Significant flooding threat to California as atmospheric river bulldozes

A strong winter storm fed by a powerful atmospheric river was pounding California with heavy rains on Sunday, cutting power to hundreds of thousands of people, flooding roads, and causing a rare warning of hurricane-force winds.

Based on what Accuweather said, up to 37 million people, or 94% of the state's population, could be killed by floods caused by the storm. The atmospheric river—which looks like a river in the sky—is the second storm to hit the state in the last few days. However, meteorologists said this one would be the strongest of the season, especially in Southern California.

atmospheric river bulldozesPhoto byCNN

The National Weather Service warned that hurricane-force winds could hit the Central Coast. From the Monterey Peninsula to the northern part of San Luis Obispo County, wind gusts of up to 92 mph were expected.

Police in San Francisco warned people about streets that were flooded and closed, downed trees (including a big one that hit power lines), and a landslide on a hillside. The last round of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am golf event was moved to Monday in Monterey County, which is about 100 miles down the coast. Monday doesn't look like a good day for golfing either.

The storm was supposed to move south and hit the Los Angeles area on Sunday afternoon and evening with heavy rain, flash floods, and snow in the mountains at high elevations. On Monday and Tuesday, it was supposed to hit Orange County and San Diego hard. Eight counties in Southern California were put under a state of emergency by Gov. Gavin Newsom. Los Angeles and Orange were two of them.

"Everything is set for one of the most exciting weather days in recent memory," the National Weather Service said on Sunday. Wednesday and Thursday, the first storm in the "Pineapple Express" dumped 1 to 6 inches of rain on the state. Forecasters say that the new storm brings even more water, which will make already-wet areas even more dangerous and deadly.

The Source: usatoday