There are evacuation orders in parts of the counties of San Mateo, Santa Cruz and Monterey and warn of an “immediate danger to life.”
The orders come amid predictions that parts of the Bay and mountains of Santa Cruz and Santa Lucia could see rainfall of up to 10 centimeters late until Thursday. A warning against high winds is also in effect until Wednesday afternoon in the Bay. Across the state, more than 8 million people are under flood warnings, with a combination of torrential rainfall along with historic mountain snow sweeping the region.
Delegates from the sheriff’s office in Santa Cruz County went door to door earlier this week, warning residents to leave the area before the storms, according to CNN affiliate KSBW.
“Please be safe and heed the evacuation orders,” the sheriff called on Tuesday.
Twitter.
Potential for dangerous mudslides
But it is not just the strong winds and heavy rains that are worrying officials. Significant fire scars remain from the devastating 2020 wildfire season, meaning there is potential for mudslides. In the provinces of Santa Cruz and San Mateo, the CZU August Lightning Complex scorched more than 85,000 acres in the fall.
When veld fires consume land, it destroys the vegetation that would otherwise absorb water and keep soil and debris in place. After millions of acres were burned in the state last year, the country now runs a higher risk of flash floods and mudslides.
And mudslides can be extremely dangerous. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, they kill an average of 25 to 50 people annually across the United States. According to USGS, most deaths are due to ‘rock falls, waste flow or volcanic waste’.
In January 2018, at least 20 people lost their lives, dozens of homes were destroyed and hundreds of others were damaged following mudslides that devastated Montecito.
Resident Tina Button told KSBW that her family purchased an RV specifically for such situations.
“If we have to leave, we have a place to stay that we do not have to pay for, or worry about,” Button said. “Before we evacuated for the fires, we did not know where we were going.”
Heavy snow is also expected
Meanwhile, parts of the high Sierra could see as much as 5 feet of snow this week, with some areas likely to see 7 snow until Friday.
Caltrans, the state transportation agency, said they expect a snowstorm and a white condition in parts of the Sierra.
“We can not stress this enough – IF YOU DON’T ARRIVE AT YOUR DESTINATION BEFORE SUNDAY SUNDAY, IT’S NOT THE JOURNEY TO THE SIERRA,” Caltrans wrote
Twitter Tuesday. “Heavy snow is under the crane and white-out conditions are expected. Please make smart travel choices.”
In Butte County, authorities reported that it was starting to snow and warned residents to “take all precautions” when driving.
“Remember to slow down, note the dangers of the roadway, such as overturned trees, power lines and other hazards,” the Butte County Sheriff’s Office said.
said.
CNN’s Joe Sutton and Sarah Moon contributed to this report.
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