At Least 2 Dead From Flooding; Another Atmospheric River Barreling Toward California

CALIFORNIA — Flooding from heavy rain killed at least two people Friday in California and another atmospheric river is threatening to bring more chaos in coming days, according to reports.

The storm-related deaths occurred in Placer County and San Bernardino County, AccuWeather reported, adding a Peet’s Coffee employee was killed when the roof of a warehouse for the business partially collapsed in Oakland. Authorities are investigating whether rain played a role, according to AccuWeather.

Monday will bring more potentially destructive weather, with 45 mph wind gusts possible in Northern California and flood concerns overnight in the San Francisco area, as well as rain totals projected around 2 inches, AccuWeather reported.

The Los Angeles area is expected to see widespread heavy rain Tuesday into Wednesday, accompanied by possible flooding and gusty winds, according to the National Weather Service, which predicted rain totals of anywhere from 2 to 6 inches.

Dry weather will follow later in the week, AccuWeather reported.

California’s latest storm marked the state's 10th atmospheric river of the winter, storms that have brought enormous amounts of rain and snow to the state and helped lessen drought conditions. State reservoirs that had dipped to strikingly low levels are now well above the average for this time of year, prompting state officials to release water from dams to assist with flood control and make room for even more rain.

A tornado briefly touched down in Tuolumne County during severe thunderstorms Saturday.

Flooding prompted a levee failure and widespread evacuations Saturday in farming communities near the state's central coast. Across Monterey County, more than 8,500 people were evacuated Saturday, including roughly 1,700 residents — many of them Latino farmworkers — from the unincorporated community of Pajaro.

Highway 1, also known as the Pacific Coast Highway, was closed at several points along Big Sur as well as near Pajaro due to flooding.

Because of the massive flooding over the early weekend, more than 50 people had to be rescued by first responders and the California National Guard. One video showed a Guard member helping a driver out of a car trapped by water up to their waists.

A creek in Santa Cruz County destroyed part of Main Street in the town of Soquel, according to AccuWeather, isolating several neighborhoods.

SEE ALSO:

CA Storms Create Paradox: Too Much Water In Reservoirs, Too Soon

The Associated Press contributed to this story.