More Damage, Mudslides, Serious Flooding Threaten West Coast Beaches

(STATE COLLLEGE, Pa.) - AccuWeather.com reports Pacific storms, including one today, will continue to target the West this week. Each storm will unleash drenching rain, heavy mountain snow and strong winds. The resultant wind damage, mudslides and flooding could lead to more deadly and destructive consequences.

After Monday's pounding, another Pacific storm will slam onshore today. Two more storms will follow Wednesday into Thursday with the last potentially causing the most problems for Southern California.

Monday's rain triggered mudslides and flooding in areas recently burned by wildfires. Conditions will worsen, potentially turning disastrous, as the storm onslaught continues.

Mudslides and flooding will threaten more of California, especially as additional rain overwhelms the ground with water.

The rain will turn streams, rivers and washes into raging waterways. Some roads will become flooded, washed away or covered by mudslides. More residents may be instructed to evacuate their homes.

Episodes of strong winds will add to the danger. The winds will lead to more downed trees, property damage and power outages. A saturated ground makes it easier for the winds to topple trees.

The winds will combine with additional heavy snow to create dangerous blizzard conditions in the mountains. Lengthy closures of passes and secondary mountain roads may leave motorists stranded.

At the California beaches, pounding surf threatens to cause coastal flooding and severe beach erosion.

Despite all of the adverse impacts of this week's storms, the positive effects will be seen in the drier months ahead. Snow piling up in the mountains will eventually melt and supply water to the lower elevations.

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Jeff Kaye~ January 20, 2010 7:09 am (Pacific time)

The gods are angry. El nino se enojo. What a weird world we're living in, where nature can tear away our very homes, our lives, our families. I don't remember weather being this unpredictable and destructive in prior years, but I've only had 47 of them by which to judge. I did see a tornado coming down my street in Missouri in 1965. It miraculously left homes untouched, while uprooting trees and downing powerlines the length of the town. So my mom told me; all I remember was running pell mell for the laundromat across the street, which had the only nearby basement/shelter.

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