Storm likely to bring heavy rainfall, snow, hurricane-force wind gusts to California
/ CBS News
A powerful storm bearing down on California will likely deliver near hurricane-force winds, heavy rainfall, and up to 10 feet of snow in the Sierra Nevada. The storm will begin wreaking havoc in Northern California late Friday afternoon and reach the southern part of the state late in the night, according to forecasters.
This is likely the strongest storm of the winter so far for California, CBS News contributing meteorologist Jeff Berardelli reports. It is being fueled by a very strong Pacific Jet Stream and unusually warm ocean waters partly associated with an El Nino-like pattern.
The system will look like a textbook storm by Friday night, with a hurricane-like eye forming, Berardelli reports. It is expected to last through Saturday night.
Winter storm warnings will be in effect up and down the Sierra Nevada along with a flash flood watch in the foothills above the San Joaquin Valley, according to The Associated Press.
Berardelli reports that rainfall rates will be up to 1 inch per hour for coastal areas from San Francisco to Los Angeles. Rain that heavy is capable of causing rapid flash floods and mudslides.
Winds will gust to near-hurricane force on the hills along the coast. The ski resorts in the Sierra Nevada Mountains could get 3-6 feet of snow this weekend and early next week – and some areas could even get up to 10 feet.
Meanwhile, authorities have issued flash flood watches for the wildfire burn areas of Southern California. Santa Barbara County officials said they would issue an evacuation order for three fire-scarred areas unless the storm doesn't materialize as expected.
Powerful rains drenched Southern California as the first of three storms arrived in the region Thursday. CBS Los Angeles reported heavy rain and thunderstorms started early in Santa Barbara County, and moved south into Ventura and Los Angeles counties during the morning.
The city of Malibu shut down Zuma Beach due to lightning strikes. Beachgoers at all Los Angeles County beaches were told to seek shelter in the event of lightning, and Santa Monica city officials urged people to evacuate all ocean and beach/sand areas.
The National Weather Service said two cold weather systems will follow on Sunday and Monday, bringing additional widespread showers and snow.
First published on February 1, 2019
© 2019 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Serena Williams calls on women to make the first move
The tennis star has teamed up with dating and social networking app Bumble for a new campaign called "The Ball Is In Her Court"
updated 24M ago 
Man charged with faking "slip and fall" caught on video
The man was caught on surveillance camera throwing a cup of ice on the floor and then "falling"
1H ago 
Dramatic video shows inmate take employee hostage at prison
Timothy Monk took a blade-like weapon out of his shoe and wrestled the librarian to the ground, Arizona Department of Corrections officials say
1H ago 
Government contractors still scraping money together to feed their kids
"I went in the seats, trying to find out how much money we had to our name … we scraped up $3.89 for a happy meal for my 4-year-old"
1H ago 
U.S. nixing landmark arms control treaty with Russia
The White House and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo made the announcement Friday morning
2H ago 
U.S. nixing landmark arms control treaty with Russia
The White House and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo made the announcement Friday morning
2H ago 
Facing U.S. withdrawal, Afghan leader pitches Trump cost savings
Trump has long been clear on desire to pull troops out of long-running wars, but President Ghani knows he still desperately needs U.S. help
1H ago 
Women will surround Trump at State of the Union
From elected leaders to immigrants, many of the voices represented Tuesday are women
3H ago 
Who is Cory Booker?
Cory Booker announced his bid for the presidency Tuesday morning
2H ago 
Cory Booker launches 2020 presidential campaign
The New Jersey senator announced his presidential campaign with a tweet and emailed video to supporters
4H ago 
Fed up Venezuelans plan mother of all anti-Maduro marches
The colossal political power struggle playing out in the nation is fueled by the fury and the misery of millions of ordinary people who used to have decent lives
1H ago 
U.K. warned of fleeing business and food shortages as Brexit looms
A survey of 1,200 smaller firm bosses finds a 3rd could leave as fears mount over the impact of an increasingly likely "no-deal" divorce
1H ago
Facing U.S. withdrawal, Afghan leader pitches Trump cost savings
Trump has long been clear on desire to pull troops out of long-running wars, but President Ghani knows he still desperately needs U.S. help
1H ago 
Don't give in to "myth of El Chapo," says defense in closing
Mexican drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman faces drug and murder conspiracy charges and could face life in prison if convicted; the jury is expected to begin deliberations Monday
9H ago 
29 children and babies die from cold as families seek shelter: Report
"Children are dying from hypothermia as their families flee to safety," said Elizabeth Hoff, WHO representative in Syria.
21H ago
Serena Williams calls on women to make the first move
The tennis star has teamed up with dating and social networking app Bumble for a new campaign called "The Ball Is In Her Court"
updated 24M ago 
Linda Ronstadt: "I'm afraid of suffering, but I'm not afraid of dying"
In this preview of a "Sunday Morning" interview airing Feb. 3, the singer-songwriter opens up about her career, the loss of her singing voice, and living with Parkinson's disease
updated 55M ago 
Maroon 5 addresses controversy over Super Bowl show decision
The band was immediately caught in the crossfire of the NFL's controversial anthem policy amid reports that Rihanna and Cardi B turned down the high-profile gig
3H ago 
Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds call "official truce" on "feud"
They called a truce — and helped advertise each other's companies.
11H ago 
Beyoncé and Jay-Z offer free concerts for life for going vegan
Okay vegans, now let's get in formation
11H ago 
The next industrial revolution is happening in your home
Here's how the global business and political elite at the World Economic Forum in Davos think the Internet of Things, big data, and artificial intelligence will change the world
2H ago 
Net neutrality court battle pits tech firms, states against feds
The court faceoff is aimed at restoring net neutrality, or the rule that internet providers treat all content equally
3H ago 
What are "frost quakes"? The polar vortex could be causing them
People in the Midwest reported hearing loud booms or cracking sounds as temperatures plunged in the region
16H ago 
Climate change skeptics live where it hurts economy most: study
Americans who least believe in climate change live where its effects are forecast to hurt most, Brookings Institution says
21H ago 
These states could move to 100% renewable power
They represent 42% of the U.S. population and a quarter of its economic output — and shift can happen within 25 years
20H ago 
Mindfulness helped Kathy Bates lose 60 pounds
The 70-year-old actress said she learned about mindfulness from her niece – and has never felt better
22H ago 
Woman with dementia dumped outside nursing home, family says
Security footage shows the elderly woman attempting to get inside in the middle of the night after being discharged from the hospital
21H ago 
Drugmaker doubles recall of infant ibuprofen
Some batches found with overly high concentrations of the drug, with infants especially vulnerable to adverse effects
Jan 31 
Woman uses DNA test, finds sperm donor — and pays a "devastating" price
A sperm bank is threatening to sue an Oregon woman who contacted her daughter's biological father after using an at-home DNA test
18H ago 
Company accused of fueling opioid crisis wanted to capitalize on treatment: report
ProPublica specifically names Kathe Sackler as being involved with a secretive project called "Project Tango"
Jan 31 
Pepsi injects fizz into Coke rivalry during Super Bowl week
Pepsi is ramping up the rivalry ahead of the championship in Atlanta — Coke's hometown
2H ago
Net neutrality court battle pits tech firms, states against feds
The court faceoff is aimed at restoring net neutrality, or the rule that internet providers treat all content equally
3H ago 
Business hiring roared in January: 304,000 jobs
Businesses hired robustly in January, even as unemployment ticked up to 4 percent from the partial shutdown
updated 44M ago
U.K. warned of fleeing business and food shortages as Brexit looms
A survey of 1,200 smaller firm bosses finds a 3rd could leave as fears mount over the impact of an increasingly likely "no-deal" divorce
1H ago 
Government fears Eddie Lampert would wipe out Sears' pension plans
Federal agency that insures retirement funds objects to billionaire investor's bid to buy the bankrupt retailer
4H ago 
Man charged with faking "slip and fall" caught on video
The man was caught on surveillance camera throwing a cup of ice on the floor and then "falling"
1H ago
Dramatic video shows inmate take employee hostage at prison
Timothy Monk took a blade-like weapon out of his shoe and wrestled the librarian to the ground, Arizona Department of Corrections officials say
1H ago 
Cop who shot fellow officer dead allegedly was drinking on duty
Internal police report asserts he and his partner consumed alcohol before he shot a female officer to death during a game of Russian roulette in his home
4H ago 
20 charged in crackdown on "birth tourism" to U.S. by Chinese women
Businesses allegedly charged pregnant Chinese women big bucks to bring them to U.S. to give birth so newborns could be U.S. citizens
5H ago
Don't give in to "myth of El Chapo," says defense in closing
Mexican drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman faces drug and murder conspiracy charges and could face life in prison if convicted; the jury is expected to begin deliberations Monday
9H ago Original Article
