‘Life-threatening’ flooding feared in Northern California as storms cause rivers to swell
CAPITOLA, Calif. — Another in a series of powerful winter storms unleashed heavy rain in Northern California on Monday, causing widespread flooding in Santa Cruz County and beyond as rivers began to swell across the region.
The “energetic and moisture-laden” cyclone, which is expected to dump several inches of rain across the region through Tuesday, is the latest in a parade of atmospheric rivers that have pummeled the state over the last 10 days, according to the National Weather Service.
The unrelenting extreme weather has produced giant swells that have wreaked havoc on coastal communities, strong winds that have toppled trees and knocked out power for thousands and intense rain that has helped push rivers and creeks to flood stage. Officials say more wet weather is on the horizon.
“This is just the middle of what has already been a very wet and active pattern — and what is expected to be one, really, for at least another week or so,” said Daniel Swain, a climate scientist at UCLA.
On Monday, several rivers approached — or exceeded — flood level. The pounding rain washed out roads and sent already saturated soils sliding, further snarling traffic across the region. Santa Cruz
