Ridgway Record

Saturated California gets more rain and snow, but so far escapes severe damage it saw only weeks ago

- By John Antczak and Philip Marcelo Associated Press

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Much of saturated California faced the threat of flooding Tuesday with winter storms blowing through, but so far the state has escaped the severity of damage from mudslides, wind and rain spawned by an atmospheri­c river only weeks ago.

While the rainfall was focused on Southern California, thundersto­rms and strong winds are expected across wide swaths of the state and intermitte­nt mountain snow could hit in the north. Some flood watches and warnings were expected to remain in effect into Wednesday.

The heaviest rain is expected in the Los

Angeles area Tuesday, picking up even more at night with an additional one to two inches on top of the two to five inches that have fallen in the area in recent days, said Bob Oravec, lead forecaster with the National Weather Service in Maryland.

"It's heavy but not quite as heavy as previously," he said. "But it's been a wet month across southern California. The ground is saturated so any additional rain can bring the chance of flash flooding."

The Los Angeles area has received around ten inches of rain so far this month, with parts of the coastline and mountain areas farther north receiving more than a foot of precipitat­ion, Oravec said.

The upside, he said, is there's some light at the end of the tunnel: the region isn't expected to see more rain at least until the following weekend.

Jim Callahan, who owns a hardware store in Los Angeles, said last year's rains were perhaps more trying for residents because they weren't as prepared for the challenges as they were this year.

Sandbags sold out at his Mid-Wilshire neighborho­od store about a week ago, he said. Sump pumps, tarps and roof patches have been flying off the shelves as residents grapple with leaks and floods in their homes.

"It's not the worst I've seen, but it's certainly the most all in one time," Callahan said of the rains. His family has run Callahan Hardware since 1908.

"Here in Los Angeles we're spoiled. We don't have any season except for sun so when we get a little bit of rain, people act a little crazy. But we'll take the rain over snow any day of the week," he added.

At Workboots 4 U, a shop about three miles south from Callahan's shop, store manager Ed Diaz said business has been brisk with constructi­on workers and others seeking waterproof boots.

The 31-year-old Los Angeles resident said the rains have also snarled his workday commute: his truck's engine broke down in floodwater­s and he's been forced to take the bus to work downtown in recent days.

"It's a pain," he said. "It feels like the rain has been getting crazier these last couple of years. People are adjusting and learning to deal with it, but it's not easy on everyone."

Tuesday's rains forced Disneyland to shorten its hours while nearby Knott's Berry Farm and SeaWorld in San Diego closed outright.

A flood prone stretch of the Pacific Coast Highway was closed south of Los Angeles, and evacuation warning s were issued to the west due to possible mudslides.

The National Weather Service also warned any brave souls venturing to the shoreline to stay far back from the crashing ocean waves.

North of the city, the Santa Barbara Airport reopened a day after heavy rains flooded the runways, according to a statement on its website.

Ethan Ragsdale, a spokespers­on for the Santa Barbara Police Department, implored residents to stay away from creeks and other normally tame water bodies even after the rains subside.

"They're absolutely dangerous," he told The Associated Press. "There's swiftly moving water and what we don't want is to have somebody get injured or worse."

The wet, wintry weather hit the state only weeks after a powerful atmospheri­c river parked itself over Southern California, turning roads into rivers, causing hundreds of landslides and killing at least nine people.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United States