Atmospheric rain fell across parts of California early Monday as a new storm began testing the state’s preparedness weeks after a deadly deluge caused power outages and devastating mudslides.
Flood watches were in effect for millions of people, mostly in California, until Wednesday, as the possibility of storms, strong winds and rain continued to threaten its central and southern coasts.
“So the soils are quite sensitive,” said Brian Hurley, senior meteorologist at the National Weather Service, referring to the significant rainfall the state has experienced in recent weeks. “That’s why you’re seeing the floods watch out a lot right now.”
The state’s office of emergency services said Sunday it had deployed emergency crews, including helicopters and rapid water rescue teams, to 14 counties in anticipation of the expected impact of the atmospheric river.
The National Weather Service office in Los Angeles said it expected rainfall totals of two to five inches for much of Southern California, with a higher range of four to eight inches expected in the mountains and foothills.
Urban flooding and mudslides were possible in Santa Barbara, Ventura and Los Angeles counties during periods of heavy rain, the National Weather Service said, adding that there was a high chance of thunderstorms.
Officials in Santa Barbara County over the weekend issued an evacuation warning through Wednesday for some communities.
Communities in Los Angeles County, where comparatively less rain was expected, still faced the risk of landslides and road debris as that area “took the brunt of the latest storm,” the Weather Service said.
Karen Bass, the mayor of Los Angeles, pleaded with residents over the weekend to prepare.
Homeowners and workers in the city’s hilly neighborhoods spent Sunday preparing sandbags and placing plastic tarps over muddy hillsides that still bore the scars of the latest storm.
Some residents, including Staci Broussard, 58, made sure to shore up their properties soon after that storm ended. Ms. Broussard’s home in Baldwin Hills Estates, a neighborhood overlooking South Los Angeles, was damaged by the previous atmospheric river to cross the city.
The hillside behind Ms. Broussard’s home collapsed, knocking down a section of her iron yard fence, sending mud and vegetation up the hill from her neighbor’s home a hill above.
Mrs. Broussard and her neighbor jumped with a tarp over the hillside to prevent more mud from sliding.
“As you can see, we have tarps everywhere because this is happening all over this neighborhood, unfortunately,” he said Sunday.
The Weather Service in Los Angeles warned vessels of dangerous conditions at sea, suggesting that they remain in port. The storm also threatened to erode the coast and destroy structures there, officials said.
Further north, forecasters said thunderstorms, gusty winds and lightning are possible in the Bay Area on Monday afternoon. The San Francisco Peninsula, which includes the city of San Francisco, was expected to receive up to two and a half inches of rain. The Santa Cruz Mountains and Big Sur Coast may receive three to five and three to six inches, respectively.
Much of the Sacramento Valley was under a wind advisory until Tuesday morning. The Weather Service in Sacramento said severe thunderstorms accompanied by “small tornadoes” were possible in the area Monday afternoon.
Vic Jolly contributed reporting from California.
