Two people had climbed onto a vehicle under a flooded bridge and were rescued by Millbrae firefighters. San Mateo County sheriff’s Det. said they were unable to reach the people trapped in a submerged vehicle. Javier Acosta said.
After cracks in granite were discovered adjacent to the manmade portion of the structure, which is 36 feet high (11 meters) tall), an evacuation warning was issued for 150 Sierra Nevada homes. The dam was not in immediate danger and authorities began to release water. Nicco Sandelin stated.
As precipitation that had been mainly falling in Northern California spread across the state, Southern Californians were reminded to take precautions. The state’s southern portion was experiencing heavy rains Thursday night.
An earlier rescue attempt by firefighters involved the use of a litter box to collect a man who was stranded on a bridge above the Los Angeles River.
The National Weather Service issued an advisory regarding minor flooding of roads and low-lying areas around San Francisco Bay. An avalanche warning was also posted for the eastern Sierra Nevada backcountry in Mono and Inyo Counties.
On several major routes in the Sierra, tire chains were necessary. Flooding closed a section of U.S 101 in Santa Barbara County and a stretch of coast Highway 1 in San Luis Obispo County.
A flood watch was issued for the east and southeast areas of Los Angeles on Thursday night due to heavy overnight rains fed by an atmospheric River, a long-lasting plume of moisture coming from the Pacific Ocean.
Orange County officials issued an evacuation order for three canyons located near a wildfire scar, where heavy rains last week unleashed muddy streams.
San Bernardino County officials issued warnings for voluntary evacuation in half-a dozen mountain areas.
California was expected to experience snow and rain from Christmas through next week. Forecasters warned that snow levels could fall to 1,000 feet (300m) in the north by Sunday. This is a warning to holiday travelers.
According to the Sacramento weather office, “Foothill areas that don’t normally get snow should be prepared for winter conditions, particularly from Sunday morning through Tuesday morning.”
