California flooding: More storms forecast for weekend as experts warn heavy rain won’t fix drought

Residents of a remote California canyon cut off by the state’s devastating winter storms had to be airlifted to safety in a helicopter.

Officials say that around six residents of remote Matilija Canyon, about 70 miles northwest of Los Angeles, had become trapped there when roads became impassable.

Graeme Massie reports.

Louise Boyle reports on how one California city planned for a bruising round of storms to impact its unhoused community.

California is expected to receive more rainfall on Saturday with downpours continuing to next week, according to forecasters, as the lashing rain eased in many areas, although thunderstorms led a new atmospheric river into the northern half of the state.

The plume of moisture lurking off the coast stretched all the way over the Pacific to Hawaii, making it "a true Pineapple Express," the National Weather Service said.

The latest rains were expected to impact only Northern California, giving the south a break until more wet weather arrives by the weekend.

People can expect a little respite from rain after the first half of the next week, forecasters say.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s hometown of Montecito is under an evacuation order due to heavy rain after days of severe storms battered California.

The Montecito Fire Department urged residents to immediately leave their homes on Monday after heavy rain deluged the area from the early hours, with worse to come this afternoon and evening. The fire department later tweeted that their website had crashed due to heavy traffic.

The National Weather Service reported that at least eight inches of rain fell over 12 hours, with several more inches predicted as the storm system swept through the area of wooded hillsides and secluded large homes.

Santa Barbara emergency officials subsequently issued a shelter in place warning for those not already evacuated, advising them to go to innermost room or high ground.

Louise Boyle reports.

Storm-ravaged California scrambled to clean up and repair widespread damage on Wednesday as the lashing rain eased in many areas, although the north could see thundershowers Wednesday and another powerful weather front was expected to hit the state Friday.

At least 17 people have died in the storms battering the state. The figure is likely to rise, Gov. Gavin Newsom said Tuesday during a visit to the scenic town of Capitola on the Santa Cruz coast that was hard hit by high surf and flooding creek waters last week.

Brian Melley and Christopher Weber report.

Some people were spotted surfing in the floodwaters at Fort Funston in San Francisco as atmospheric river storms hit California.

On a good day, the sun shines in California’s capital city — and elms, pines, oaks and hundreds of other tree varieties fill Sacramento‘s parks and line streets, fortifying the city’s reputation as the “City of Trees.” But on a bad one, violent winds knock some of the trees down, causing damage to cars, homes and power lines.

That’s what happened in recent weeks as the defining feature that’s normally seen an asset to the city has given way to destruction and disruption as multiple “ atmospheric rivers “ ripped through Northern California, bringing intense winds and rain.

Sophie Austin reports.

The California National Guard has joined the search for Kyle Doan, the 5-year-old who was swept away by flood waters in San Luis Obispo County on Monday.

Over 100 members of the national guard have already been sent to the area to assist the county Sheriff’s Department, according to the official Twitter account of the service.

"Soldiers with the 270th Military Police Company are en route to aid San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Department with their search of missing 5-year-old Kyle Doan. Over 100 Cal Guard members are already on the scene aiding the search efforts," the Guard wrote on Twitter.

Kevin Costner was blocked from accepting his Golden Globes win as he hunkered down at home while storms ravaging California hammered the celebrity enclave of Santa Barbara.

The Yellowstone star announced he and his wife Christine Baumgarter would not be able to attend in a Twitter video before the ceremony kicked off on Tuesday night.

“Hi everyone. Look, I’m so sorry for everyone who might have been tuning in to watch the Golden Globes — Chris and I aren’t going to be there,” he said.

“Yesterday we had to pull the kids out of school in Santa Barbara. This is the second time in five years that the freeway has flooded out, we found ourselves on the wrong side of the town and we couldn’t get back last night.”

Tom Murray and Megan Sheets have the details.