California Braces for ‘Bomb Cyclone’ Storm: Evacuations, Flooding, and Power Outages Expected

As the latest winter storm lashes millions of Californians with yet another destructive bout of weather, meteorologists are warning of “truly brutal” conditions that will bring flooding, strong winds, and power outages in the coming days. The powerful storm system, dubbed a “bomb cyclone”, whipped across northern California ahead of its arrival, toppling trees and blocking roads as crews scrambled to clear storm drains and residents fortified their homes.

Meanwhile, officials in Santa Barbara County began ordering evacuations in high-risk coastal areas, including the exclusive town of Montecito, which is home to several celebrities including Oprah Winfrey and Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle. California’s governor, Gavin Newsom, declared a state of emergency in response to the extreme weather, authorizing the state’s national guard to support the anticipated damage.

Rain and winds began lashing the San Francisco Bay Area and surrounding regions on Wednesday, with forecasts warning of up to 10 inches of rain in coastal mountain regions and winds with gusts of up to 60 miles per hour. The National Weather Service issued a warning for the risk of excessive rainfall affecting around 5 million people across northern and central California, cautioning all who were in the storm’s path to be prepared.

The storm is one of three atmospheric river storms to reach the state in the last week, with the previous storm on New Year’s Eve producing widespread flooding and damage. Forecasters are anticipating this week’s storm to bring even more dangerous flooding and destruction, with dozens of flights cancelled, over 8,000 sandbags distributed, and school districts closed in the San Francisco Bay Area.

As the storm intensifies, officials are urging drivers to stay off the roads unless absolutely necessary and to sign up for updates from emergency officials about downed trees, power lines, and flooding. In northern California, a 25-mile stretch of Highway 101 was closed due to several downed trees, and the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office ordered evacuations for areas impacted by previous wildfires.

The storm comes on the heels of a wet New Year’s weekend, which saw historic flooding, submerging thousands of acres and stranding dozens of drivers. San Francisco saw widespread flooding, with over 5 inches of rain hitting the city, while two separate sinkholes in southern California swallowed cars.

While the storms have brought welcome relief to drought-stricken California, experts caution that the bursts of strong precipitation are far less helpful than lighter rains over longer periods, and that the state still has a long way to go to combat long-term dryness.