California: Entire communities in Montecito ordered to evacuate as storm continues to batter state | US News

Entire communities in Montecito and the surrounding canyons have been ordered to evacuate after a severe storm battered California.

The evacuation order, which affects about 10,000 people, came on the fifth anniversary of the mudslide that killed 23 people and destroyed more than 100 homes in the coastal enclave.

Montecito is home to many famous people, including duke and the Duchess of Sussex.

Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown said the decision to evacuate was “based on continued high rainfall and there is no indication that will change before nightfall.”

An evacuation order was also issued for about 32,000 Santa Cruz County residents who live near fast-rising rivers and creeks, according to Deputy County Administrator Melodye Serino.

California continues to be battered by a series of powerful storms that have forced schools to close, downed trees and left thousands without power.

The San Lorenzo River was declared flood stage, and videos on social media showed a block flooded with muddy water up to a stop sign.

As mudslides in the mountains blocked roads, officials urged residents to stay home.

in the north californiaSeveral districts closed schools due to the storm.

A tree fell and tore the sidewalk, damaging a home in Sacramento.Photo: Associated Press
picture:
A tree fell and tore the sidewalk, damaging a home in Sacramento.Photo: Associated Press

More than 35,000 people in Sacramento remained without power, down from more than 350,000 a day earlier when gusts of 60 mph knocked trees onto power lines, according to the Sacramento Municipal Utilities District.

The National Weather Service has warned that “atmospheric rivers will march endlessly” – long plumes of water vapor stretching out into the Pacific Ocean, capable of bringing fixed amounts of rain.

Rain and snow are expected in the coming days after the Golden State was battered by storms that left thousands without power, flooded streets and battered coastlines just last week.

President Joe Biden posted emergency declaration The state of California on Monday supported storm response and relief efforts in more than a dozen counties, including Sacramento, Santa Cruz and Los Angeles.

Gov. Gavin Newsom said 12 people had died from extreme weather over the past 10 days and warned that this week’s storms could be even more dangerous.

    Strong winds brought down by overnight storm downed trees and power lines
picture:
Strong winds brought down by overnight storm downed trees and power lines
A cyclist rides near mud and gravel on a closed road near Fort Point in San Francisco.Photo: Associated Press
picture:
A cyclist rides near mud and gravel on a closed road near Fort Point in San Francisco.Photo: Associated Press

The warning came on the fifth anniversary of a mudslide that killed 23 people and destroyed more than 100 homes in the coastal community of Montecito after a powerful storm.

The first of the latest severe storms prompted the Weather Service to issue flood watches for much of northern and central California, with 6 to 12 inches of rain expected Wednesday.

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    Strong winds brought down by overnight storm downed trees and power lines
picture:
Strong winds brought down by overnight storm downed trees and power lines

In the coastal community of Aptos, about 70 miles south of San Francisco, crews release sandbags before high tide after flooding in the area last week.

In the Los Angeles area, stormy conditions are expected later Monday and Tuesday, with up to 8 inches of rain possible.

San Francisco has seen more than 10 inches of rain since Boxing Day, while Mammoth Mountain, a popular ski area in the Eastern Sierra, has seen nearly 10 feet of snow, according to the National Weather Service.

Despite danger, big waves bring Golden State surfers out
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Despite danger, big waves bring Golden State surfers out

Californians expect the rain to stop after Jan. 18, said Daniel Swain, a climate scientist at the University of California, Los Angeles.

“That’s my best guess right now, which is good because it’s going to give the rivers in Northern California and now Central California a chance to go down,” he said.

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