Cyclone threatens to bring more destruction to storm-battered California

A powerful cyclone located this Wednesday off the coast of California It brought heavy rains and threatens to cause new floods and landslides in the state already affected by a series of storms that leaves at least 18 dead.

The storms that batter the western United States bring levels of precipitation not seen in 150 years in some places.

LOOK HERE: Storms leave at least 17 dead after passing through California, where more flooding is expected

The endless deluge has swept through some communities, downing power lines and causing roadblocks.

This aerial view shows a flooded neighborhood in Merced, California, on January 10, 2023. (Photo by JOSH EDELSON / AFP)

“The heaviest rains are expected to impact northwestern California over the next two days”, indicated the National Weather Service (NWS) of the United States on Wednesday.

The announcement comes after torrential downpours on Tuesday that caused flash floods and washed away people and vehicles, including a five-year-old boy who remains missing in the center of this US West Coast state, the most populous in the country.

The inhabitants of Aptos, near Santa Cruz, hardly contemplate the magnitude of the damage.

“It’s probably the worst flood I’ve seen since I’ve lived here, since 1984.″, Doug Spinelli told AFP.

“Aptos creek was rushing down so furiously I thought it was going to rip out our little walkway, and there were tree trunks being pushed down the river, about one every 30 seconds”.

“We are not out of the woods”

The storms also left about 55,000 homes and businesses without power Wednesday, according to the site. poweroutage.us.

The NWS described a “relentless series of atmospheric rivers”, causing the most powerful storm system to affect the region since 2005.

The Governor of California, Gavin Newsomsaid at least 34,000 people were instructed to flee the storms.

This aerial view shows flooded homes in Planada, California, as an “atmospheric river” continues on January 10, 2023. (Photo by JOSH EDELSON / AFP)

“The fact is that we are not out of the woods; we expect these storms to continue at least until the 18th of this monthhe told reporters on Tuesday.

According to a count by the LA Times, the 18 confirmed deaths in the state include drivers found in submerged cars, people struck by falling trees, a married couple killed in a rockslide and people whose bodies were discovered in floodwaters. the floods.

A five-year-old boy who went missing in San Luis Obispo was still missing Wednesday.

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The boy, who fled with his mother from their flooded car, was not pronounced dead. His mother was rescued.

“I was calm. He was trying to say, ‘Keep calm, mom’said the boy’s father, Brian Doan, according to the Los Angeles Times. “she did what she could”.

When she finally got him out of the vehicle, the current separated them.

Properties along Beer Creek were flooded after another wave of storms in Merced, California, USA, on January 10, 2023. (Photo by EFE/EPA/LIPO CHING) (LIPO CHING/)

The San Luis Obispo County sheriff said they were still looking for the boy, including with underwater teams.

“We’ll search until we find itsaid the spokesman Tony Cipolla to The San Luis Obispo Tribune.

Two motorists were killed in a crash north of Bakersfield after a tree fell on a road.

There is widespread destruction, with entire communities inundated in some areas.

dominick king He said his Capitola restaurant was vandalized.

“It’s not just me, the whole block has been decimated“, he claimed.

Drought

Several areas of the state are under flood warnings and forecasters said the situation will continue.

The extreme weather will not be limited to California, the NWS said. The system that caused Tuesday’s showers is making its way across the country and is likely to cause thunderstorms in parts of the central and southern United States.

It’s not unusual for California to experience heavy rain in winter, but these downpours test the state.

ALSO SEE: California: Thousands Evacuated as More Rain and Flooding Expected

On this occasion, they occur at a time when a large part of the west coast of the United States has experienced a severe drought for more than two decades and a significant increase in the frequency and intensity of forest fires.

But even the recent rains are not enough to fully reverse the drought. Scientists say it takes several years of above-average rainfall for reservoirs to return to healthy levels.

Although it is difficult to establish a direct relationship between storms and climate change, scientists say that global warming increases the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events.

Source: Elcomercio