to Los Angeles, Crowley said.
Feb 05, 1:45 PM
Cars trapped on flooded roads, drivers rescued amid extreme rainfall
Evacuation orders and evacuation warnings have been issued in some parts of Los Angeles, Ventura, Santa Barbara and Orange counties as life-threatening flooding hits the region, trapping people in cars and forcing residents to evacuate their homes.
In Los Angeles’ Baldwin Hills neighborhood, about six cars crashed while heading down a hill where the road was partly covered with mudslide debris, according to Los Angeles police. Multiple people were injured and one person might have suffered a broken leg, police said.
In San Bernardino County, three people were trying to drive across a flooded road when the car became submerged, according to the San Bernardino County Fire Department. The three people clung to a tree and were rescued, officials said.
In Los Angeles’ Studio City neighborhood, firefighters rescued 16 residents after debris flow damaged homes, the Los Angeles Fire Department said. No one was injured, officials said.
Feb 05, 12:42 PM
2nd fatality confirmed
Two people have been killed by fallen trees during the powerful California storm.
A tree fell on a house in Boulder Creek on Sunday, killing one resident inside, according to the Santa Cruz Sheriff’s Department. A second person managed to escape the home, authorities said.
The second fatality was in Yuba City. An 82-year-old man was in his backyard on Sunday when he was killed by a falling redwood tree, Yuba City police said.
Feb 05, 11:22 AM
Over 500,000 waking up without power
More than 516,000 customers in California are waking up without power Monday morning as a powerful rainstorm slams the state.
Flash flood warnings and flood advisories are in effect for parts of Los Angeles and Ventura counties.
Feb 05, 9:25 AM
Latest forecast
Los Angeles recorded more than 4 inches of rain on Sunday, beating the city’s daily record of 2.55 inches set in 1927.
The relentless rainfall and life-threatening flooding are ongoing across the Los Angeles area on Monday morning and will continue throughout the day.
A flash flood warning is in effect from Malibu to Beverly Hills to Brentwood to Hollywood to Burbank.
By Tuesday morning, the heaviest rain will be targeting areas east of San Diego.
On Tuesday afternoon, scattered downpours continue throughout California, and by Wednesday, just a few light showers and sprinkles will remain.
Feb 05, 7:37 AM
4 million under flash flood warning in Southern California
The National Weather Service has a flood watch in effect Monday morning for some 40 million residents in California, where more than a month’s worth of rain has fallen in the past 24 hours.
There was also a flash flood warning in effect until at least 9 a.m. PT for more than 4 million residents in Southern California, from the Santa Monica Mountains to the Hollywood Hills and Griffith Park, including the areas of Hollywood, Malibu, Beverly Hills, Burbank, Santa Monica, Encino and Brentwood. There were reports of numerous damaging landslides, inundated roadways, submerged vehicles as well as flooded creeks and streams within the region.
Automated rain gauges indicate between 5 and 8 inches of rain have already accumulated in the warning area, with rainfall continuing. An additional 1 to 4 inches of rain was possible there.
-ABC News’ Kenton Gewecke and Morgan Winsor
Feb 05, 5:49 AM
Over 634,000 customers without power in California
Power is out for hundreds of thousands of electric customers in California amid severe weather.
As of 2:40 a.m. PT on Monday, more than 634,000 customers were without power across the Golden State, according to data collected by PowerOutage.us.
-ABC News’ Morgan Winsor
Feb 05, 5:34 AM
Man killed by falling redwood tree in Yuba City, police say
A man was killed by a falling redwood tree in his backyard in Yuba City in Northern California on Sunday, authorities said.
The Yuba City Police Department identified the victim as 82-year-old David Gomes.
A neighbor, who reported the incident, told the responding officers that they last saw Gomes at around 3 p.m. PT and believed they heard the tree fall about two hours later, according to police.
“Through the investigation, it appeared Gomes was possibly using a ladder to try and clear the tree away from his residence when it fell on him,” police said in a statement.
-ABC News’ Marilyn Heck and Morgan Winsor
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