LOS ANGELES: Disastrous flooding could hit parts of California this weekend, forecasters warned Friday (Jan 13), as the eighth storm in succession barreled in over land already too waterlogged to soak up any more rain.
The most populous US state has been pummelled by near-record downpours over a very wet three weeks, which have already caused flooding, landslides and widespread power outages.
At least 19 people are known to have died as communities struggle to cope with the constant deluge.
On Friday yet another system moved in, with forecasters warning the Monterey Peninsula could be cut off and the whole city of Salinas – home to 160,000 people – flooded.
“The entire lower Salinas Valley will have disastrous flooding,” the National Weather Service said.
“The entire city of Salinas is in danger of flooding. Most of Castroville will flood. All roads near the Salinas River will be flooded and impassable. 90,000 acres or more of agricultural land in the Salinas Valley will have disastrous flooding.
“Many roads, homes and agricultural land areas in the Salinas Valley will have major flood damage.”
The Salinas River, already swollen by weeks of torrential rain, was expected to peak sometime Friday, breaching its banks in a flood that could last until Sunday.
Kelley O’Connell said the bursting of a levee near her home had worried her.
“If they release water from the dams or we get more rain, we’re just a field away,” she told the San Francisco Chronicle as she collected sandbags.
Evacuation orders and warnings were widespread, with forecasters saying major roads could become impassable – including highways that link the Monterey Peninsula with the rest of the county.
“Residents both on the peninsula and in the Salinas area should expect to be cut off for two to three days,” Monterey County officials said earlier this week.
Monterey County Sheriff Tina Nieto told reporters Thursday that floodwater could strand people.
“This is a slow-moving event” and not all places will be impacted at once, she said.
“The river crests at different times.”
Resident John Guru said he was taking no chances, with four days’ supplies at home and two days’ worth in his car in case he is caught out on the road.
“I’m not sure how bad it’s going to be,” he told the Monterey Herald.
“I will find a place if needed and do whatever it takes,” he said, adding: “This is crazy, I was not anticipating anything like this.”
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