At least one person is dead after a series of severe storms swept through Northern California — triggering disastrous flash flooding and forcing multiple road closures ahead of holiday travel.
Flood warnings were in effect across several Northern California counties Sunday evening as flooding was occurring or imminent, the National Weather Service said.
At least one person is dead after flash floods swept through the city of Redding, Mayor Mike Littau said.
Littau said that first responders have been conducting water rescues, but did not provide any further details.
It’s unclear how many rescues have been conducted.
There have been “numerous calls for stranded motorists” since the flooding began, the Redding Police Department said.
Police urged motorists to avoid flooded roadways, cautioning that even shallow water can disable vehicles or sweep them away.
The American Red Cross has opened a shelter in the area for residents displaced by the flooding, the mayor said.
Residents were advised to shelter in place and avoid driving due to hazardous conditions.
Shasta County — where Redding is located — was severely impacted by the heavy rain, which flooded several roadways, including Interstate 5.
The heaviest rain is expected Monday and Tuesday in Northern California, with up to 5 inches forecast in the Northern Sierra and 3 inches along the coast, the National Weather Service reported.
A Level 3 of 4 excessive rainfall risk remains in effect through Tuesday morning.
Officials also warned that flash flooding could also threaten the western foothills of the Sierra Nevada through Tuesday, with landslides and mudslides possible.
Power outages have already left more than 1,000 customers without electricity in Sierra County late Sunday — nearly a third of the county’s total, according to PowerOutage.US.
Flood threats will move south into central and Southern California by late Tuesday as another storm system strengthens off the coast.
Northern California is bracing for another surge of heavy precipitation, with more rain expected later in the week, the NWS warned.
“This wet weather pattern shows no signs of letting up, with another round of heavy precipitation possible Christmas day into Friday for much of California,” the NWS said, according to KVIA.
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