Early Wednesday after delivering more rain than expected to Northern California, the first of two “Pineapple Express” storms hit Southern California, smashing rainfall records, causing rivers to overflow and landslides.
In Forestville, Sonoma County, a house fell into the Russian River after a rain-soaked hill collapsed. All low-lying areas downstream of Healdsburg, including Guerneville, were ordered to evacuate until Thursday morning due to the risk of flooding.
On Thursday, the storm weakened considerably as it passed through the state, but another atmospheric river of similar intensity is expected to arrive in the Southland. Forecasters are generally predicting minor impacts, including a surge in traffic accidents. Rainfall in Los Angeles County on Thursday is expected to be relatively light, similar to Tuesday night and Wednesday morning.
Another Strong Storm Could Arrive Next Week: Forecasters
“Don’t let this week kind of lull everyone into the belief that we can handle any rain that comes,” said Ryan Kittell, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard. “We still have a few storms to go for the winter.”
The storm could begin by the evening of Feb 11 or as late as the afternoon of Feb 14. It’s not yet known how long the rain will last. Kittel said it could last six to 12 hours, or it could last one to two days.
Read More: New Wildfire Broke out in Southern California
This week, the news of rain in Los Angeles County was welcomed after a month of destructive wildfires that destroyed thousands of structures, including various homes in Altadena and Pacific Palisades. The wildfires killed 29 people and were among the most destructive in the history of California.
Across Los Angeles and Ventura counties, the moisture is predicted to help decline wildfire risk. However, it likely won’t be enough to definitively end the fire season given the region’s severe winter rainfall deficit.
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