February 4 California storm updates | CNN (2024)

Our live coverage of the storm hitting California has moved here.

At least three homes in the Encino neighborhood were impacted by a “debris flow” early on Monday morning, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.

Crews were assisting residents with evacuation, the LAFDsaidin an alert.

It was unclear how many other residents were impacted by the debris flow, LAFD spokesperson Nicholas Prange told CNN Monday.

Debris flows are “fast-moving landslides” that can occurduring periods of intense rainfall,according to the US Geological Survey.

In the Studio City neighborhood, at least two homes were left with “significant” damage after being struck by a debris flow, the LAFD said Sunday night.

More than a dozen residents and their pets were evacuated from all nine homes on Lockridge Road, the department said.

Damage is seen after a tree fell on a house in San Jose, California, on February 4.

High-wind alerts were affecting more than 35 million people across California early on Monday morning, according to the National Weather Service.

Flood watches remained in place for nearly 40 million people.

More than 660,000 customers in the state experienced power outages,according toPowerOutages.us, and could increase throughout the day.

Here are the latest two-day rainfall totals taken from the NWS Los Angeles:

Here are the latest high wind reports from various NWS offices across California:

Over 14 million people are under a high risk of excessive rainfall on Monday across Southern California, according to the Weather Prediction Center.

The WPC has issued a rare level 4 out of 4 warning to affected areas including Downtown Los Angeles, Anaheim and Long Beach.

Rainfall rates across this high-risk area could approach 1 inch per hour, which could lead to rainfall totals of 4 to 8 inches, and possibly reach 8 to 14 inches in mountain and foothill terrains.

The warning in context: Rare Level 4 “high risk” alerts are issued on fewer than 4% of days per year on average, but are responsible for more than 80% of all flood-related damage and 39% of all flood-related deaths.

This event is part of an atmospheric river: a moisture plume pumping off the Pacific Ocean, feeding off warmer-than-average waters.

The National Weather Service has warned of “numerous damaging landslides” in the cities of Malibu and Beverly Hills as a powerful storm drenches California.

Landslides could also hit from the Santa Monica Mountains to the Hollywood Hills and Griffith Park, stretching to the adjacent foothills in the valleys.

Numerous damaging landslides, flooded roadways, submerged vehicles, and flooded creeks and streams were ongoing in the warning area as of 11:38 p.m. PT, the NWS Los Angeles said.

Automated rain gauges indicate between 5 and 8 inches of rain has drenched those areas, and rainfall can still rise by 1 to 4 inches, the NWS Los Angeles estimated.

The potential impacts include life-threatening flash flooding of creeks and streams, urban areas, highways, streets and underpasses as well as destructive and life-threatening landslides.

Locations that will experience flash flooding includeWestlake Village, Malibu, Woodland Hills, Encino, Santa Monica, Agoura Hills, Van Nuys, Beverly Hills, North Hollywood, Hollywood, Universal City, Burbank, Griffith Park, Topanga State Park, Calabasas, Pacific Palisades, Malibu Creek State Park, Brentwood and Interstate 405 through the Sepulveda Pass.

Safety reminders: The NWS Los Angeles is warning people to be especially cautious at night, when it is harder to recognize the dangers of flooding.

At least two homes in the Studio City neighborhood were left with “significant” damage after being struck by a “debris flow,” the Los Angeles Fire Department said Sunday night.

More than a dozen residents and their pets were evacuated from all nine homes on Lockridge Road, the department said.

Debris flows are “fast-moving landslides” that can occurduring periods of intense rainfall,according to the US Geological Survey.

A person checks flight information signs at San Francisco International Airport on February 4.

Flight delays and cancellations are mounting across major California airports as an atmospheric river-fueled storm lashes the state on Sunday night.

Here are the latest, according to FlightAware:

San Francisco International Airport (SFO)

Canceled: 215+

Delayed: 380+

Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)

Canceled: 40+

Delayed: 575+

Sacramento International Airport (SMF)

Canceled: 45+

Delayed: 115+

San Diego International Airport (SAN)

Canceled: 25+

Delayed: 210+

Metro Oakland International Airport (OAK)

Canceled: 30+

Delayed: 95+

A person rides a bike through floodwaters during a storm in Santa Barbara, California, on Sunday, Februar 4.

The Weather Prediction Center has been compiling rainfall reports from the powerful atmospheric river impacting much of California.

Here are the latest rainfall totals:

Flood watches remain in effect for nearly 40 million people across California through the day on Monday. The number of customers experiencing power outages is currently around 770,000, according toPowerOutages.us.

Rainfall totals of 4-8 inches are expected across Southern California with isolated totals of 8-14 inches across mountains and foothills.

Here’s a look at some updated high-wind reports:

Firefighters rescue a man caught in high waters in Nipomo, central California, on Sunday.

Firefighters rescued a man caught in high waters on Sunday in the town of Nipomo in central California.

A photo posted to the County of San Luis Obispo’sFacebook page shows a man climbing a ladder to safety with a car partially submerged in flood water behind him.

All canyon roads going in and out of Malibu in Southern California have been hit by rock and mudslides, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department saidin a social media post on Sunday.

This screengrab shows the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden flooding on Sunday.

The Santa Barbara BotanicGardenshared a video of a flood on their property Sunday as a severe storm system hit the state.

So far, there is no damage to the garden, according to the post. The grounds crew and volunteers are preparing trails and areas along the creek.

Flash flood warnings will remain in place for the Californian counties of Ventura and Santa Barbara until midnight local time.

Strong winds and heavy rainfall across much of California are expected to continue for the next couple of days.

More than 900,000 people have been without power in the state and flash flood warnings remain in place in several areas, including the southeastern counties of Santa Barbara and Ventura.

Here is a city-by-city forecast for major cities across California and what is expected during the morning commute on Monday:

Los Angeles

San Francisco

San Diego

Fresno

Sacramento

Eureka

A pedestrian walks through floodwaters during a rainstorm in Santa Barbara, California on February 4.

Flash flood warnings remain in place for the Californian counties of Ventura and Santa Barbara until midnight local time (3 a.m. ET).

A flash flood warning from the National Weather Service (NWS) said that an “extremely dangerous flood situation is unfolding for the mountains and foothills of central Ventura County.”

There is a risk of life-threatening flash flooding of creeks and streams, urban areas, highways, streets and underpasses. Debris flows are also expected consisting of rock and mudslides, the advisory said.

The advisory came hours after a flash flood warning was issued for eastern Los Angeles County, including downtown Los Angeles and the arena where the Grammy Awards are being held.

Some locations that NWS said could experience flash flooding include: Oxnard, Thousand Oaks, Simi Valley, Ventura, Santa Barbara, Camarillo, Fillmore, Ojai, Montecito, Chatsworth, Santa Ynez, Moorpark, Santa Paula, Port Hueneme, Carpinteria, Solvang, La Conchita, Rose Valley, Rincon Point and Ventura Harbor.

Evacuation warnings were issued in Orange County on Sunday evening as a storm hit the area.

Effective from 7:00 p.m. PT, voluntary evacuation warnings were issued for Silverado Canyon, Williams Canyon, Modjeska Canyon and Trabuco Canyon, according to a government statement.

Residents in the canyon areas were strongly encouraged to evacuate, especially those with disabilities, access or functional needs, and with large animals.

A map of the areas under the voluntary evacuation warning is viewable on the Orange County Sheriff’s site.

The La Tuna Caynon Road circulation is blocked off in Los Angeles on Sunday.

An evacuation order is in place for the La Tuna Canyon Road area in Los Angeles due to an increased risk of significant flooding, mudslides and sediment flow, according to a city news release.

The area is under increased risk because of burn scars left by a land fire in 2022.

Limited road closures are in effect in the evacuation area:

People in Los Angeles are encouraged to register for local alerts at: http://NotifyLA.org.

Firefighters in San Jose rescued 6 people and a dozen dogs as heavy rain swept the area on Sunday.

The firefighters “have been stretched thin since this storm began with crews responding all over the city to answer calls for service,” the department said.

Palm trees are blown by strong wind in Santa Barbara, California, on Sunday.

More than 900,000 customers in California are experiencing power outages, according toPowerOutages.us, as the staterecords high wind gusts from the potent atmospheric river-fueled storm.

Over 40 million people across California are under high wind alerts, which can see gusts of 65 to 85 mph, with isolated gusts up to 90 mph across higher elevations.

Those under wind advisories could see gusts of 45-65 mph.

Here are some of the latest, according to the National Weather Service (NWS):

The Santa Barbara Airport closed Sunday evening due to flooding on the airfield, officials said in a post on theairport’s website.

The airport encompasses 952 acres, according to itswebsite.

The National Weather Service shows that the incoming storm system “has the potential to drop a significant and unusual amount of rainfall on San Diego,” Mayor Todd Gloria said during a news conference Sunday.

The city will likely see somewhere between 2 to 2.5inches of rain from Sunday to Tuesday, with some areas potentially getting a half an inch of rain per hour, he said.

The city has eight swift water teams and other resources to help with rescues, Fire-Rescue Department chief Colin Stowell said.

Storm channels cleared: San Diego has cleared about four miles worth of vegetation and other obstructions from storm channels — which is about twice the amount work done in an average year — since a storm drenched the city on January 22, deputy chief operating officer Kris McFadden said.

Teams have also worked on clearing storm drains in neighborhoods near Chollas Creek, as well as Nestor, Otay Mesa and Sorrento Valley, he said.

Low-lying and flood-prone areas of San Diego will be re-issued an evacuation warning Sunday evening ahead of a storm hitting the area, Mayor Todd Gloria said during a news conference.

The areas include South Crest, Mountain View, Encanto, Rolando and other areas of southeastern and south San Diego that were impacted by storms in recent weeks, he added.

Residents in those areas will receive a text notifying them of the evacuation warning, Gloria said.

A total of 19 people were rescued off the coast of Long Beach, California after the mast of a sailboat broke off amid strong winds on Sunday.

Nineteen people were rescued off the coast of Long Beach, California Sunday afternoon after the mast of a sailboat broke off due to strong winds, firefighter Brian Fisk told CNN.

The incident was reported around 2:50 p.m. PT (5:50 p.m. ET) and rescuers found 11 people and a 40-foot boat on rocks off the coast, Fisk said.

They were brought to safety by Long Beach firefighters while eight other people were rescued by another boat in the area, Fisk said.

A preliminary investigation determined that the boaters were out sailing when the mast broke off, “presumably due to the inclement weather and winds,” Fisk said.

One person suffered non-life-threatening injuries, though it was unclear if that person was hospitalized, Fisk said.

The boat was damaged but did not sink, he added, and the incident remains under investigation.

Mission Creek overflows in Santa Barbara, California, on Sunday.

Authorities are evacuating residents near Mission Creek in Santa Barbara as water levels rise in the area, the city said ina post on X Sunday.

Police will be going door to door for homes in the area “effective immediately,” they said.

Also in Santa Barbara County, CNN video showed water rushing rapidly down the Hot Springs Creek in the town of Montecito.

One resident in Mission Creektold CNN that police came knocking on her door saying that she was under an evacuation warning.

The resident said she wasn’t worried and told CNN she was not planning on evacuating.

This post has been updated with additional information.

A flash flood warning has been issued for eastern Los Angeles County, including downtown Los Angeles and the arena where the Grammy Awards are being held on Sunday night, according to the National Weather Service:

Here are the areas under flash flood warning:

This flash flood warning is in effect until (3 a.m. ET Monday) (12 a.m. PT), as is the warning issued earlier for western and central Los Angeles County.

Further northwest in Ventura County, the flood threat has been labeled as considerable and is an “extremely dangerous flood situation unfolding from the Santa Barbara area and nearby foothills,” according to the weather service.

Multiple universities in California are pivoting to online classes Monday as the state expects to continue facing extreme wind and rain.

Cal State Fullerton announced in a Sunday news release that all Monday classes would be remote, citing “an abundance of caution and with the safety of students, faculty and staff as its top priority.” The university added that the main campus will be “minimally staffed” and “staff are encouraged to work remotely.”

California State University Long Beach said in a Sunday news release that “on-campus, in-person classes may shift to online instruction or alternative assignments, where possible” due to “severe weather.”

And the office of the chancellor at University of California Santa Barbara said in its own news release that instructors should switch to remote instruction on Monday “wherever possible” due to the “local storm conditions.”

Over 550,000 customers in California are now experiencing power outages as the state receives heavy rain and wind.

As of 4:15 p.m. local time (7:15 p.m. ET), more than 557,000 customers are in the dark in many coastal and southern parts of California, according toPowerOutage.us.

Sacramento County makes up one fifth of those outages, with more than 113,000 customers without power.

Outages have continued to climb throughout the day and are expected to rise throughout the evening and into Monday.

A powerful weather system hit California on Sunday, with heavy rain and extreme winds causing flooding, downed trees and power outages.

See photos from across the state:

Waves crash over a breakwater in Alameda, California, with the San Francisco skyline in the background on Sunday, February 4.

Cars drive in the rain in Agoura Hills, California, on Sunday.

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Fallen trees and power lines block a road in Pebble Beach, California, on Sunday.

Search and rescue workers investigate a car surrounded by floodwater as heavy rains caused the Guadalupe River to swell in San Jose, California, on Sunday.

Palm trees are blown by strong winds in Santa Barbara, California, on Sunday.

A flash flood warning has been issued by the National Weather Service for areas in central and western Los Angeles County, including parts of the city of Los Angeles.

Here are the areas impacted:

“Between 0.5 to 2 inches of rain have fallen,” the weather service notes, adding that, “additional rainfall amounts of 1 to 4 inches are possible in the warned area.”

Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly, according to the service.

The flash flood warning is in effect until midnight local time (3 a.m. ET Monday).

A flooded neighborhood in Novato, California, on Sunday.

Heavy rains that began Saturday have inundated one Northern California community, a local reporter told CNN Sunday afternoon — and the rainfall isn’t over yet.

Several neighborhoods in the city of Novato — roughly 30 miles north of San Francisco — were essentially “underwater” Sunday, with 2 to 3 feet of water filling up the streets, Barnard said.

“So much rain in such a small amount of time has inundated and overwhelmed small creeks around here,” Barnard said. “We’re no stranger to rain, but not all this rain all at once.”

And it’s not over yet: rain showers were impacting the Bay Area Sunday afternoon local time with some reports of “pea-sized hail,” the National Weather Service said, warning there was also a chance of thunderstorms with more hail through the evening.

A person walks through flood waters in Santa Barbara, California, on Sunday.

The city of Santa Barbara is seeing “extremely high winds” and some flooding as a storm system makes its way through the area, resulting in some fallen trees, Santa Barbara Police Sgt. Ethan Ragsdale told CNN on Sunday.

A large eucalyptus tree fell over in the middle of a road, taking down power lines and damaging a condominium complex, in one incident posted on X by police. Ragsdale said there are no injuries, but the tree is blocking a cul-de-sac and preventing residents from leaving the area by car.

Loma Alta Drive between Cliff Drive and Shoreline Drive is closed to vehicles and pedestrians as trees fell in the area, Ragsdale said.

The area was experiencing high winds Sunday morning into the afternoon, Ragsdale said, but the wind is now dying down and being replaced with heavier rains.

Flash flood warning: The National Weather Service has issued a flash flood warning that covers more than 1 million people in communities northwest of Los Angeles, including Santa Barbara, Oxnard, Thousand Oaks and Simi Valley.

The warning lasts until midnight local time (3 a.m. Monday ET).

Residents received an alert on their phone telling them this is a “dangerous and life-threatening situation” and not to attempt travel unless they are fleeing an area that is flooding or under evacuation orders.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks at a press conference in Beijing on October 25.

A state of emergency was declared for eight counties in California, Governor Gavin Newsom’s office said in a news release.

The state of emergency will allow a national guard response if needed, make unemployment benefits available, and allow for out-of-state contractors and utilities to make repairs, the release said.

The counties include Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ventura, which are all located in central and Southern California.

Los Angeles Unified School District campuses will remain open on Monday, Superintendent Alberto Carvalho announced at a news conference.

District officials will directly communicate with parents and LAUSD employees at 7 p.m. local time (10 p.m. ET) Sunday and at 6 a.m. local time (9 a.m. ET) tomorrow morning, should there be any changes specific to weather conditions.

Recognizing the severity and threat of the storm,the district said it will be “exercising a great deal of grace, of patience and understanding” tomorrow. “Do not put yourself in danger, ” Carvalho urged parents and LAUSD employees.

One elementary school, located in the La Tuna Canyon evacuation area, will be closed.

As heavy rain and strong winds batter areas up and down the California coast, more than 368,000 customers are without power as of Sunday afternoon, according to the monitoring site PowerOutage.us.

Sacramento County had more than 61,000 customers without power and Solano County had more than 40,000 lose service as of 2:45 p.m. local time (5:45 p.m. ET).

San Luis Obispo and Monterey counties also make up a significant number of the outages.

Outages are expected to rise throughout the evening and into Monday as winds grow stronger in the state.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass speaks at a news conference on Sunday.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass on Sunday said the city is “operating in an all hands on deck manner” to keep residents safe during the powerful rain storm that is drenching the Southland.

She vowed to keep Angelenos informed during the storm, but also urged residents to stay safe, take precautions and be prepared for any emergencies.

The mayor said city officials have “intensified outreach” to people experiencing homelessness along the Los Angeles River and other high flood risk areas and have increased the availability of shelters amid the storm.

The atmospheric river that is already dumping heavy rain across parts of northern and central California is set to bring “one of the most dramatic weather days in recent memory” to Los Angeles, according to the National Weather Service.

The rainfall forecast in Southern California continues to increase as the system begins to move into the area.

Downtown Los Angeles is forecast to see over 6 inches of rain through Tuesday, while surrounding areas can see anywhere from 5-10 inches.

Putting this in context: The average annual rainfall for Los Angeles is 12.23 inches, meaning that nearly half a year’s worth of rain could fall in the next 48 hours. Combined with the 2.49 inches that fell in the city on February 1, Los Angeles could potentially receive almost a year’s worth of rain in the first week of February alone.

Other hazards: Landslides, flash flooding, falling trees, power outages and high waves are all concerns in areas experiencing high rainfall rates. Rising river levels will also contribute to flash flooding and pose a risk of drowning for anyone near the channel area. Some locations at higher altitudes will be impacted by heavy snow and “may be shut off for a day or two with heavy snow covering access roads,” adds the weather service.

Local officials in Los Angeles are urging people living in affected areas to stay off the roads through at least Monday morning and to heed any evacuation orders.

A still from a video shows a semi-truck that was blown over in Grapevine, California, on Sunday.

Tumbleweeds rolled across the road, forcing cars to dodge them, and a semi-trailer was flipped in strong winds in Grapevine, California, on Sunday.

A video shows the trailer on its side, with a tow truck parked beside it. Later, the video shows large clouds of dust blowing across a road.

Grapevine is about 45 miles southeast of Bakersfield on Interstate 5 in Kern County. The highway through the area is a common trouble spot during inclement weather.

Celebrations on Sunday for the 66th AnnualGrammyAwards could be complicated by the strong atmospheric river bringing potentially life-threatening flood conditions to the region.

The show begins at 5 p.m. local time (8 p.m. ET) and the red carpet event begins soon at Crypto.com Arena (formerly Staples Center) in Los Angeles.

Strong winds and heavy rainfall are setting in across the West Coast, leaving at least 200,000 people without power.

Evacuation orders have been issued for a small number of communities in Los Angeles and San Jose, along with parts of the counties of Santa Barbara and Ventura, due to possible flooding or landslides. Meanwhile, at least 100 flights have been canceled and 250 others delayed at San Francisco International Airport.

Here is a city-by-city forecast for the major areas impacted by the atmospheric river driving today’s inclement weather:

Los Angeles

San Francisco

Monterey

Fresno

Sacramento

Las Vegas

Wind blows palm trees during a storm in Santa Barbara, California, on Sunday.

Power outages are rapidly rising in California, particularly along the coast, as rain and strong winds associated with the atmospheric river move into the area.

As of 1:25 p.m. local time (4:25 p.m. ET), over 200,000 customers are without power in California, according toPowerOutages.us. This is up from 60,000 customer outages just a few hours earlier.

Power outages are expected to continue to rise, especially in central and southern portions of California, as wind gusts grow stronger throughout the evening and into tomorrow.

Here are some of the notable wind gusts observed across the state so far:

California Gov. Gavin Newsom visits the state's Operations Center in Mather, California, on Sunday.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom visited the state’s Operations Center in Mather, California, on Sunday to receive an update on the latest weather forecasts and the state’s response efforts.

Newsom’s office announced on Friday that the state has 1,200 pieces of winter equipment available to remove snow and ice from roads, 21 swift water rescue teamon standby, and California National Guard members ready to rapidly deploy if called upon. More than7 million sandbags have been placed ahead of the storm, and the state is prepared to provide shelter and food for more than 37,000 people.

Long Beach Fire Capt. Jake Heflin says his department has a “robust response capability” for the extreme weather hitting Southern California.

Heflin said Long Beach, which is located in southern Los Angeles County, is expecting upwards of 6 inches of rain in the coming days. He encouraged citizens to stay away from fast-moving waters and flooded intersections.

Heflin said that the city is staging backup generators and portable pumps “where we experienced some challenges in the last storm,” referring to the previous atmospheric river that lashed the state just a few days ago.

Fallen trees and power lines block a road in Pebble Beach, California, on Sunday.

The director of the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) says the organization has 4,000 staff members and plenty of storm equipment at the ready across the state

Director Tony Tavares described the department’s efforts as “all hands on deck.” As some crews in Northern California monitor wildfire burn scar areas, others dealwith the snow and ice in the mountains, andcrews along the southern coast watch for heavy flooding.

Evacuation orders are in place for portions of Topanga Canyon in Los Angelesdue to possible mud or landslides, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

The order — which went into place Saturday evening and lasts through Tuesday evening at 6 p.m. local time (9 p.m. ET) — is in place for Santa Maria Road, north of Topanga Canyon Road.

The Owens brush fire burned about 50 acres in this area last July.

A Red Cross shelter in neighboring Reseda is open for residents.

A separate evacuation order is also in effect for some residents in the Shadow Hills community of Los Angeles’ San Fernando Valley on Sunday.

As rains and strong winds associated with the atmospheric river event lash Northern California, delays and cancellations at San Francisco International Airport continue to pile up Sunday afternoon.

At least 100 flights into or out of SFO have been canceled as of noon local time (3 p.m. ET), according to the tracking websiteFlightAware.

And at least 143 flights into and 122 flights out of the airport have been delayed, the website notes.

A fallen marker for the fourth tee is seen at Pebble Beach Golf Links before the final round of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am golf tournament in Pebble Beach, California, on February 4.

The incoming severe weather has forced schedule changes for both NASCAR and the PGA, both of which had scheduled events in California over the weekend.

On Saturday, NASCAR announced it wouldmove the Busch Light Clash at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum from Sunday to Saturday night due to “unprecedented severe weather.” The auto racing body urged fans to “make decisions in the best interest of safety,” and fans who attended the last-minute event that evening were able to enter for free.

And on Sunday, the PGA Tour announced that it would postpone the final round of the Pebble Beach Pro-Am golf tournament, originally scheduled for Sunday.

Monday’s tee times are scheduled for 8 a.m. to 10:25 a.m. local time (11 a.m. to 1:25 p.m. ET).In the PGA Tour’s news release, the organization’s chief referee Gary Young cited high winds and heavy rain, which could pose safety concerns for players and spectators.

The Los Angeles Fire Department has told residents living in parts of Shadow Hills, a community in the San Fernando Valley, to evacuate immediately due to the risk of dangerous landslides caused by the heavy rain expected in the area through Tuesday.

The evacuation order is in place for the La Tuna Canyon Road area, with borders of Horse Haven Street to the north, Martindale Avenue to the east, Penrose Street to the south and Ledge Avenue to the west. LAFD shared a map of the evacuation area.

Authorities have set up an evacuation center for people and pets at the Sunland Senior Citizen Center and Lake View Terrace Recreation Center.

They are encouraging people to evacuate large animals to the Hansen Dam Horse Park and LA Equestrian Center — Shadow Hills is known for its horse stables and riding clubs.

Debris flowsare fast-moving, potentially deadly landslides, according to the National Weather Service.

People collect bags of sand to be delivered to a lifeguard station that usually floods in preparation for an upcoming storm in Long Beach, California, on February 3.

Nearly two million Californians are expected to be in the path of heavy rainfall and severe weather in the coming days, officials say.

More than 8,500 members of multiple agencies have been mobilized to respond to any emergencies, the director of California’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES), Nancy Ward, said Saturday. This includes members of the National Guard, Cal OES, Cal Fire and more.

More than seven million sandbags are ready, and plenty of rescue equipment is prepped, Ward said in anews conference on Saturday.

Parts of the central and southern coastline of the state are expected to see the most significant amounts of rain and flooding, according to Eric Schoening with the National Weather Service. This includes the Los Angeles and San Diego metro areas.

The worst of the storm will be between Sunday and Tuesday, according to the NWS.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom has activated the State Operations Center, which will be open 24 hours a day, according to Ward.

The city ofSanJose in Northern Californiahas issued a mandatory evacuation order for areas along the banks of theGuadalupeRiverand surrounding creeks ahead of anticipated flooding.

TheGuadalupeRiverisforecast for moderate floodingSunday, according to the National Weather Service, and aflood warningisineffect until Sunday nightinSanta Clara andSanJose,including theSanJoséMinetaInternational Airport and the southSanFranciscoBay.

CNN’s Eric Zerkel contributed to this report.

Powerful winds are of concern across much of California today, with widespread winds of 40 to 60 mph and some gusts ashigh as 95 mph in the foothills and mountains.

As we reported earlier, the National Weather Service in San Francisco issued the office’s first ever hurricane force wind warning for a stretch of the Northern California coast Sunday.

The strong winds will likely to lead to downed trees and power outages Sunday and Monday, forecasters warned.

We will bring you the latest updates on any power outages here — especially as conditions are expected to worsen into the evening Pacific Time.

The National Weather Service office in San Francisco has issued a hurricane force wind warning for the first time since the agency started keeping records, warning of powerful gusts for a stretch of the coast in Northern California.

The weather service said the upgraded warning encompasses the Big Sur coast and up to 60 nautical miles offshore, with winds of about 40 to 63 mph, and gusts of up to about 92 mph.

Wind advisories and high wind warnings are also in effect for nearly 30 million people in inland areas across nearly the entire state, from Redding to San Diego.

Widespread wind speeds of 40 to 60 mph are forecast along with gusts as high as 75 to 80 mph. This is likely to lead to downed trees and power lines.

Mayor Rex Richardson holds a press conference in Long Beach, California, on February 3.

Areas of Long Beach, California, could potentially get more rain this weekend than typically seen over an entire year, according to Mayor Rex Richardson.

Richardson said in a news conference on Saturday that the city, located in southern Los Angeles County, is predicted to get anywhere from 5 to 7 inches of rain starting Sunday. Flooding and power outages are also expected because of the severe weather.

Preparations are underway, and crews will be staffed throughout the weekend to help with water rescues or any other issues that may arise, Richardson said.

The mayor also advised residents to have an emergency plan in place, just in case.

CNN’s Danielle Sills contributed to this report.

Visitors walk by giant sequoias as snow falls during an atmospheric river storm in Kings Canyon National Park in California on February 1.

Atmospheric rivers are wide-reaching plumes of moisture that act like a firehose, tapping into warm, moist air from the tropics that storms can then unload as drenching rainfall and heavy snow over land.

These types of storms are winter hallmarks across the West Coast. Not all are harmful. Weaker atmospheric rivers deliver much-needed rainfall and snow to the region during the wettest months of the year.

This rainfall and snow is vital to western water supplies. It fills up water reservoirs that are critical resources during dry, hot summers.

But atmospheric rivers can quickly become more hazardous than helpful. Excessive rainfall unleashed by these potent storms increases the chances for flooding, particularly when a series of storms happen in sequence with little time to dry out between.

Last week’s atmospheric river broke multiplerainfall records across California and triggered road closures and water rescues.

Atmospheric rivers aren’t exclusive to the West Coast. They can also impact the eastern US andhappen frequently inparts of Europe, Africa, Australia and New Zealand.

The Weather Prediction Center is warning of a potentially life-threatening and dangerous flood event expected to unfold in parts of central and Southern California today.

The center has issued a rare Level 4 of 4 risk of excessive rainfall for Los Angeles, Santa Barbara and Oxnard, on Sunday. A more widespread Level 3 risk exists for much of coastal California, including San Francisco, where the National Weather Service has also issued its first-ever hurricane force wind warning for the region.

In central and Southern California, widespread rainfall totals of 3 to 6 inches are expected – more than a month’s worth of rain for most.Los Angeles averages just 2.99 inches of rain in February, their wettest month of the year on average.In the mountains and foothills of Southern California, the weather service is forecasting up to a foot of rain.

The National Weather Service in Los Angeles warns the multi-day rain event could be dangerous and life-threatening. It could cause extensive road flooding and significant debris flow over areas that have previously burned in wildfires, possibly causing mudslides in higher terrain. Creeks and streams will rise.

Putting this rare warning into context: It’s hard to emphasize how big of a deal and how rare a Level 4 “high risk” alert is. They are issued on fewer than 4% of days per year on average, but are responsible for more than 80% of all flood-related damage and 39% of all flood-related deaths.

This event is part of an atmospheric river: a moisture plume pumping off the Pacific Ocean, feeding off warmer than average waters.

Dr. Daniel Swain, a climate scientist known for work on Western extremes, notes that heavy rain events like the one unfolding are becoming 10% more intense thanks to more fuel from a warmer climate.

The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office issued several evacuation orders for certain communities Saturday morning, along with warnings and advisories to county residents.

The orders will be in place until 5 p.m. local time Sunday, according to areleasefrom the sheriff’s office.

The sheriff’s office also warned residents of potential landslides or debris flows, which may be caused by the amount of anticipated rain.

Residents in need of temporary shelter are encouraged to go an emergency evacuation shelter set up by the Ventura County Human Services Agency and American Red Cross.

In Santa Barbara County, an evacuation order is in place for properties along waterways and those in the area of Sycamore Creek, according to county Sheriff Bill Brown. Deputies will be going door to door to notify residents in the evacuation zones.

All county state beaches are also closed until further notice, Brown added.

Flooding is expected on streets in neighborhoods and along the highways, according to Brown, and some areas could see as much as 6 inches of floodwaters.

Several school districts in the region will also cancel classes Monday, including Santa Barbara Unified,Lompoc Unified and the Santa Maria-Bonita School District.

In addition,Santa Barbara City Collegeannounced it will have remote instruction on Monday.