California Storm Brings Record Rain, Flood Risks Persist

by Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Chief International Correspondent

SACRAMENTO/LOS ANGELES (Worthy News) – A powerful atmospheric-river storm has drenched California, breaking rainfall records and causing deadly incidents — yet authorities warn the danger is far from over in the U.S. state.

At least seven people have died in storm-related incidents, including a Canadian father and his young daughter, who were swept into the ocean by towering 15-foot (4.6-meter) waves at a Monterey County beach. The girl’s body was recovered Sunday after days of searches, officials said.

A 71-year-old man also died north of Sacramento when his vehicle was swept off a flooded bridge in Sutter County, according to the California Highway Patrol.

Flood advisories remained in effect Sunday across Los Angeles, Ventura, and Santa Barbara counties, where saturated hillsides — many recently scorched by wildfires — are at heightened risk of mudslides and debris flows.

RECORD RAINFALL AND RISING DANGERS

The National Weather Service (NWS) warned that because the ground is drenched from days of heavy downpours, even moderate rainfall could trigger new flooding or rockslides. “It will not take much additional rain to produce hazardous conditions,” the agency said.

The storm shattered records in several regions. In Santa Barbara County, rainfall totals reached nearly 10 inches (25 centimeters) between November 1 and 17 — the wettest November since 1889, according to state climate data.

In Yosemite Valley, the Merced River hit its highest November streamflow since 1973, fueled by runoff from the atmospheric river system.

Emergency crews across the state have been busy clearing roads, rescuing stranded motorists, and responding to rockslides on mountain highways.

Forecasters warn that another storm system could arrive later this week, prolonging the threat of flash flooding and landslides in vulnerable areas.

MUDSLIDE RISKS IN BURN-SCAR ZONES

Authorities say the most significant danger remains in mountainous terrain scorched during recent wildfire seasons. Burn scars leave soil unstable, meaning entire slopes can give way suddenly during intense or repeated rainfall.

In Los Angeles County’s canyon regions, crews reported small slides already occurring near Malibu and in the San Gabriel Mountains, with larger failures possible if the area receives heavier rainfall.

California officials urged residents in high-risk zones to follow evacuation orders, avoid driving through flooded roads, and stay updated on weather alerts.

The storm has also disrupted some travel flows across the state, including delays on coastal highways and temporary closures of roads prone to rockslides.

Despite the dangers, hydrologists said the rainfall delivered much-needed water to reservoirs and drought-stressed regions — though the immediate focus remains on public safety.

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