5-Year-Old Swept Away, Sinkhole Swallows Cars As Death Toll Rises To 14 In CA Storms

The onslaught of rain that has pummeled California in the new year continued to bring death and destruction to the state Monday, with more rain and thunderstorms in the forecast for Tuesday.

At least 14 people have died in connection with the storms since New Year’s Eve, according to AccuWeather. The most recent bout of severe weather saw a woman killed when water overtook her vehicle in Avila Beach, NBC News reported. A 5-year-old boy was swept away by floodwaters Monday in San Luis Obispo County, according to AccuWeather, which reported that as of late Monday, only the child’s shoe had been found.

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There will likely be no reprieve Tuesday, with more rain and some thunderstorms forecast across the state, which could increase soil saturation and raise already high river levels, according to the National Weather Service.

“Nearly all of California has seen much above average rainfall totals over the past several weeks, with totals 400-600% above average values,” the service said in a forecast discussion early Tuesday. “Today's heavy rain will further exacerbate ongoing flooding while prolonging the risk of flash flooding and mudslides especially across recent burn scar regions.”

Even after Tuesday’s predicted thunderstorms, the rain is not expected to abate for long, according to the service. An atmospheric river is anticipated to hit northern California up through the Pacific Northwest on Wednesday. All told, 3-7 inches of precipitation is expected to fall across the state in the next few days.

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“Widespread considerable flood impact is likely across large portions of California into western Nevada,” the forecast discussion said.

Two-day rainfall totals as of 4 a.m. Tuesday neared 17 inches in parts of Ventura and Santa Barbara counties, according to the weather service. Montecito, home to many celebrities, was among several communities to be evacuated, with comedian Ellen DeGeneres warning residents to stay safe, AccuWeather reported, adding 14 people were rescued Monday from the Ventura River.

A sinkhole swallowed two cars and four people Monday night in Chatsworth, trapping two of the victims, who were saved via a rope rescue, according to authorities.

READ MORE: Tens Of Thousands Evacuated Amid Deadly California Rains, Including Wealthy Montecito

Residents south of Sacramento were roused around 3:30 a.m. Tuesday by two tornado warnings, according to AccuWeather, which reported that nearly 200,000 power customers were without service early Tuesday, many of whom were in Santa Clara County. Two unhoused people died over the weekend in Sacramento County, where trees fell on their tents, AccuWeather reported.

READ MORE: Storm Forces Road Closures, Sinkhole Rescue, Mudslides Across LA

President Joe Biden has declared an emergency in California, according to AccuWeather.

“The one good aspect of the recent heavy rains has been relief from the persistent drought that has been plaguing large portions of the West,” according to the National Weather Service. “Much of California into the Great Basin have seen 1 to 2 drought class improvements over the past month.”