Rain-soaked California preparing for potential flooding, mudslides from another storm

SAN FRANCISCO – Another storm moved in to water-logged California on Tuesday with the potential to create more flooding and trigger mudslides.

The evening commute was wet and chaotic in the San Francisco Bay Area and elsewhere in Northern California, with the rain expected to continue through Wednesday.

The National Weather Service warned of possible floods in most of the Bay Area. The storm was expected to bring up to 7 inches of snow to the Central Sierra, with wind gusts of up to 45 mph possible.

The weather service said Tuesday evening that excess runoff from heavy rainfall is expected to cause ponding in highways, streets and underpasses.

“Small creeks and streams could flood quickly possibly covering roads and nearby low areas,” it said.

Forecasters issued a flood advisory for the counties of Santa Clara, Alameda, Contra Costa, Santa Cruz, San Mateo and San Francisco until 8:30 p.m.

In Southern California, torrents of rain fell Tuesday night on the cities of Torrance and Carson, flooding streets and leaving several cars stranded. But the rains and danger ended quickly and there were no reports of any injuries.

More rains were expected into Wednesday, with 1 and 2 inches expected at higher elevations and snow at higher than 6,000 feet.

The storms triggered fresh fears of mudslides in foothill neighbourhoods that are below wildfire-scarred mountains and were swamped by debris in strong storms last week.

A high-surf advisory was in effect along the Los Angeles County coast until Wednesday afternoon.

The state has been hit hard by rain and snow over the past week. Last week’s wind and rainfall caused widespread flooding and power outages in Northern California, including in downtown San Francisco.

Another storm system came through Monday, though forecasters say this week’s storms aren’t nearly as powerful as the one last week.

And while the storms help, much more rain is needed to pull the state out of its severe drought, forecasters say.