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Emirates 24/7
14-02-2025
- Climate
- Emirates 24/7
Heavy rain pummels mudslide-prone Southern California as pileup in Oregon storm closes an interstate
Snow and ice in whiteout conditions contributed to a pileup involving 20 to 30 cars on a major highway connecting Oregon and Idaho, injuring several people as a winter storm hit the Pacific Northwest Thursday. In Southern California, heavy rain from the strongest atmospheric river of the season triggered at least one rockslide and a large debris flow with waist-deep mud in Pacific Palisades. Evacuations were ordered in Los Angeles neighborhoods at high risk of mudslides following recent wildfires. The West Coast storms are the latest in a week of severe weather across the U.S., which has left tens of thousands without power. First responders searched every vehicle in the pileup near Multnomah Falls, 25 miles east of Portland, according to the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office. Initially, over 100 vehicles were reported involved, but the state transportation department confirmed 20 to 30 vehicles. Four people were hospitalized with minor injuries, and no deaths were reported. Whiteout conditions caused the westbound Interstate 84 pileup, where an SUV caught fire but occupants escaped. Eight emergency shelters opened in Multnomah County, housing 489 people Wednesday night. Wind chill could drop to 10°F (minus 12°C) in Portland, with up to 3 inches of snow and 45 mph gusts expected. In southern Washington, a 22-vehicle pileup on Interstate 5 near the Cowlitz River injured six people. Authorities reported 95 crashes across five counties. Thursday night, flash flood and severe thunderstorm warnings were issued for eastern Los Angeles County. Rain triggered a Malibu Canyon rockslide and a debris flow in the Hollywood Hills. Southern California could see up to 6 inches of rain in the mountains and 3 inches in coastal areas before the system clears Friday, according to Brent Bower of the National Weather Service. Strong winds may topple trees, cause outages, and disrupt flights. Evacuation orders covered areas scarred by the Palisades Fire, LA's most destructive wildfire. Officials distributed sandbags and set up barriers, warning residents to be prepared. Malibu schools and Knott's Berry Farm amusement park closed Thursday due to the storm. Despite recent rain, Southern California remains in extreme or severe drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. UCLA climate scientist Daniel Swain noted that while the region needs rain, the storm risked delivering it too quickly. In Altadena, Mehran Daoudian covered his fire-damaged roof with a tarp and praised city efforts to set up sandbags and barriers. "I didn't leave my cars on the street because with the mudslide, they might go down," he said. Further north, power outages, landslides, and flooded roads hit the San Francisco Bay Area. Authorities urged evacuations in Felton Grove along the San Lorenzo River. Nevada recorded measurable rain in Las Vegas on Thursday, ending a 214-day dry streak. Northern Utah faced hazardous mountain driving conditions from a rain-snow mix, prompting a road safety alert through Friday. In New England, dozens of school districts closed or delayed classes Thursday due to icy roads. A tractor-trailer crash on the Maine Turnpike killed two people. The storms followed two days of heavy snow and freezing rain from Kentucky to Washington, D.C., causing hundreds of accidents and power outages. By Thursday night, 130,000 customers in Virginia and 6,600 in North Carolina remained without electricity. The National Weather Service confirmed two brief EF-0 tornadoes in Mississippi on Wednesday, one damaging homes in Columbia. No major injuries or deaths were reported. Follow Emirates 24|7 on Google News.
Al Arabiya
13-02-2025
- Climate
- Al Arabiya
California's burn scars brace for flooding as freezing rain and snow head for Oregon
Officials in California distributed sandbags, prepositioned rescue swimmers, and told residents to have their go-bags ready as the state prepares for an atmospheric river that could bring heavy rain, winds, and flooding Thursday to areas ravaged by wildfires. Meanwhile, Portland coated its streets with 2,000 gallons of liquid anti-icer, while officials in Oregon and Idaho opened emergency shelters to prepare for a punishing mix of snow and ice starting Thursday. Southern California could see as much as 6 inches (about 15 centimeters) of rain in the mountains and 3 inches (about 7.6 centimeters) in coastal areas and valleys, according to Brent Bower, hydrologist with the National Weather Service. Strong wind gusts could bring down trees, cause power outages, and delay flights. Evacuation warnings were issued in Mandeville Canyon and other areas ravaged by the Palisades Fire–the most destructive fire in Los Angeles city history–over concerns about potential debris flows during the upcoming storm. There were also warnings for Trabuco Canyon and other areas near the burn scar for the Airport Fire. All Malibu schools were closed Thursday, and Knott's Berry Farm shuttered due to the atmospheric river–a long band of water vapor that can transport moisture from the tropics to more northern areas. Daniel Swain, a climate scientist for the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources, said the area is in desperate need of rain, but this may come too hard and fast. 'The result could be debris flows and flash flooding around wildfire burn areas. These burned areas are more at risk to debris flows because vegetation that helps to keep soil anchored has been burned away and loose debris, including ash, soil, and rocks, have been added,' he said in a statement. County officials said roads may be closed and urged residents to be prepared should a mandatory evacuation order become necessary. East hit with heavy snow and freezing rain The rain follows storms Wednesday that dumped heavy snow and freezing rain on a swath of the US East from Kentucky to the nation's capital, causing hundreds of traffic accidents, knocking out power in places, and threatening to flood waterways. The storm system, which cut a path from Kentucky to Maryland and points farther north on Tuesday, brought more than 14 inches (37 centimeters) of snow to Iron Gate, a tiny Appalachian town in western Virginia, and 12 inches (30.5 centimeters) to White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, a small city about 65 miles (105 kilometers) to the west, the National Weather Service said. By early Thursday, more than 150,000 customers in Virginia and more than 13,000 in North Carolina were still without electricity, according to Appalachian Power, which serves a million customers in West Virginia, Virginia, and Tennessee, said more than 5,700 workers were trying to restore power. 'The region's airports received several inches of snow,' according to Scott Kleebauer, a meteorologist with the weather service's Weather Prediction Center. Nearly 7,000 flights were canceled or delayed across the United States Wednesday, including almost 300 into Ronald Reagan National Airport near Washington, according to the flight-tracking site Hundreds of accidents In Kentucky, snowy roads caused a head-on fatal crash Tuesday in Nelson County, south of Louisville. 'The driver of a car lost control going into a curve, crossed the center line and hit an oncoming semi-truck head on,' according to the county's emergency management director, Brad Metcalf. The driver died at the scene. In Virginia, where Gov. Glenn Youngkin declared a state of emergency, the state police reported about 850 crashes on Tuesday and Wednesday, dozens of which involved injuries. Officials said it was not known if they were caused by the weather. Maryland State Police reported 235 crashes and 185 inoperable or unattended vehicles. In southern West Virginia, multiple crashes temporarily shut down several major highways Tuesday. Pacific Northwest ice storm Freezing rain and snow were expected in northwest Oregon and southwest Washington, which could cause power outages, according to the National Weather Service. Officials in Oregon's Multnomah County extended a state of emergency through at least Thursday and said six emergency shelters would be open. Officials said 356 people went to the shelters Tuesday night. Wind chill readings could dip to 10 degrees (minus 12 Celsius) in Portland, the weather service said. In Idaho, a cold weather advisory was in effect, with wind chills potentially as low as minus 13 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 25 degrees Celsius) in the north central part of the state. An ice storm forecast for the Portland area early Thursday and Friday could challenge deliveries of flowers and other gifts for Valentine's Day. Temperatures plummeted earlier this week in Portland, which is more known for its rainfall. Julia Duncan, a co-owner of Flowers in Flight, shrugged off the weather, saying the area endured ice storms in past winters and customers are willing to go the extra mile for the people they love. 'It's Valentine's Day!' Duncan said. 'We'll just have to wait and see what happens. We're in the neighborhood where a lot of people tend to do pickups too, and (we've) got a couple of drivers who are willing to drive in the ice and snow,' Duncan said. 'So hopefully it won't affect us too much.'
The Independent
13-02-2025
- Climate
- The Independent
California's burn scars braces for heavy rain amid flash food fears
Officials in California distributed sandbags, prepositioned rescue swimmers and told residents to have their go-bags ready as the state prepares for an atmospheric river that could bring heavy rain, winds and flooding on Thursday to areas ravaged by wildfires. Southern California could see as much as 6 inches (about 15 centimeters) of rain in the mountains and 3 inches (about 7.6 centimeters) in coastal areas and valleys, according to Brent Bower, hydrologist with the National Weather Service. Strong wind gusts could bring down trees, cause power outages and delay flights. Evacuation warnings were issued in Mandeville Canyon and other areas ravaged by the Palisades Fire, the most destructive fire in Los Angeles city history, over concerns about potential debris flows during the upcoming storm. There were also warnings for Trabuco Canyon and other areas near the burn scar for the Airport Fire. All Malibu schools were closed on Thursday and the Knott's Berry Farm shuttered early Wednesday due to the atmospheric river, a long band of water vapor that can transport moisture from the tropics to more northern areas. Daniel Swain, a climate scientist for the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources, said the area is in desperate need of rain but this may come too hard and fast. The result could be debris flows and flash flooding around wildfire burn areas. These burned areas are more at risk to debris flows because vegetation that helps to keep soil anchored has been burned away and loose debris, including ash, soil and rocks, have been added, he said in a statement. County officials said roads may be closed and urged residents to be prepared should a mandatory evacuation order become necessary. The rain follows storms on Wednesday that dumped heavy snow and freezing rain on a swath of the U.S. East from Kentucky to the nation's capital, causing hundreds of traffic accidents, knocking out power in places and threatening to flood waterways. The storm system, which cut a path from Kentucky to Maryland and points farther north on Tuesday, brought more than 14 inches (37 centimeters) of snow to Iron Gate, a tiny Appalachian town in western Virginia, and 12 inches to White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, a small city about 65 miles (105 kilometers) to the west, the National Weather Service said. By early Thursday more than 150,000 customers in Virginia and more than 13,000 in North Carolina were still without electricity, according to Appalachian Power, which serves a million customers in West Virginia, Virginia and Tennessee, said more than 5,700 workers were trying to restore power. The region's airports received several inches of snow, according to Scott Kleebauer, a meteorologist with the weather service's Weather Prediction Center. Nearly 7,000 flights were canceled or delayed across the United States Wednesday, including almost 300 into Ronald Reagan National Airport near Washington, according to the flight-tracking site In Kentucky, snowy roads caused a head-on fatal crash Tuesday in Nelson County, south of Louisville. The driver of a car lost control going into a curve, crossed the center line and hit an oncoming semi truck head on, according to the county's emergency management director, Brad Metcalf. The driver died at the scene. In Virginia, where Gov. Glenn Youngkin declared a state of emergency, the state police reported about 850 crashes on Tuesday and Wednesday, dozens of which involved injuries. Officials said it was not known if they were caused by the weather. Maryland State Police reported 235 crashes and 185 inoperable or unattended vehicles. In southern West Virginia, multiple crashes temporarily shut down several major highways Tuesday. Freezing rain and snow were expected in northwest Oregon and Southwest Washington, which could cause power outages, according to the National Weather Service. Officials in Oregon's Multnomah County extended a state of emergency through at least Thursday and said six emergency shelters would be open. Officials said 356 people went to the shelters Tuesday night. Wind chill readings could dip to 10 degrees (minus 12 Celsius) in Portland, the weather service said. In Idaho, a cold weather advisory was in effect, with wind chills potentially as low as minus 13 degrees Fahrenheit (about minus 25 degrees Celsius) in the north central part of the state. An ice storm forecast for the Portland area early Thursday and Friday could challenge deliveries of flowers and other gifts for Valentine's Day. Temperatures plummeted earlier this week in Portland, which is more known for its rainfall. Julia Duncan, a co-owner of Flowers in Flight, shrugged off the weather, saying the area endured ice storms in past winters and customers are willing to go the extra mile for the people they love. 'It's Valentine's Day!' Duncan said. 'We'll just have to wait and see what happens.' 'We're in the neighborhood where a lot of people tend to do pickups, too, and (we've) got a couple of drivers who are willing to drive in the ice and snow,' Duncan said. "So hopefully it won't affect us too much.'
Yahoo
13-02-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
California's burn scars brace for flooding as freezing rain and snow head for Oregon
Officials in California distributed sandbags, prepositioned rescue swimmers and told residents to have their go-bags ready as the state prepares for an atmospheric river that could bring heavy rain, winds and flooding Thursday to areas ravaged by wildfires. Meanwhile, Portland coated its streets with 2,000 gallons of liquid anti-icer while officials in Oregon and Idaho opened emergency shelters to prepare for a punishing mix of snow and ice starting Thursday. Southern California could see as much as 6 inches (about 15 centimeters) of rain in the mountains and 3 inches (about 7.6 centimeters) in coastal areas and valleys, according to Brent Bower, hydrologist with the National Weather Service. Strong wind gusts could bring down trees, cause power outages and delay flights. See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. Evacuation warnings were issued in Mandeville Canyon and other areas ravaged by the Palisades Fire, the most destructive fire in Los Angeles city history, over concerns about potential debris flows during the upcoming storm. There were also warnings for Trabuco Canyon and other areas near the burn scar for the Airport Fire. All Malibu schools were closed Thursday and the Knott's Berry Farm shuttered early Wednesday due to the atmospheric river, a long band of water vapor that can transport moisture from the tropics to more northern areas. Daniel Swain, a climate scientist for the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources, said the area is in desperate need of rain but this may come too hard and fast. The result could be debris flows and flash flooding around wildfire burn areas. These burned areas are more at risk to debris flows because vegetation that helps to keep soil anchored has been burned away and loose debris, including ash, soil and rocks, have been added, he said in a statement. County officials said roads may be closed and urged residents to be prepared should a mandatory evacuation order become necessary. The rain follows storms Wednesday that dumped heavy snow and freezing rain on a swath of the U.S. East from Kentucky to the nation's capital, causing hundreds of traffic accidents, knocking out power in places and threatening to flood waterways. The storm system, which cut a path from Kentucky to Maryland and points farther north on Tuesday, brought more than 14 inches (37 centimeters) of snow to Iron Gate, a tiny Appalachian town in western Virginia, and 12 inches to White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, a small city about 65 miles (105 kilometers) to the west, the National Weather Service said. By early Thursday more than 150,000 customers in Virginia and more than 13,000 in North Carolina were still without electricity, according to Appalachian Power, which serves a million customers in West Virginia, Virginia and Tennessee, said more than 5,700 workers were trying to restore power. The region's airports received several inches of snow, according to Scott Kleebauer, a meteorologist with the weather service's Weather Prediction Center. Nearly 7,000 flights were canceled or delayed across the United States Wednesday, including almost 300 into Ronald Reagan National Airport near Washington, according to the flight-tracking site Hundreds of accidents In Kentucky, snowy roads caused a head-on fatal crash Tuesday in Nelson County, south of Louisville. The driver of a car lost control going into a curve, crossed the center line and hit an oncoming semi truck head on, according to the county's emergency management director, Brad Metcalf. The driver died at the scene. In Virginia, where Gov. Glenn Youngkin declared a state of emergency, the state police reported about 850 crashes on Tuesday and Wednesday, dozens of which involved injuries. Officials said it was not known if they were caused by the weather. Maryland State Police reported 235 crashes and 185 inoperable or unattended vehicles. In southern West Virginia, multiple crashes temporarily shut down several major highways Tuesday. Pacific Northwest Ice Storm Freezing rain and snow were expected in northwest Oregon and Southwest Washington, which could cause power outages, according to the National Weather Service. Officials in Oregon's Multnomah County extended a state of emergency through at least Thursday and said six emergency shelters would be open. Officials said 356 people went to the shelters Tuesday night. Wind chill readings could dip to 10 degrees (minus 12 Celsius) in Portland, the weather service said. In Idaho, a cold weather advisory was in effect, with wind chills potentially as low as minus 13 degrees Fahrenheit (about minus 25 degrees Celsius) in the north central part of the state. An ice storm forecast for the Portland area early Thursday and Friday could challenge deliveries of flowers and other gifts for Valentine's Day. Temperatures plummeted earlier this week in Portland, which is more known for its rainfall. Julia Duncan, a co-owner of Flowers in Flight, shrugged off the weather, saying the area endured ice storms in past winters and customers are willing to go the extra mile for the people they love. 'It's Valentine's Day!' Duncan said. 'We'll just have to wait and see what happens.' 'We're in the neighborhood where a lot of people tend to do pickups, too, and (we've) got a couple of drivers who are willing to drive in the ice and snow,' Duncan said. "So hopefully it won't affect us too much.' ___ Associated Press journalists from across the U.S. contributed to this report.
The Independent
13-02-2025
- Climate
- The Independent
California's burn scars brace for flooding as freezing rain and snow head for Oregon
Officials in California distributed sandbags, prepositioned rescue swimmers and told residents to have their go-bags ready as the state prepares for an atmospheric river that could bring heavy rain, winds and flooding Thursday to areas ravaged by wildfires. Meanwhile, Portland coated its streets with 2,000 gallons of liquid anti-icer while officials in Oregon and Idaho opened emergency shelters to prepare for a punishing mix of snow and ice starting Thursday. Southern California could see as much as 6 inches (about 15 centimeters) of rain in the mountains and 3 inches (about 7.6 centimeters) in coastal areas and valleys, according to Brent Bower, hydrologist with the National Weather Service. Strong wind gusts could bring down trees, cause power outages and delay flights. Evacuation warnings were issued in Mandeville Canyon and other areas ravaged by the Palisades Fire, the most destructive fire in Los Angeles city history, over concerns about potential debris flows during the upcoming storm. There were also warnings for Trabuco Canyon and other areas near the burn scar for the Airport Fire. All Malibu schools were closed Thursday and the Knott's Berry Farm shuttered early Wednesday due to the atmospheric river, a long band of water vapor that can transport moisture from the tropics to more northern areas. Daniel Swain, a climate scientist for the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources, said the area is in desperate need of rain but this may come too hard and fast. The result could be debris flows and flash flooding around wildfire burn areas. These burned areas are more at risk to debris flows because vegetation that helps to keep soil anchored has been burned away and loose debris, including ash, soil and rocks, have been added, he said in a statement. County officials said roads may be closed and urged residents to be prepared should a mandatory evacuation order become necessary. The rain follows storms Wednesday that dumped heavy snow and freezing rain on a swath of the U.S. East from Kentucky to the nation's capital, causing hundreds of traffic accidents, knocking out power in places and threatening to flood waterways. The storm system, which cut a path from Kentucky to Maryland and points farther north on Tuesday, brought more than 14 inches (37 centimeters) of snow to Iron Gate, a tiny Appalachian town in western Virginia, and 12 inches to White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, a small city about 65 miles (105 kilometers) to the west, the National Weather Service said. By early Thursday more than 150,000 customers in Virginia and more than 13,000 in North Carolina were still without electricity, according to Appalachian Power, which serves a million customers in West Virginia, Virginia and Tennessee, said more than 5,700 workers were trying to restore power. The region's airports received several inches of snow, according to Scott Kleebauer, a meteorologist with the weather service's Weather Prediction Center. Nearly 7,000 flights were canceled or delayed across the United States Wednesday, including almost 300 into Ronald Reagan National Airport near Washington, according to the flight-tracking site Hundreds of accidents In Kentucky, snowy roads caused a head-on fatal crash Tuesday in Nelson County, south of Louisville. The driver of a car lost control going into a curve, crossed the center line and hit an oncoming semi truck head on, according to the county's emergency management director, Brad Metcalf. The driver died at the scene. In Virginia, where Gov. Glenn Youngkin declared a state of emergency, the state police reported about 850 crashes on Tuesday and Wednesday, dozens of which involved injuries. Officials said it was not known if they were caused by the weather. Maryland State Police reported 235 crashes and 185 inoperable or unattended vehicles. In southern West Virginia, multiple crashes temporarily shut down several major highways Tuesday. Pacific Northwest Ice Storm Freezing rain and snow were expected in northwest Oregon and Southwest Washington, which could cause power outages, according to the National Weather Service. Officials in Oregon's Multnomah County extended a state of emergency through at least Thursday and said six emergency shelters would be open. Officials said 356 people went to the shelters Tuesday night. Wind chill readings could dip to 10 degrees (minus 12 Celsius) in Portland, the weather service said. In Idaho, a cold weather advisory was in effect, with wind chills potentially as low as minus 13 degrees Fahrenheit (about minus 25 degrees Celsius) in the north central part of the state. An ice storm forecast for the Portland area early Thursday and Friday could challenge deliveries of flowers and other gifts for Valentine's Day. Temperatures plummeted earlier this week in Portland, which is more known for its rainfall. Julia Duncan, a co-owner of Flowers in Flight, shrugged off the weather, saying the area endured ice storms in past winters and customers are willing to go the extra mile for the people they love. 'It's Valentine's Day!' Duncan said. 'We'll just have to wait and see what happens.' 'We're in the neighborhood where a lot of people tend to do pickups, too, and (we've) got a couple of drivers who are willing to drive in the ice and snow,' Duncan said. "So hopefully it won't affect us too much.'
