1 dead, 2 missing in California after heavy storms

LOS ANGELES — A drenched California emerged Wednesday from a powerful multiday storm that unleashed rain, snow and raging floodwaters, leaving one person dead and two others missing.

Lingering showers, mountain snow and gusty winds were tapering off, and the National Weather Service issued overnight frost and freeze advisories due to the cold airmass behind the storm.

The tempest unleashed heavy downpours Tuesday in Southern California, where one person was found dead after runoff surging down a creek channel swept six people away in the city of Ontario. Three were rescued by firefighters, but two others remained missing.

A tornado touched down a few miles outside the town of Galt near Sacramento at 1:40 p.m. Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service. No major damage was reported.

The storm continued to affect travel Wednesday on highways through the Sierra Nevada. Chain controls remained in effect, and big rigs were restricted on some sections of routes through the towering mountain range.

The potent fall storms are a promising start to California’s wet season, although experts say it will take much more precipitation to reverse the impacts of the state’s historic drought.

UC Berkeley’s Central Sierra Snow Lab reported that this week’s storm dropped 34.3 inches of snow by Wednesday and that the eight-day total was 54 inches.

Among Lake Tahoe snow sport resorts, Mt. Rose and Boreal announced plans to open for the season on Friday.

Annual snowfall in the Sierra normally provides about a third of the state’s water when it melts. Last year, California had powerful storms in October and December but experienced its driest January through April on record.