Posted on 01/10/2005 4:47:12 AM PST by bd476
LOS ANGELES - "Southern California began its fourth consecutive day of drenching rain Monday as a stubborn wintery mix pounded the region, triggering floods that forced evacuations and caused scores of accidents on slippery roadways.
The wet weather wasn't expected to let up until Wednesday, with as much as 6 inches of rain forecast in the region through Tuesday and an additional 2 feet of snow at elevations above 7,500 feet. Dense fog and high winds also were expected.
"We're going to be getting more of the same, harsh weather," said Curt Kaplan, a National Weather Service (news - web sites) forecaster.
The storm system was blamed for at least eight deaths over the weekend in Southern California, including a man killed when his vehicle plunged into the surf off Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu, and a 43-year-old homeless buried alive when the hillside where his tent was pitched gave way.
An avalanche Sunday afternoon also killed a 13-year-old boy who was knocked off a ski lift at the Las Vegas Ski & Snowboard Resort, 45 miles northwest of Las Vegas. No other injuries there were reported.
California roads were clogged with rain and mud flows, and at least 720 crashes were reported Sunday, more than three times the number of accidents during the previous Sunday when roads were dry, the California Highway Patrol said. Fire officials estimated that 100 roads in Los Angeles had seen flooding, mudslides or downed trees.
The National Weather Service said downtown Los Angeles received 5.16 inches of rain since Friday, setting a new record with 2.58 inches on Sunday alone.
The heavy rainfall is being attributed to a sluggish, low-pressure system that collided with a stream of moisture from the southern Pacific known as a "Pineapple Express."
The same storm is dumping heavy snow across the Sierra Nevada, which stranded an Amtrak train, shut down the Reno, Nev., airport for the second time in a week and halted motorists over the mountains. Winter storm warnings were in effect with as much as 5 feet of new snow possible by Tuesday morning on top of Saturday's accumulations of up to 4.5 feet.
"It's nice to know that there are places with more snow than the Dakotas," Wendy Wollmuth said while waiting for a flight at Reno-Tahoe International Airport to her home in Moffit, N.D. "We're a bit spooked about being here with all this snow."
In Ohio, all eyes were on the Ohio River. Two recent storms sent rivers out of their banks in central and southern portions of the state, flooding ground already saturated by melted snow from a storm before Christmas.
At the same time, a snow and ice storm knocked out power in parts of western and northern Ohio. Power companies said about 66,000 customers remained without electricity Sunday, down from 250,000 at the height of the storm.
No serious injuries were reported as a direct result of the storm, but authorities believe carbon monoxide poisoning killed five people using generators for electricity since Friday.
Gov. Bob Taft declared a state of emergency in 28 of Ohio's 88 counties over the weekend, increasing to 49 the number of counties eligible for state assistance, Ohio Emergency Management Agency spokesman Mark Patchen said Sunday.
The Ohio River was about 5 feet above flood stage in Portsmouth on Sunday and was expected to rise another foot before receding Tuesday, the National Weather Service said. Cincinnati was more than 2 feet above its 52-foot flood stage Sunday, with forecasters expecting the river to crest at 57.5 feet.
Across the Ohio River from Cincinnati in Covington, Ky., three flood wall openings were closed for the first time since 1997, when the Ohio crested at 64.7 feet.
In Marietta, Ohio, emergency management employees went door to door Sunday to pass out drinking water and cleaning supplies including bleach, mops, brooms and towels, to residents who had been forced from their downtown businesses and homes.
The scene was similar in southern Indiana as rivers rose to their highest levels in about 70 years from last week's storm. Many rural residents stayed behind to keep watch over their homes until the waters recede.
State officials said some of the worst flooding since 1937 forced hundreds of people from their homes. "There are problems all over the place, but they're not concentrated in an area like a city," said Alden Taylor, a spokesman for State Emergency Management Agency.
He said levees along southern Indiana's White River, East Fork of the White River and Muscatatuck River have held so far in southern Indiana, but there were concerns that more rain forecast for this week could worsen the flooding.
Conservation officers with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources rescued nearly 150 people and a dozen pets marooned by floodwaters in homes or stalled cars as of Sunday. "
I've been listening to scanner since 5 a.m. I'm apparently really cut off!
(New vehicles-in-the-wash call on Palmdale Blvd between 70th and 85th street east. What is with people?? You could hear it in dispatch's voice, she wanted to say WHAT IDIOTS!
three or less. . .
five or less . . .
eight or less . . .
any unit . . .)
Okay, regarding this story about the two-year-old that was killed last night. I'm convinced that not only DON'T the media have it right, some of them are making stories up completely. The accident occurred at N & 70th East, and all the lapdogs were reporting live from K & 70th this morning talking about the vehicle butting up against the railing, and this and that; none of it happened. The car in question is still buried at N, according to scanner. Guys were just talking about it an hour ago. N and K are three miles apart.
They're making stuff up.
I just heard a guy from the National Weather Service on KRLA news say that there is a possibility of another storm "sliding down the coast" and arriving mid to late week.
I'm not seeing that on any extended forcast.
Me, neither. Everyone is saying sunshine Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.
Those storms to the south would usually hit us up here in the Pacific Northwest. Been on the dry side up here so far this winter.
LOL, that's perfect, Doug! Thank you for the link. :) Big smile here!!
Where are you?
It never rains in So. Cal., it's liquid sunshine!
It is a riot to watch my Rat Terriers hopping through the snow. It is shoulder high for them. They get 10 minutes to play, then back inside to warm up.
Stay safe and alert. It doesn't look like it is getting any better in your neck of the woods.
Ventura, California.
I have family in Santa Maria (n. Santa Barbara county) and in Alpine (San Diego foothills). Anyone know what the severity of the weather is like in these areas? Alpine was half burned in the last big wildfire.
Have a safe trip!
Hope everything in Cincy turns out fine. I am up the interstate in Columbus. No rain yet. The next couple of days sound nasty. I am concerned about Marion County and some parts of Franklin County. Unfortunately, all the flooding here heads downstream.
Stay tough!
You're in Kuwait??? And coming home tomorrow?
Have a SAFE trip!!! Thanks for your service. Oh, and OC'S wet, but we're fine.
Thanks for the ping...and for keeping an eye on these things for us.
Get ready. The Artic Express is going to take a ride across the USA East of the Rockies starting later this week.
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