San Francisco: California flooding has affected multiple counties in the Bay Area following a combination of heavy rainfall and king tides, forcing road closures and prompting emergency rescues. Officials have warned residents to expect hazardous travel conditions as rain continues across northern parts of the state.
Five northern California counties have remained under a flood watch, with up to 3 inches of rain possible through January 5 night, according to the National Weather Service office in Eureka. Several areas have already been soaked repeatedly since around Christmas, raising concerns over saturated ground and further flooding. Mountain regions have also been forecast to receive at least one foot of snow.
A king tide, which refers to the highest predicted tide of the year at a coastal location, has pushed water levels higher than usual along the California coast. In San Francisco, floodwaters reached 2.56 feet on January 3, the highest level recorded in the area since 1998, local reports said. Meteorologists described the levels as near-record for the California Bay Area.
More rain has been forecast across northern California, prompting the National Weather Service to issue a coastal flood advisory for the Bay Area that remains in effect until January 5 afternoon. Officials said the combination of rainfall and elevated tides has increased the risk of flooding in low-lying coastal and urban areas.
Emergency responders have been active across California as conditions worsened. In San Francisco, firefighters rescued an adult who was found in the water clinging to a rope, according to the city’s emergency management department. Authorities have also been called to assist motorists whose vehicles became stranded in floodwaters measuring up to 3 to 4 feet in some locations.
Flooding has been reported across Marin, Sonoma, Alameda, San Mateo and San Francisco counties. In some neighbourhoods, residents have been seen kayaking along flooded streets, while others waded through knee-deep water.
Southern California has also been impacted by recent storms. Flooding and mudslides have forced evacuations, including at a homeless shelter in San Diego. In Santa Barbara County, heavy rainfall caused mudslides that blocked a major highway near Goleta, while flooding at the local airport led to flight cancellations.
Authorities confirmed that a man died after being swept into a creek during the storm. Rain has been forecast to continue across California in the coming days, with officials urging residents to remain alert as water levels and weather conditions evolve.
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