Powerful Pacific tempest clobbers storm-battered California

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (AP) — A strong late-season Pacific storm that brought noxious winds and more rain and snow to saturated California has been blamed for two deaths, forecasters said Wednesday. , said additional flooding could occur in parts of the state.

storm on tuesday Powerful gusts and torrential rain blew across the San Francisco Bay Area, thundered the state capital of Sacramento with severe hail, and recorded record rainfall in Southern California.

According to the National Weather Service, the storm gradually weakened from the north to the south, pushing a vast system inland across the Southwest, the Four Corners region, and the central and southern Rocky Mountains.On Tuesday, some residents of north-central Arizona were told to prepare to evacuate because Water level rise in rivers and basins.

Tuesday’s wind and rain turmoil south of San Francisco Bay to Monterey Bay was caused by an unusual drop in pressure over the eastern Pacific that meteorologists described as “explosive cyclogenesis.”

“Oh, even by the standards of what has turned out to be one of the most unusual winter seasons in a very long time, yesterday… stood out,” wrote the Bay Area Weather Service.

Trees and power lines were blown away. The windows of two San Francisco skyscrapers were blown out, NBC Bay Area reportedFerry services were interrupted because the conditions were so bad. 3 barges loosened and damaged the bridge.

An Amtrak commuter train carrying 55 passengers collided with a fallen tree and derailed near the East Bay village of Porta Costa. Amtrak and fire officials said the train remained upright and there were no injuries.

A man driving a sewer truck has died after falling into a tree in the Bay Area community of Portola Valley, the California Highway Patrol said. In the community of Rossmoor, a driver was injured and a passenger died after a large tree fell on top of a vehicle, according to the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District.

In the Monterey Bay area, Santa Cruz County was hit by 80 mph (129 km/h) gusts at noon. Along the coastline of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, sea foam crept across the roadway like a giant snowflake.

The gust reached 76 miles per hour (122 kilometers per hour) in the mountainous region of Santa Cruz, including Boulder Creek.

Resident Frank Cool waited for hours Tuesday afternoon at a downtown supermarket for workers to remove a large sequoia that was blocking a highway. “Trees are falling everywhere,” said Kuhr. “Incredible wind. Branches were flying in the air and I could hear trees falling and cracking.”

“This is amazing,” said Kuhr.

The 1.4 inches (3.5 centimeters) of rain that fell in downtown Los Angeles broke the March 21 record of 1.34 inches (3.40 centimeters) set in 1893.

About 121,000 customers lost power early Wednesday morning across the state, according to the company. PowerOutage.us.

The National Weather Service said Tuesday’s storm, which formed in the first full day of spring following the state’s unusual winter, was a Pacific depression interacting with California’s 12th depression. atmospheric river From late December.

Unexpected in California Wet weather siege after years of drought Also included was the February blizzard powered by Arctic air.

storms cause floods, mountain with a lot of snow The roof is crushed and the crew struggles to keep the highway safe from the avalanche.

Mammoth Mountain Resort in the eastern Sierra Nevada has announced it will remain open for skiing and snowboarding through at least the end of July.

Season-to-date snowfall at the Main Lodge was 634 inches (16.1 meters), just one storm away from breaking the all-time record of 668 inches (16.9 meters) set for the 2010-2011 season .