California storms updates: Woman found dead in submerged in car
A series of deadly and destructive storms has led to flooding and power outages.
Dangerously stormy weather continues to wallop California, drenching the drought-stricken state with a sudden and near constant onslaught of rain and snow, leaving a trail of destruction.
The National Weather Service has warned of a "relentless parade of atmospheric rivers" in the West Coast over the coming week. President Joe Biden has issued an emergency declaration for California, while local authorities have ordered thousands of residents to evacuate.
Latest headlines:
Officials resume search for missing 5-year-old
The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Office said it has continued its search for 5-year-old Kyle Doan who was swept away by floodwaters on Jan. 9.
About 80 personnel were involved with Wednesday's search and were aided by many resources including sonar equipment and K9 units from other police departments.
Kyle is described as 4 feet tall, 52 pounds with short dirty blond hair and hazel eyes. He was last seen wearing a black puffer jacket with a red liner, blue jeans, blue and gray Nike tennis shoes.
Woman found dead in submerged car
The Sonoma County Sheriff's office announced that a woman was found dead Wednesday morning inside a submerged car.
First responders found Daphne Fontino, 43, inside the vehicle that was submerged in eight to 10 feet of water approximately 100 yards from the road in Forestville, according to the sheriff's office.
The office received a 911 call the previous day that a car was stuck in flood waters near Trenton-Healdsburg Road. The dispatch tried to call back but got no response, according to the sheriff's office.
Several deputies searched the area, including in a helicopter.
"They searched until sunset when the search became too dangerous to continue in the dark," the sheriff's office said.
Images show storm devastation in California
As storms continue to pound California, images show first responders conducting rescues as extreme weather leaves fallen trees and flooding throughout the state.
-ABC News' Moe Zoyari
Costs of natural gas skyrocket in California due to storms, supply issues
Due to recent storms, inventory and supply issues, the cost of natural gas in California is skyrocketing.
"An unprecedented cold snap across the nation in part has caused natural gas market prices in the West to more than double between December and January – much higher than expected," utility provider SoCal Gas said in an email to customers.
"SoCalGas residential customers can expect the typical January bill likely to be more than double the typical bill last January, assuming the same amount of natural gas is used," it added.
-ABC News's David Herndon
The latest forecast for the West Coast
Yet another storm is expected to hit the West Coast on Wednesday, dumping more rain and snow over Northern California while offering some respite to Southern California.
Parts of coastal Oregon could see waves as high as 35 feet from this storm.
As of Wednesday morning, 12 U.S. states in the West were under severe weather alerts for high winds, floods, avalanches and heavy snowfall.
But any break this storm provides will be brief, as a much larger weather system is in the forecast for this weekend, bringing torrential rain, heavy snow and gusty winds to the entire state of California, from San Diego to Redding.
Over the next seven days, the deluge will impact Oregon and Washington state as the storms move farther north and become more widespread.
Part of the western storm that hit California on Tuesday will sweep across the country, bringing severe weather to the South on Thursday with threats of damaging winds and an isolated tornado. This storm will move into the Northeast on Thursday night with mostly just rain.
-ABC News’ Max Golembo
