Emergency services in California carried out several flood rescues after a powerful storm and record rain brought flooding and landslides.
The storm lasted around 3 days and affected areas from Sacramento County to Los Angeles County. The worst of the storm is now thought to be over and many of the flood warnings have been cancelled.
Paso Robles in San Luis Obispo County recorded 1.91 inches (48.54 mm) of rain in 24 hours to 22 March. Storm total rainfall for Paso Robles was 4.26 inches (108.2 mm) as of 17:00 on 22 March.
National Weather Service said that an automated gauge at El Rio (near Oxnard) in Ventura County reported 0.64 inches (16.25 mm) of rain in 1 hour during the evening of 22 March.
Flood Rescues
According to Associated Press reports, at least 16 people were rescued from flood waters during the storm. No fatalities were reported.
Two people were rescued by passers-by after their vehicle was swept away by flood water in Canyon Country in the city of Santa Clarita.
Emergency teams were called on to carry out rescues in the Salinas River in San Luis Obispo County (10), Los Angeles River in the Sepulveda Basin (1), Tuolumne County (2) and in Folsom, Sacramento County (1).
Evacuations
On Tuesday, 20 March, authorities issued evacuation orders for around 30,000 people in Santa Barbara County, including Montecito, the location of the catastrophic mudslides in January this year.
Areas of the county suffered major burns scars in the forest fires last year making them particularly vulnerable to mudslides. This is the fifth time some residents of the county have evacuated since the fires.
Some flooding and debris flows affected some areas, closing roads. Overall Santa Barbara County escaped the worst of the storm this time around. Evacuation orders were lifted on Thursday.
Mark Johnson, National Weather Service meteorologist, said that the debris basins and creek clearings had done their job.
Los Angeles County also cancelled evacuation orders for Kagel Canyon, Lopez Canyon, and Little Tujunga. However, as of 22 March, evacuation orders La Tuna Canyon area remained in place due to a landslide in the area.
Pineapple Express
The storm was described as the “Pineapple Express”, a type of atmospheric river (a long, narrow regions in the atmosphere that transport large amounts of the water vapour from the tropics) which brings in vapour from waters around the Hawaiian Islands to the US West Coast.
Previous examples of the Pineapple Express in California can be found here for February 2017, January 2017, February 2014 and December 2014.
Last year scientists from MIT found that such extreme precipitation events in California are likely to become more frequent as the climate warms.
Social Media
Video recorded in the last 30 minutes from El Capitan by Santa Barbara County Battalion Chief Rob Hazard. pic.twitter.com/RgbPCZ1j7Y
— Santa Barbara County (@countyofsb) March 22, 2018
Montecito Creek near Olive Mill is flowing (photo credit Mike Eliason). Thanks go to all who worked to clean out our creeks and debris basins in preparation for this storm, allowing water and debris to be properly channeled. #SantaBarbaraCounty pic.twitter.com/s6fdnR3REx
— Santa Barbara County (@countyofsb) March 22, 2018
Aerial footage of #LatrobeRd water rescue w/ assistance from @Folsomfire provided to #MetroFire by @ProComKelly pic.twitter.com/Rw36ZdTE6r
— MetroFire Sacramento (@metrofirepio) March 22, 2018
Citizens helped rescue the occupants of the car that got overturned on Roadrunner Rd., Canyon Country. pic.twitter.com/NsIHnLVLab
— SCV Sheriff (@SCVSHERIFF) March 22, 2018
❗️ADVISORY: Roadrunner Rd. Canyon Country has been closed due to hazardous road conditions. A vehicle overturned, occupants uninjured. pic.twitter.com/578VamQ9H8
— SCV Sheriff (@SCVSHERIFF) March 22, 2018
Evacuation restrictions are still in place on La Tuna Canyon. Please see the attached storm update and the following link to an ASL translation:https://t.co/Vzin6gAG91 #LARain pic.twitter.com/tHn85jgEtj
— LA City EMD (@ReadyLA) March 23, 2018
Warm humid air streaming up from the vicinity of Hawaii is making it feel tropical outside. Heavy rain and windy conditions are still on track tonight – Thu am. #cawx #castorm pic.twitter.com/u6uWMCMjoS
— NWS Bay Area (@NWSBayArea) March 21, 2018
Flood Summary
Locations
B - San Luis Obispo County
C - Sepulveda Basin
D - Tuolumne County
E - Folsom, Sacramento County
Magnitude
Paso Robles - March 21 to March 22, 2018
Santa Barbara - March 20 to March 21, 2018
Paso Robles - March 20 to March 21, 2018
Oxnard - March 20 to March 21, 2018
42.672
Camarillo - March 20 to March 21, 2018
Damages
California - March 20 to March 23, 2018
California - March 20 to March 23, 2018
Evacuation notices were issued for 30,000 people, mostly in burn scar areas of Santa Barbara County. It is not clear how many people evacuated.
California - March 20 to March 23, 2018
2 people in Mariposa County are missing, presumed dead, according to Mariposa County Sheriff's office.
