Storm-hit California slammed by another atmospheric river
A Cal Fire crew trenches a flooded road in an attempt to lower the water in Allensworth, Tulare County on Mar. 20. Photo: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
An intensifying storm associated with a strong atmospheric river hit central to southern California with heavy rains, damaging winds and heavy mountain snowfall on Tuesday.
The intrigue: It's an unusually intense March storm for central California, with satellite and radar imagery exhibiting swirling clouds around the center — almost resembling a tropical cyclone.
- Satellite imagery showed the eye of the storm making landfall near the San Francisco area, though the strongest winds were south of there.
Context: With increasing ocean and air temperatures, climate change is adding even more moisture to atmospheric rivers, enabling them to dump higher rain and snow totals.
Threat level: Forecasters warned the storm could produce high winds and power outages across heavily populated areas.
- High wind warnings and wind advisories were in effect throughout the state from San Francisco south to San Diego, with gusts to 75 mph or greater possible in higher terrain.
- Flood watches were in effect for central and southern California, where "[n]umerous flash floods are likely," the Weather Prediction Center said in a forecast discussion Tuesday morning.
- Snowfall was expected to total up to 4 feet in the southern and central Sierra Nevada Mountains, putting strain on already buried infrastructure, given the record-breaking snowpack so far this year.
By the numbers: Some 176,000 customers are without power in the state as of 4 p.m. local time, per poweroutage.us.
- The Santa Cruz hills were going dark in the afternoon with 80 mph winds.
Of note: Departures to San Francisco International were grounded due to wind from 3:15 p.m. until at least 5:30 p.m. local time, per the Federal Aviation Administration.
What we're watching: A very strong low pressure system that's offshore of San Francisco Bay will continue to bring high winds, heavy rain and heavy mountain snow for California and adjacent areas of the Southwest through Tuesday night and Wednesday, per an NWS Weather Prediction Center forecast discussion Tuesday evening.
- Precipitation was expected to change to snow over the Tejon Pass along Interstate-5, the NWS in Los Angeles warned.
Context: With increasing ocean and air temperatures, climate change is adding even more moisture to atmospheric rivers, enabling them to dump higher rain and snow totals.
Editor's note: This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.
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