Two people died in California after a massive winter storm system with a river in the active atmosphere hit the west coast.
A portion of Highway 1 along the iconic Big Sur Coast it also collapsed and was destroyed.
In this photo provided by Caltrans, a stretch of Highway 1 collapsed after a heavy storm near Big Sur, California, on Friday, January 29, 2021. A heavy storm that brought much-needed California rain in a dry period Winter ended on Friday after destroying Highway 1 near Big Sur, burying Sierra Nevada in the snow and causing mud flows on the slopes burnt by forest fires. (Caltrans via AP)
The storm’s front flooded homes, caused debris flows and landslides, forced evacuations and brought dangerous blizzard conditions to higher altitudes last week, turning off power to hundreds of thousands of residents.
CALIFORNIA’S ‘ATMOSPHERIC RIVER’ PERSISTS AS SNOW IS COMING TO THE MIDDLE-WEST, NORTHEAST
One person died on Friday after being trapped in a flooded storm drainage system in the San Ysidro area of San Diego – allegedly near a Mexican border crossing – and another died Thursday while skiing on Mammoth Mountain, from according to reports.
With heavy rainfall soaking the coast, houses in the seaside town of Carmel were flooded when the Carmel River broke through a natural sand dike.
A delivery driver passes sandbags in front of a house in Carmel, California, on Thursday, January 28, 2021. The area was evacuated on Thursday morning because authorities feared heavy rains could send mud and water around the neighborhood. (AP Photo / Noah Berger)
Elsewhere in Monterey County, mud flows damaged homes in Salinas and closed roads.
More than 10 inches fell in the area, and the city of Monterey received 3.46 inches, according to SFGate.
Governor Gavin Newsom issued an emergency proclamation on Friday for Monterey and San Luis Obispo counties
Although fallen trees and whites forced the authorities to close Interstate 5 over the Grapevine and Highway 101 for travelers, California Highway Patrol (CHP) reported that part of the Highway 1 along the iconic Big Sur Coast it had collapsed and disappeared.
In a Facebook post with a photo of the area, CHP Monterey official Kyle Foster wrote warning that “State Route 1 between MPM 40 and the San Luis Obispo County border continues to be affected by inclement weather, flow of debris, floods and landslides. “
“This area is closed to the public. Stay away from the area and plan alternative routes. Continue to exercise extreme caution on rural roads, especially at night, ”he warned.
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The state Department of Transportation told the Associated Press that there was no estimate of when the popular car route would reopen.
In 2017, a landslide closed part of the Big Sur coastline for more than a year.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.