Live updates: Southern California residents on high alert as major storm slams coast
As of 8:25 p.m. PST Saturday, the reports below are no longer being updated. Click here for a recap of the storm.
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The most powerful Pacific storm of this winter season is slamming California with flooding rainfall, gusty winds and heavy mountain snow.
The worst conditions will be through Saturday around San Francisco and from Saturday to Saturday night in Sacramento, Los Angeles and San Diego.
"A band of very heavy rain marching through Southern California can inundate areas with as much as 0.5- to 1-inch-per-hour rainfall rates," AccuWeather Meteorologist Faith Eherts said.
At Gobbler's Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, Phil has made his prediction for this year's winter season. Let's hear what he declares...
According to Eherts, this is heavy enough to result in widespread flooding, leading to road closures and mudslides, especially in burn scar areas.
Several evacuation warnings have been issued in Santa Barbara County and Ventura County.
"Gusty winds ahead of the rain have created low visibility conditions on area roadways due to blowing dust. Strong winds within the storms can topple trees and power lines, leading to power outages, property damage and blocked roads," Eherts said.
Strong winds, which can bring down trees and cause power outages, will impact areas along the coast and at intermediate elevations in the mountains.
"Wind gusts will continue to reach as high as 60-70 mph through Saturday afternoon, while rainy conditions persist through the night," Eherts said.
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3:38 p.m. PST Saturday:
There is a flood advisory in Los Angeles County until 4:30 p.m. PST due to roadway flooding as well as mudflow and rockslide issues in burn scar areas.
There is major debris flow in Trabuco Canyon downstream of the Holy Fire burn area.
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2:00 p.m. PST Saturday:
Emergency personnel continue to clear off blocked roads as the storm starts to ease off. Several roads and highways are still closed due to the heavy rain.
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1:30 p.m. PST Saturday:
A flash flood warning has been extended through 3 p.m. PST due to excessive water runoff and mud near Malibu and the Woolsey fire area.
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12:05 p.m. PST Saturday:
Officials are urging people to stay off the roads due to the threat of flash flooding and mudslides. Several water rescues have already been necessary in areas of high water.
Area streams and rivers will continue to rise as heavy rain persists this afternoon. Nearby residents should keep a close eye on water levels and prepare for potential flooding.
The National Weather Service in Los Angeles warns that the Ventura River is expected to rise to 1.5 feet above flood stage this afternoon.
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11:20 a.m. PST Saturday:
Road closures continue to spread across the state of California as heavy rain triggers flooding and mudslides.
The northbound lanes of the Pacific Coast Highway south of Tonga Street are closed due to a mudslide. Officials urge to stay off of roadways unless absolutely necessary.
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10:30 a.m. PST Saturday:
A member of the Ventura County search-and-rescue team was killed and 10 other people were injured in a car crash on Saturday morning amid heavy rain near Pyramid Lake, CA.
Mudslides have occurred across Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Bernardino Counties, leading to widespread road closures. Flooding in the Los Angeles area has led to traffic disruptions as well.
A stretch of Highway 101 has been closed in the Santa Barbara area due to high water over the road.
In Gaviota, California - about 30 miles west of Santa Barbara - there have been widespread reports of 2 to 4 inches of rain, with some stations reporting as much as 5.7 inches.
Meanwhile, strong winds have been gusting to 55-65 mph throughout the region. On Catalina Island, a 67-mph wind gust was recorded around 6:00 a.m. local time. Wind gusts have toppled trees and powerlines throughout California this morning, leading to nearly 33,000 power outages so far.
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9:30 a.m. PST Saturday:
There are reports of trees down and power outages in parts of San Francisco, California.
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8:20 a.m. PST Saturday:
Ventura County officials and the NWS Los Angeles are telling residents to stay away from the Matilija Dam area due to very heavy flow.
They warn that nearby rivers and creeks will have heavier than normal flows.
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7:50 a.m. PST Saturday:
AccuWeather Extreme Meteorologist Reed Timmer warns Sacramento, California, residents of an intense squall line tracking east through the Sacramento Valley toward the Sierra Nevada.
Blizzard conditions and thundersnow in the mountains during the passage of this line are likely.
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6:30 a.m. PST Saturday:
San Francisco, California, law enforcement officials are reporting fallen trees around the Monterey Peninsula. A 45-mph wind gust was already recorded at the Monterey Airport.
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