The desperate search for a 5-year-old girl swept into the Pacific Ocean as her father drowned attempting to save her continued Saturday, assouthern California braced for more heavy rainfallthat brought life-threatening floods to the region.
At around 12:50 p.m. Friday, the young girl's father was attempting to rescue her after she was pulled into the ocean by waves that were 15 to 20 feet high 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.
Saturday's search efforts are being led by the sheriff's office, the U.S. Coast Guard and several other agencies. The girl was last seen wearing a white shirt, according to the sheriff's office.
In northern California, a 71-year-old man was killed in Sutter County after his car was swept away by the overflowing Pleasant Grove Creek, according to the California Highway Patrol.
"Signage indicating the road was flooded was displayed in both directions on Fifield Road," the highway patrol said. "The California Highway Patrol urges motorists to never cross flooded roadways for any reason."
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 theNational Weather Service. The National Hurricane Center's Tropical Analysis and Forecast Branchshared imageryof 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 one inch per hour. Isolated thunderstorms will also be possible and 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," theweather service field office in Los Angeleswarned 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."
Videos circulating online showed a gray, rain-soaked downtown Los Angeles on Saturday morning with heavy showers throughout the day. A Flash Flood Warning is in effect until 2:00 p.m. PT Saturday for the Palisades and Eaton fire burn scars, where flooding may become life-threatening.
Rainfall amounts will generally range from two to three inches in most areas through Saturday night, with up to six inches possible in some areas. The rain will remain moderate to heavy before gradually tapering off by late Saturday afternoon and evening.
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.
"Due to the potential for debris flows, an Evacuation Warning remains in effect within and around all recent burn scar areas, and select vulnerable properties remain under Evacuation Orders through 8AM tomorrow," Bass said on X Saturday. "LAPD has notified these impacted property owners."
Over 26,000 utility customers were without power in California on Saturday morning, according toPowerOutage.US.
Rainfall totals reported so far include 1.82 inches in Santa Barbara, 1.41 in Santa Monica and 1.33 in Beverly Hills.
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