(Natural News) Hundreds of thousands of Californians are without power as a so-called “bomb cyclone” storm batters the West Coast, leaving several dead and a trail of wreckage across the region.
The National Weather Service (NWS) issued a Flood Watch in many areas of the state, which lasted until 4 p.m. on Thursday. A High Wind Warning was also issued as trees fell and businesses collapsed throughout the Bay Area, which was hit exceptionally hard by the storm.
More wind and rain are forecast for Northern California over the weekend and into next week, which will add insult to injury on top of already catastrophic conditions in some of the worst hit areas, (Related: Does this mean California is no longer in a drought?)
Cities and towns located alongside rivers and streams face the worst flooding as water levels rise. Strong waves in coastal areas also threaten homes and businesses as well as piers, some of which were damaged during the worst of the storm.
“Strong waves are crashing on West Cliff Dr., and West Cliff Dr. will be closed from Pelton to Almar,” announced city officials in Santa Cruz, where the local wharf was evacuated.
“These intense waves are pushing large rocks onto the road as well. Please be careful near any bodies of water as we still have high wind advisories, and there could be dangerous conditions.”
Piers in Capitola and Seacliff were reportedly damaged by the wind and waves, and some coastal communities in the Carmel area had to be evacuated because of “extreme threat to life or property.”
