At least three people have died in California's historic flooding as multimillion-dollar mansions were devastated by rivers of flowing mud and boulders – as forecasters predict more rain to come.
The Pineapple Express, a weather system widespread across much of the Golden State, is causing chaos in several regions, including the star-studded neighborhoods of Beverly Hills, Malibu and Montecito.
The severe weather system has killed three Californians so far and 38 million people remain under flood warnings as the National Weather Service forecasts up to 6 inches of additional rainfall through Tuesday.
Forecasters expect a slow-moving and narrow axis of anomalous moisture to continue to concentrate across Southern California over the next 12 to 24 hours, continuing to pose a significant threat of life-threatening flash flooding.
Chad Ensey, 41, died Sunday at his home in Sacramento County when a man fell on him during the storm, NBC News reported.
At least three people have died in California's historic flooding, as multimillion-dollar mansions were devastated by rivers of flowing mud and boulders. Shown flooding in Los Angeles
These giant eucalyptus trees were blown down by wind gusts of more than 60 MPH on Sunday, smashing cars on this hill overlooking the Pacific. Fortunately, the power is buried here. But 11% of Santa Cruz County is in the dark this morning.
We live on @Weather Channel pic.twitter.com/0IThCYEB9E— Mike Seidel (@mikeseidel) February 5, 2024
More than 38 million people remain under flood alert as the National Weather Service forecasts up to 6 inches of additional rainfall through Tuesday. Pictured is a large mudslide in Los Angeles
Evacuation orders have been lifted for Santa Barbara County and downgraded for Ventura County. Firefighters rescue a homeless woman from floodwaters in San Bernardino on Monday
According to ABC10, 82-year-old David Gomes died after being struck by a large sequoia tree in Yuba City, Northern California, on Sunday evening.
An unidentified resident of Boulder Creek, California, died from injuries sustained when a tree fell into his home on Sunday.
According to the National Weather Service, an atmospheric river brought gusty winds to the Bay Area and Central Coast on Sunday, with the strongest winds in the Coastal Mountains.
The chief operating officer of California utility Pacific Gas & Electric said Sunday was one of the most devastating single-day storms ever in terms of outages.
About 2.5 million people in the Los Angeles area, including the Hollywood Hills and Beverly Hills, have already accumulated up to 10 inches of rain, and up to 6 inches more is expected to fall.
Harry and Meghan, George Clooney, Lady Gaga and Halle Berry are among the celebrities whose villas are threatened by the severe storms.
The National Weather Service has issued a flood warning for several California neighborhoods until 4 p.m. Tuesday, and some residents have even been evacuated.
In a dramatic operation in the early hours of Monday morning, LA firefighters rescued 16 people from nine properties in Studio City – the same neighborhood where George Clooney lives in his $2.2 million luxury home.
Many residents in the same neighborhood woke up Monday morning to find mud, rocks and debris strewn across the streets while strong winds blew bricks onto parked cars and sidewalks.
Harry and Meghan's $14.65 million Montecito estate is still at risk of flooding. The Duke of Sussex left his wife and two children behind in California to weather the storm while he flies back to London to visit following his father's cancer diagnosis.
About 2.5 million people in the Los Angeles area, including the Hollywood Hills and Beverly Hills, have already accumulated up to 10 inches of rain, and up to 6 inches more is expected to fall. The picture shows a tree that fell on a car during the flooding in California
The National Weather Service has issued a flood warning for several California neighborhoods until 4 p.m. Tuesday. A fallen tree lies on top of a car in Los Angeles on Monday
Vehicles remain trapped by a mudslide as a violent atmospheric river storm hits Southern California in Beverly Hills
Meanwhile, star-studded Malibu is being hit by torrential rain, and the city is currently under a coastal flood warning. The NWS is warning residents to stay away from the water due to “dangerous surf conditions.”
The luxury beach town is home to the likes of Halle Berry, who owns an $8.5 million mansion with an outdoor hot tub that she occasionally shows off on Instagram.
Lady Gaga also owns a sprawling mansion in Malibu – the same property where Bradley Cooper offered her the lead role of Ally in A Star Is Born, for which she went on to win an Oscar.
But apocalyptic scenes have broken out in the beach town, with water and mud pouring down the streets in some areas even as giant sandbags were deployed to prevent landslides.
At least 350,000 homes in the state were still without power as of Monday evening, according to national tracker poweroutage.us.
Ventura County downgraded its evacuation order to an evacuation warning, but said there is no access to the area at this time due to storm damage to the fair weather crossing.
All evacuation orders for Santa Barbara County were lifted at 12 p.m. Monday.
Meanwhile, first responders in San Bernardino County rescued three people from a vehicle after it was inundated by surrounding floodwaters on Sunday night.
Dramatic footage shows a team approaching the vehicle with lifeboats before helping its occupants escape to land.
L.A. firefighters also rescued 16 people from their homes on Lockridge Road in Studio City after a debris flow caused “significant damage” to nine properties.
The Ministry of Construction and Safety is on site and assessing the situation, the ministry said.
A maelstrom forms around a city worker in the Holmby Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles on Monday
The chief operating officer of California utility Pacific Gas & Electric said Sunday was one of the most devastating single-day storms ever in terms of outages. Shown damage from the storm in Studio City
An atmospheric river brought gusty winds to the Bay Area and Central Coast on Sunday, with the strongest winds in the Coastal Mountains. Debris pictured in Studio City
Rain canceled the final round of the professional golf tournament at Pebble Beach in Monterey County, northern California. With heavy rain forecast for Monday, the PGA Tour ended the event after just three days and crowned Wyndham Clark the winner.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency in eight counties with a combined population of more than 20 million people, and flash flood warnings were issued for parts of Los Angeles, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties.
“This has the potential to result in a historic storm with strong winds, thunderstorms and even brief tornadoes,” Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said at a news conference.
Los Angeles experienced its 10th rainiest day on record on Sunday – and the downtown region alone was inundated with 4.1 inches of rain.
Not only were the San Francisco Bay Area and Los Angeles County drenched, but the storm was also expected to stall or reverse course in some areas by Tuesday, creating a serious threat of flooding and mudslides.