California braces for heavy rains, snowfall

Published December 12, 2014
Daly City (california): Cars make their way past flooding as they head south on the 280 freeway through the city on Thursday, as a powerful storm churned through the San Francisco Bay Area, knocking out power to tens of thousands and delaying commuters while bringing a soaking of much needed rain.—AP
Daly City (california): Cars make their way past flooding as they head south on the 280 freeway through the city on Thursday, as a powerful storm churned through the San Francisco Bay Area, knocking out power to tens of thousands and delaying commuters while bringing a soaking of much needed rain.—AP

SAN FRANCISCO: California closed schools and roadways on Thursday as it prepared for what forecasters predicted would be the state’s biggest storm in years, bringing heavy rain and ferocious winds.

The storm, which began to batter northern California late on Wednesday, was expected to last through Friday, causing severe flooding in coastal areas and mudslides in higher elevations.

The bad weather sweeping into the region was being carried on a current with the unlikely name “Pineapple Express” — an intense stream of moisture stretching from Hawaii to the US West Coast.

Schools were closed on Thursday in San Francisco, Oakland and Marin County and elsewhere in northern California, while local media reported that San Francisco’s scenic Great Highway, which runs along the Pacific Highway, also had been closed as a precaution.

The National Weather Service said a flash flood warning would remain in effect all day on Thursday, and warned motorists that “driving conditions may be very poor” because of the storm.

Officials predicted winds that could top 75 miles per hour — equivalent to a Category One hurricane, with gusts of nearly 100 miles per hour.

Flash flood watches and warnings were put in place all along the western United States from the Pacific Northwest to San Diego at the Golden State’s southernmost tip.

In the state’s mountainous areas, blizzard conditions were expected, with snowfall totals of up to four feet.

The heavy precipitation comes with California already saturated by several weeks of punishing rains.

Epic rainfall was also expected to be felt in Oregon and Washington states.

US weather experts said the last time the region was hit by such heavy rainfall was in October 2009.

Published in Dawn, December 12th, 2014

Opinion

Editorial

Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...
New terror wave
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

New terror wave

The time has come for decisive government action against militancy.
Development costs
27 Mar, 2024

Development costs

A HEFTY escalation of 30pc in the cost of ongoing federal development schemes is one of the many decisions where the...
Aitchison controversy
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

Aitchison controversy

It is hoped that higher authorities realise that politics and nepotism have no place in schools.