California braces for heavy rain and flooding from back-to-back 'pineapple express' storms
The West Coast was preparing for severe weather Thursday and into the weekend, with more than 22 million people under flood alerts, and both state and local officials already acting to limit damage and disruption from back-to-back Pacific storms.
The West Coast was preparing for severe weather Thursday and into the weekend, with more than 22 million people under flood alerts, and both state and local officials already acting to limit damage and disruption from back-to-back Pacific storms.
Some 32 million people are also under high wind alerts, meaning widespread power outages are possible due to the "atmospheric river" effect, caused by airborne currents of dense moisture. The two storms, due Thursday and Sunday into Monday, also fit the description of a "Pineapple Express," having originated in the subtropical waters around Hawaii.
High areas will be hit by snow and further inland, into the Rockies, more than 1 million people were under winter weather alerts, with several feet of snow expected in some places. Areas above 7,000 feet could see 12 to 18 inches of snow, National Weather Service meteorologist Robert Hart said in a briefing Wednesday.
Heavy snow arrived early Thursday in Soda Springs, Nevada County, California, where drone footage showed backed-up traffic, cars losing control and snowplows out in force on Interstate 80.
Motorists travel along a rain-soaked U.S. Highway 101 during a storm Wednesday in San Francisco.Stephen Lam / San Francisco Chronicle via APSevere weather has already caused 70 mph winds in California. Early Thursday, firefighters in Sonoma County rescued a driver from a car that had driven into a flooded road and was taking on water. The Sonoma County Fire District added in a post on X: "Don’t risk it, if water is flowing over the road #TurnAroundDontDrown."
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