California braces for another round of severe weather as heavy rainfall and hurricane-force winds are predicted to hit the state. This comes just days after the first Pineapple Express storm wreaked havoc across California. The new storm arrives at a particularly inconvenient time as Los Angeles hosts the Grammy awards, attracting a multitude of celebrities to the city.
The National Weather Service's Bay Area office has issued an extremely rare hurricane-force wind warning for areas including Big Sur and its surroundings. Daniel Swain, a climate scientist at the University of California Los Angeles, described the current conditions as "quite extreme" during a live-stream. Peak wind gusts of up to 70 mph have already been recorded in various locations across the state.
In another unusual occurrence, a large portion of southern California has been placed under a "High Risk of Excessive Rainfall" until Monday. The NWS warns that this heavy rainfall poses the threat of life-threatening flash floods, urban flooding, river flooding, as well as debris flows and mudslides. Mayor Rex Richardson of Long Beach predicts that the city could receive more rain in this week alone than it typically gets in an entire year.
Los Angeles, too, is not spared from the oncoming storm. Mayor Karen Bass anticipates that the city will experience wind and rainfall levels equivalent to what was brought by Tropical Storm Hilary in August. The southern and central coasts of California are expected to face up to an inch of rain per hour, with total amounts ranging from 3 to 6 inches. Higher elevation areas, such as the foothills and lower-elevation mountains, may receive as much as 6 to 12 inches of rainfall.
The National Weather Service has designated Santa Barbara and Los Angeles counties as high-risk areas for excessive rainfall on both Sunday and Monday. They also predict "near continuous rainfall" for the next 48 hours, increasing the risk of flooding due to already saturated soil and high stream levels. To mitigate the potential danger, evacuation orders have been issued for certain residents in Santa Barbara and Los Angeles counties, as well as parts of the San Jose region and Ventura County.
Furthermore, the storm will bring heavy snow to the mountain ranges of northern California and the Sierra Nevada. Accumulations of several feet are expected in the Sierra region by Tuesday. The NWS also warns of snow rates as high as 2 to 3 inches per hour.
As California braces for this second Pineapple Express storm, the state remains on high alert for the potential impact of floods, mudslides, power outages, and other storm-related dangers. Authorities urge residents to stay informed, heed evacuation orders, and take necessary precautions to ensure their safety.