California storm updates: State of emergency in effect as flooding, mudslides hit Southern California
An atmospheric river is bringing historic rainfall to Southern California.
A second storm within one week is pummeling California with heavy rain and life-threatening flooding.
Gov. Gavin Newsom has issued a state of emergency for counties including Los Angeles, Santa Barbara and Ventura, where floodwaters and mudslides have swept through roadways.
Latest headlines:
LAFD rescues man and dog from LA River
Los Angeles Fire Department personnel rescued a man and his dog from the Los Angeles River Monday.
Around 2:45 p.m. PT, authorities received a report from a bystander that a man had jumped into the water to rescue his dog. Fire crews responded and found that the dog had managed to swim to the edge and escape the rapids.
The dog was taken to a shelter for temporary care.
At a press conference Monday night, officials said LA County Fire had rescued 16 people from flooding conditions and five cats.
Flash flood warning in Los Angeles area extended to 6 p.m. PT
A flash flood warning that covers the Los Angeles-area cities of Glendale, Pasadena and Santa Clarita has been extended until 6 p.m. local time.
A flood advisory covering all of LA County is in effect until 3 p.m. local time.
3 people killed by fallen trees
Three people have been killed by fallen trees during the monster storm slamming California.
A man in Carmichael died after a tree fell on him, a Sacramento County spokesperson said Monday.
A tree fell on a house in Boulder Creek on Sunday, killing one resident inside, according to the Santa Cruz Sheriff’s Department. A second person managed to escape the home, authorities said.
The third fatality was recorded in Yuba City. An 82-year-old man was in his backyard on Sunday when he was killed by a falling redwood tree, Yuba City police said.
Flash flooding, mudslides ongoing threat from Santa Barbara to Los Angeles to San Diego
Flash flooding and mudslides are an ongoing threat from Santa Barbara to San Diego on Monday, with the Los Angeles area in the bull’s-eye, as a historic atmospheric river storm slams Southern California.
Ten inches of rain fell in some areas of Southern California. Many spots saw more than a month’s worth of rain over the last 24 hours.
Los Angeles recorded over 4 inches of rain in 24 hours, marking the city’s wettest day since December 2004.
The heavy rain and flooding will continue through Tuesday morning. Another 2 to 4 inches of rain is possible from Los Angeles to San Diego.
By Tuesday afternoon, the downpours will wind down. By Wednesday morning, the showers will linger in Southern California and most of the heavy rain will move into Arizona.
-ABC News’ Melissa Griffin
Latest forecast
A storm system continues to slam Southern California, with an atmospheric river bringing a plume of moisture all the way from the tropical Pacific Ocean.
The National Weather Service has flood watches in effect Tuesday morning for California as well as Nevada and Arizona. Winter storm warnings and snow alerts were also in effect for nine western states, from Montana to California, as this storm spreads into the Rocky Mountains.
As of early Tuesday, up to 3 feet of snow had already fallen on the Sierra Nevada mountain range.
The threat of flash floods on Tuesday will be mostly from Los Angeles to San Diego in California and from Yuma to Phoenix in Arizona. Locally, less than 1 inch of rain is in the forecast for Los Angeles, but the foothills around the city could get an additional 1 to 2 inches of rain.
On Wednesday, another storm system -- much weaker -- is expected to move through California from the San Francisco Bay Area to Los Angeles by the evening hours. The storm could dump an additional 1 inch of rain on southern California.
-ABC News' Max Golembo