People are captivated by the Golden Gate Bridge amidst the rain in San Francisco on Friday. Approximately 13 million individuals are currently under flood watches in Northern California, where heavy rainfall is anticipated to lead to flooding, mudslides, and debris flows through Wednesday. The atmospheric river of moisture is set to target northern and central California, affecting cities such as San Francisco and Sacramento before moving towards Los Angeles, where recent fires, including the Eaton and Palisades blazes, were just contained. The National Weather Service has issued warnings about two storm systems that are expected to impact the central and southern regions of the state this week, including areas like San Luis Obispo, Ventura, and Los Angeles. On Monday, significant rainfall is expected in Northern California, with cities like Chico, Eureka, Redding, and Santa Rosa potentially facing flooding. The Weather Prediction Center has identified a “slight risk” of excessive rainfall across Northern California through early Tuesday, as stated in an update on Monday morning by the weather service. The focus of heavy rains will shift to the Bay Area on Tuesday, increasing concerns about flooding in San Francisco and Sacramento. By Wednesday, heavy downpours may affect Los Angeles during the first half of the day, following the recent containment of wildfires like Eaton and Palisades that claimed at least 29 lives. Los Angeles County officials have taken proactive measures in anticipation of the storm and are urging residents to secure their properties with sandbags and stay informed about the impending weather conditions. Lindsey P. Horvath, Los Angeles county supervisor for the third district, emphasized the county’s efforts to prepare for the storm by clearing debris basins, fortifying infrastructure, and ensuring residents have the necessary resources for safety. In Southern California, the Los Angeles metro area could receive up to 1 inch of rain, with mountainous regions expecting 2 to 4 inches. Higher terrain of the coastal ranges and northern Sierra foothills might see additional rainfall amounts ranging from 5 to 10 inches.
