The desperate search for a 5-year-old girl who was swept into the Pacific Ocean Friday as her father drowned attempting to save her continues while southern California braces for more heavy rainfall that could bring life-threatening floods to the region.
At around 12:50 p.m., the young girl’s father was attempting to rescue her after she was pulled into the ocean by 15 to 20 feet high waves at Garrapata State Beach in Monterey, according to the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office. A lifeguard was able to pull the man from the water, but he was later pronounced dead at a local hospital.
The sheriff’s office, U.S. Coast Guard and other agencies resumed the search for the 5-year-old on Saturday morning. She was last seen wearing a white shirt, according to the sheriff’s office.
Southern California continues to brace for more inclement weather as a strong Pacific storm enhanced with moisture from an atmospheric river brings moderate to heavy rain to the region Saturday. Around 23 million people are still under flood watches across the region, including San Diego, Los Angeles and Santa Barbara.
The “unusually strong storm system” is expected to bring “widespread rain” to the region through Sunday, according to the National Weather Service. The National Hurricane Center’s Tropical Analysis and Forecast Branch shared imagery of a cold front extending from southern to central California.
“Scattered showers and thunderstorms are along the front while seas up to 15 ft follow the front,” the department said.
The heaviest rain will fall through Saturday afternoon, with rainfall rates potentially approaching 1 inch per hour. Isolated thunderstorms will also be possible. There is a moderate risk for flash flooding, mudslides and debris flows, especially near burn scar areas.
“Heavy rain is incoming starting within the hour, with an increasing risk of dangerous flooding, especially for LA County,” the weather service field office in Los Angeles warned Friday morning. “Turn around if you approach a flooded road and listen to orders from local authorities for any actions you may need to take.”
A Flash Flood Warning is in effect until 12:00 p.m. PT Saturday for the Palisades and Franklin fire burn scars, where flooding may become life-threatening.
Rainfall amounts will generally range from 2 to 3 inches in most areas through Saturday night, with up to 6 inches possible in some areas. The main axis of heavy rain will likely subside by 3 p.m. PT Saturday across southern California, as the system tracks inland toward the Southern Sierra mountains and the Great Basin.
Winter Weather Advisories remain in place for the southern Sierra Mountains, where up to a foot of snow will be possible Saturday afternoon into Sunday morning in areas above 7,000 feet.
The active pattern over the Pacific will continue, and northern and central California will see another round of rain and mountain snow late Sunday into Monday. Some rain will also expand into southern California Monday afternoon and evening.
In Malibu, all lanes of Malibu Canyon road were reported flooded Saturday morning, while there were reports of roadway flooding in Ventura on the Seaward Avenue off ramp of Highway 101.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass encouraged residents to stay prepared amid flood watches and heavy rainfall, adding that the city’s emergency operation center has been activated.
“Evacuation orders have been issued for select vulnerable properties within and around burn scar areas beginning at 8 p.m. tonight and through 8 a.m. Sunday,” Bass said on Friday. “So, as always, if you have been contacted by the Los Angeles Police Department at an impacted property, please, please, heed official guidance.”
Over 30,000 utility customers were without power in California on Saturday morning, according to PowerOutage.US.
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