1 Dead As Atmospheric River Brings Flooding, Mudslides, And Up To 6 Feet Of Snow To NorCal

SAN FRANCISCO, CA — An atmospheric river brought deadly flooding to Northern California this week, but the worst of the storm is yet to come, forecasters warn.

Rain and flash flooding soaked roads in northern California, leading to water rescues from vehicles and homes and at least one confirmed death, authorities said Monday.

So far, the atmospheric river has brought several inches of rain to areas north of San Francisco. In the last 24 hours, Point Reyes has seen two inches of rain, while Mt. Veeder and Angwin have seen more than three inches of rain, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Venado, north of Santa Rose, has experienced the most rainfall — more than four inches of rain.

San Francisco, meanwhile, has seen nearly two inches of rain, and Mount Diablo, further east, has seen two-and-a-half inches of rain.

Flood advisories have been issued in northern Sonoma County and San Francisco as of Monday morning, according to the NOAA. The flood watch in the Bay Area and Central Coast is expected to last through late Friday night, according to the NOAA.

In Redding, a city at the northern end of the Central Valley, one motorist died after calling 911 while trapped in their vehicle as it filled up with water, Mayor Mike Littau posted online Monday. Police said they received numerous calls for drivers stranded in flooded areas.

“Redding police officer swam out into the water, broke the windows and pulled victim to shore. CPR was done but the person did not live,” Littau wrote. The weather in the coming days could be even more dangerous, he warned.

As of Monday morning, local roads in Redding remained flooded as street crews worked to clear debris and tow out abandoned cars. Dekoda Cruz waded in knee-deep muddy water to check on a friend's flooded tire business, where the office was littered with a jumble of furniture and bobbing tires.

The National Weather Service expects weather patterns to intensify midweek, leading to potential mudslides and rockslides.

Up to 6 feet (1.83 meters) of snow was predicted for parts of the Sierra Nevada and winds could reach 55 mph (90 kph) in high elevations by Wednesday.

A high wind advisory is expected Tuesday night through early Wednesday morning as forecasters predict "dangerously" high winds of up to 30 miles per hour as far north as Cloverdale and as far south as Bradley. Gusts up to 60 miles per hour may also be possible, according to the NOAA.

High winds could lead to widespread power outages, snapped power lines, downed trees, and property damage, according to the NOAA, which also suggests that traveling in this weather could be hazardous.

Atmospheric rivers are long, narrow bands of water vapor that form over an ocean and flow through the sky, transporting moisture from the tropics to northern latitudes.

Strong atmospheric rivers, such as the one currently impacting California, are called "Pineapple Express," as the moisture for it builds up in the tropical Pacific around Hawaii, according to the NOAA.

"Atmospheric rivers come in all shapes and sizes, but those that contain the largest amounts of water vapor and the strongest winds are responsible for extreme rainfall and subsequent flooding," according to the NOAA. "These events can affect the entire west coast of North America, often disrupting travel and damaging property in the process."

AP News contributed to this report.