2023 hits Northern California with flooding and landslides, and more could be on the way

sacramento — Northern California crews were still scrambling to clean up the dire situation early Monday Effects of record rainfall Before another weather system moves out of the Pacific this week. The New Year’s storm brought deadly flooding, high winds, landslides and deep layers of heavy snow to some areas, closing highways and stranded drivers.

On Monday morning, the immediate concern around Sacramento was levee breaches, some of which threatened to flood more roads.

Many residents of Sacramento County have already been ordered to evacuate after historic rains broke through their levees, and officials have warned the situation remains “incredibly dangerous.”

Fears are that water levels may continue to rise this week after swollen rivers flooded nearby roads. First responders rescued at least a dozen people stranded in their cars over the weekend, and at least one died near the town of Wilton after attempting to drive through high water.

Neighborhoods in Northern California were submerged and landslides blocked roads. Powerful gusts of wind reaching 60 miles per hour knocked down trees on power lines and left tens of thousands of people in darkness.

Further south in the San Francisco Bay Area, iconic Fisherman’s Wharf experienced its wettest day in nearly 30 years, and Oakland Zoo will be closed for at least two weeks after a giant sinkhole collapsed at its entrance was.

Atmospheric rivers have brought more than eight feet of snow to the Sierra Nevada mountains, blocking roads and even closing many ski resorts.

As the system continues east through the Rockies, an avalanche warning has already been issued near Breckenridge, Colorado, after one skier was killed and another avalanche was caught on camera from downtown Telluride over the weekend. rice field.

But there was a glimmer of hope brought on by all of California’s extreme weather: the storm system may have provided much-needed replenishment to drought-stricken reservoirs and mountain snow cover. there is.

But meteorologists said it’s too early to tell if this week’s storm will have a positive, lasting impact.