Massive storms hit California on Friday, leaving at least two people dead. In northern California, images of drones captured the extent of the damage on Highway 1 near Big Sur, where a landslide caused by a atmospheric river of humidity took away part of the historic road.
California’s transportation department, Caltrans, posted drone images of the wear and tear of Highway 1 at Rat Creek, about 15 miles south of Big Sur.
The highway has been closed off the coast of Big Sur since Tuesday and evacuation notices have been issued in parts of Monterey County and in sloping areas of land marked by forest fires last year.
The storms were fueled by an atmospheric river climate system that caused flooding, as well as mud and debris flows, forcing the evacuation of thousands of residents, CBS San Francisco reported.
Governor Gavin Newsom released an emergency proclamation on Friday for Monterey and San Luis Obispo counties.
The storm poured 3 meters of snow into the Sierra mountains. A skier was found dead near a cable car and crossed trails at Mammoth Mountain on Thursday. The ski station posted on Instagram that a slide was triggered in an enclosed area of the mountain.
Another death was reported near the Mexican border, where seven people were trapped in a flooded manhole, according to The Associated Press.
Before the storm, California experienced a period of severe to extreme drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.
In Modesto, for example, it only rained 1.73 inches between October 1 and January 24, according to the National Weather Service in Sacramento. On January 28, the rain increased to 5.17 inches. The normal total for the time period is 6.42 inches of rain.