A last set of storms has hit California, bringing more rain and snow to a state that has already been hit hard by flooding, snow, and at least 19 deaths.
In recent weeks, storms have wreaked havoc on the state, drowning towns and forcing evacuations. Still unclear is the extent of the devastation.
Approximately 25 million Californians were under flood warnings over the weekend.
However, there is optimism that this week’s weather will be better.
The National Weather Service (NWS) office in Sacramento said that there will be “periods of light to heavy snow” until Monday.
The Sierra Nevada mountain range in California received one to three feet (30 to 91 cm) of new snow over the weekend.
According to poweroutage.us, more than 11,000 houses in the state were still without electricity on Sunday.
On Saturday night, US President Joe Biden declared a major disaster in California, the state with the most people in the US.
The NWS predicts that Tuesday should bring drier weather, so there is still hope.
Gavin Newsom, the governor of California, warned residents to be cautious and use “common sense over the course of the next 24 to 48 hours.”
It is starting to become clear how much damage a fatal “parade of storms” that only happens once every generation caused in California.
The number of fatalities now stands at 19, with a 5-year-old boy still missing.
According to the NWS, California experienced up to six times as much rain between December 26 and January 9.
In just two days last week, it rained more than 410 mm (16 inches) in some parts of Santa Barbara.
Storms have hit coastal cities like Santa Cruz and San Francisco, knocking out power to tens of thousands of homes and making holes in the roads.
The state’s rivers now have more water in them thanks to the rain. The Salinas River Valley’s many low-lying areas were evacuated.
