First responders continued to search along California’s central coast Saturday for a five-year-old girl who was swept out to sea the afternoon before, as bad weather continues to batter the Golden State.
Just before 1 p.m. Friday, waves estimated at 15 to 20 feet high washed the young girl and her parents into the cold waters of the Pacific Ocean at Garrapata State Beach in Monterey County. according to the sheriff’s office.
The mother was able to make it safely to land under her own power, while the girl’s father was rescued by an off-duty State Parks lifeguard, law enforcement officials said. He was then taken to a nearby hospital and later pronounced dead. The woman is in stable condition with mild hypothermia.
Officials began searching for the missing child on Friday and suspended their activities later that evening due to weather and poor visibility. The search resumed Saturday morning with personnel from the sheriff’s office, California State Parks, Cal Fire and the U.S. Coast Guard, which deployed a helicopter.
A powerful storm system boosted by an atmospheric river arrived in California early Thursday, kicking off the state’s rainy season with widespread downpours, high winds and dangerous beach conditions.
In Sutter County, just north of Sacramento, a 71-year-old died Friday afternoon when his vehicle was swept off a flooded bridge as he tried to receive a package delivery. By the time emergency responders arrived, his vehicle was completely submerged in Pleasant Grove Creek, CBS News Sacramento reports.
Signage indicated the road was flooded, and the California Highway Patrol is urging citizens to “never cross flooded roadways for any reason,” officials said. told NBC News.
Further south, showers continued to drench downtown Los Angeles more rain the last two days than in a normal month of November.
A flash flood warning was in effect through Saturday afternoon due to the burns left by the devastating Palisades and Eaton fires in Los Angeles earlier this year, although the warnings were no longer valid.
The National Weather Service office in Los Angeles said on
The strongest rain showers from the ongoing storm system are expected on Saturday, according to Los Angeles officials.
“During the height of the event, isolated, strong thunderstorms will bring a moderate risk of flash flooding, debris flows and damaging winds,” the forecast said. reads. “The stormy pattern will continue and periods of rain are possible until the end of next week.”
Further north, mountain snow is expected in the Sierras, and a winter weather advisory is in effect for Western Plumas County, Lassen Park and the western slope of the Sierras above 6,000 feet. The advisory runs from 10 p.m. Saturday through 4 p.m. Monday, with conditions bringing snow accumulations of 4 to 10 inches and 1 to 2 feet at the highest peaks.
“Travel can be very difficult,” the National Weather Service says warns. “The hazardous conditions may impact morning and evening commutes.”
Ocean conditions are expected to deteriorate along the entire Central Coast, where rescuers are searching for the missing child.
“Sunday will bring moderate to fresh northerly to NW winds, moderate seas up to 8 feet and rain showers,” the National Weather Service said. “A storm will bring strong to near gale force northerly winds on Sunday evening, quickly creating very rough seas by Monday morning.”
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