'Atmospheric river' storm hits California killing at least two

A third “atmospheric river” storm has killed at least two people and left tens of thousands of homes without power across California.

Torrential rains, high winds and heavy snow hit the state for a second day following a massive Pacific storm, threatening much of the area with flash-flooding and mudslides.

The storm was powered by two phenomena: an immense airborne stream of dense moisture from the ocean called an atmospheric river – and a sprawling hurricane, low-pressure system known as a bomb cyclone.

The latest blast of extreme winter weather marked the third and strongest atmospheric river to strike California since early last week.

Since 4 January at least two fatalities have been reported. Overnight, a tree crashed into a home killing a one-year-old boy, and a 19-year-old woman died when her car skidded off a partially flooded road and hit a utility pole.

At least two more back-to-back storms are forecast over the next several days.

On Friday morning the NWS warned that the next “in a parade of atmospheric rivers” will arrive later today, while “additional flooding and heavy mountain snow is expected in the Sierras”.

Areas such as San Francisco Bay and the state capital of Sacramento are still recovering from flood damage. Along the Consumnes River levees were breached.

The National Weather Service (NWS) predicted one inch (2.5cm) of rainfall per hour, with snow falling at a rate of three inches (7.6cm) per hour in Southern California’s coastal ranges and the Sierra Nevada mountains.

High-wind advisories and gale warnings have been put in place up and down the state, which is home to more than 39 million people.

Uprooted trees, already weakened by drought and rain-soaked soil, knocked down power lines and blocked roads, while three-storey waves crashed on the shoreline of northernmost coastal counties – Mendocino, Humboldt and Del Norte.

According to Poweroutage.us, as many as 18,000 homes were left without power early on Thursday.

Megan McFarland, a spokesperson from the region’s main utility company, Pacific Gas and Electric Company, said it was “one of the most powerful winter storms to hit our region in years”.

Four other deaths have been attributed to the New Year’s weekend storm that swept northern California – three flood victims were found in or near their cars and an elderly man was found dead under a fallen tree.

Mandatory evacuation orders were put into effect for several cities in Northern California, including Richmond in the Bay Area and Watsonville in Santa Cruz County.

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