California faces flooding, mudslides as rain storm inundates state

Flood watches extend from San Diego to Redding.

February 20, 2024, 3:46 PM

Thirty-seven million Californians are on alert for flooding as an atmospheric river continues to inundate the state with rain.

Life-threatening flash flooding and mudslides are a threat in Southern California, from Los Angeles to Oceanside, just north of San Diego, as the rain pounds the already saturated ground.

PHOTO: Flood water gushes through San Ysidro Creek at the Randall debris basin, Feb. 19, 2024, in Montecito, Calif.
Flood water gushes through San Ysidro Creek at the Randall debris basin, Feb. 19, 2024, in Montecito, Calif.
Montecito Fire/Facebook via Reuters
PHOTO: Workers clean up a residential street where a large tree branch fell knocking out power and damaging vehicles, Feb. 19, 2024, in Los Angeles.
Workers clean up a residential street where a large tree branch fell knocking out power and damaging vehicles, Feb. 19, 2024, in Los Angeles.
Mario Tama/Getty Images

Parts of California have seen 6 to 10 inches of rain over the last several days.

Downtown Los Angeles has recorded 11.87 inches of rain so far this month, marking the city's wettest February since 1998.

PHOTO: Vehicles drive through the rain on the 101 freeway, Feb. 19, 2024, in Los Angeles.
Vehicles drive through the rain on the 101 freeway, Feb. 19, 2024, in Los Angeles.
Mario Tama/Getty Images

On average, Los Angeles sees a total of 3.64 inches of rain throughout February.

With 13.92 inches of rain recorded in Los Angeles so far this year, the city is closing in on its average yearly rainfall total of 14.25 inches.

PHOTO: People walk in the rain on Hollywood Boulevard, Feb. 19, 2024, in Los Angeles,
People walk in the rain on Hollywood Boulevard, Feb. 19, 2024, in Los Angeles,
Mario Tama/Getty Images

Flood watches on Tuesday extend from Redding in Northern California to San Diego in Southern California.

Rounds of rain will continue across Southern California into early Wednesday, with more flash flooding, mudslides and rockslides possible.

PHOTO: A shopping cart sits in an overflow area of the Los Angeles River, swollen by storm runoff, Feb. 19, 2024, in Los Angeles.
A shopping cart sits in an overflow area of the Los Angeles River, swollen by storm runoff, Feb. 19, 2024, in Los Angeles.
Mario Tama/Getty Images

Winter weather advisories are also in effect from the Sierra Nevada mountains to the Central Rockies. Heavy mountain snow will continue to pile up into Wednesday morning before shifting into the Rockies by Wednesday afternoon.

The storm will leave California by Wednesday afternoon, with just some lingering rain and snow showers for the northern part of the state.

ABC News' Dan Peck contributed to this report.

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