California reels under onslaught of storms
Source: Agencies |
December 22, 2010, Wednesday
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THE latest in a slew of powerful storm systems is bearing down on California in the United States, pelting mountain areas with heavy rain, snow and high winds, prompting evacuations and leaving thousands without power.
Virtually the entire state has been affected by the storms that began last Friday, dumping moisture from far Northern California south to San Diego. More than 30 centimeters of rain have fallen in parts of the Santa Monica Mountains, and 4 meters of snow has accumulated at Mammoth Mountain ski resort.
Downtown Los Angeles had received nearly 11cm of rain since Friday morning, more than a third of the average annual precipitation.
The National Weather Service predicted an even fiercer storm would roll into Southern California beginning today, bringing 7cm to 18cm of rain in most areas and up to 25cm in some mountains.
In the Wrightwood area, about 15 people were evacuated on Monday night after the Sheep Creek Wash overflowed and threatened homes, the San Bernardino County Fire Department told the Los Angeles Times.
Also in San Bernardino County, a woman was rescued from her pickup truck on Monday night after being swept away in rain-swollen Lytle Creek in the San Bernardino National Forest.
The woman called for help on her cell phone as water rose inside her cab up to the dashboard, San Bernardino County fire spokeswoman Tracey Martinez said.
After a four-hour ordeal, the woman was pulled to safety and taken to a hospital.
In Orange County, officials yesterday were searching for four hikers in a flooded canyon in the Cleveland National Forest. Rescuers used a bulldozer on Monday night to retrieve five other people who became stranded by the rain-swollen Trabuco Creek.
Unaccustomed to driving and dressing for so much rain, Southern California residents tried to go about their business - creeping on the freeways, dodging puddles downtown and doing last-minute holiday shopping.
While adults grumbled, children didn't seem to mind the rain. Grade-schoolers in rubber boots splashed in the downspouts and pre-teens pretended to be too cool for rain gear. "I love the rain because we get to stay in during gym class and watch movies. And at lunchtime, the kids run outside and come back all soaked and try to hug you," said 12-year-old Amy Becerra, giggling.
Her mother, Nancy, struggling with an umbrella, disagreed. She said the constant rain was "depressing," kept her inside all weekend and made driving scary.
Virtually the entire state has been affected by the storms that began last Friday, dumping moisture from far Northern California south to San Diego. More than 30 centimeters of rain have fallen in parts of the Santa Monica Mountains, and 4 meters of snow has accumulated at Mammoth Mountain ski resort.
Downtown Los Angeles had received nearly 11cm of rain since Friday morning, more than a third of the average annual precipitation.
The National Weather Service predicted an even fiercer storm would roll into Southern California beginning today, bringing 7cm to 18cm of rain in most areas and up to 25cm in some mountains.
In the Wrightwood area, about 15 people were evacuated on Monday night after the Sheep Creek Wash overflowed and threatened homes, the San Bernardino County Fire Department told the Los Angeles Times.
Also in San Bernardino County, a woman was rescued from her pickup truck on Monday night after being swept away in rain-swollen Lytle Creek in the San Bernardino National Forest.
The woman called for help on her cell phone as water rose inside her cab up to the dashboard, San Bernardino County fire spokeswoman Tracey Martinez said.
After a four-hour ordeal, the woman was pulled to safety and taken to a hospital.
In Orange County, officials yesterday were searching for four hikers in a flooded canyon in the Cleveland National Forest. Rescuers used a bulldozer on Monday night to retrieve five other people who became stranded by the rain-swollen Trabuco Creek.
Unaccustomed to driving and dressing for so much rain, Southern California residents tried to go about their business - creeping on the freeways, dodging puddles downtown and doing last-minute holiday shopping.
While adults grumbled, children didn't seem to mind the rain. Grade-schoolers in rubber boots splashed in the downspouts and pre-teens pretended to be too cool for rain gear. "I love the rain because we get to stay in during gym class and watch movies. And at lunchtime, the kids run outside and come back all soaked and try to hug you," said 12-year-old Amy Becerra, giggling.
Her mother, Nancy, struggling with an umbrella, disagreed. She said the constant rain was "depressing," kept her inside all weekend and made driving scary.
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