California: One storm system leaves, but another arrives

WATSONVILLE, Calif.— Rain continued to fall across much of California on Sunday as the weather event that caused the flooding moved east, though another event was approaching the area and threatened to bring more showers and snowfall to the hard-hit region on Monday.

The National Weather Service said the upcoming event could worsen flooding that has plagued the region in recent days, including a levee breach that prompted mass evacuations Saturday in central farming areas of the state.

In Monterey County, more than 8,500 people received evacuation orders Saturday, including 1,700 residents — many of whom are Hispanic farmworkers — from the community of Pajaro.

The next weather event does not appear to be as strong as the previous one, but experts are still warning that “significant flooding” could occur in low-lying areas, either from rain or from inundated rivers and streams. snowmelt.

Rain and snowfall are expected to extend from central California to Oregon and northern Nevada.

“They definitely need to be prepared for more flooding. The ground is very saturated. We are already seeing some impact from the rains today,” said National Weather Service meteorologist Eleanor Dhuyvetter.

Particularly worry about strong winds. The weather service predicts winds of up to (80 kilometers per hour) (50 miles per hour) in some places, which could bring down tree branches or power lines.

More than 20 inches (50 centimeters) of snow has fallen at a Sierra Nevada weather station in the past two days, and more is expected. According to experts from the UC Berkeley-Central Sierra Snow Lab, the amount of snowfall is now about double the average and the highest in about four decades. The atmospheric phenomenon brings subtropical humidity from Hawaii and the central Pacific, causing snowmelt in the mountains of California.

Due to intense flooding, more than 50 people had to be rescued by rescue teams and the California National Guard. Video shows members of the Guard helping the driver out of a car as water reached their waists.

The extent of the damage was unknown, but Monterey County Board of Supervisors Luis Alejo appealed to state and federal governments for help.

“The needs will be many! It will take months for our residents to repair their homes! “, wrote Alejo on Twitter on Saturday.

___ Dazio reported from Los Angeles.