Powerful storms were forecasted to hit the Western U.S. on Tuesday, a day after thousands of residents were evacuated from homes in Nevada and California. The area has already received heavy rainfall.
According to Reuters, the storms are part of a weather system called the “Pineapple Express” that is affecting Hawaii, California, Nevada and other states in the Western U.S. 3,000 residents have already been evacuated from Sonoma County and 400 residents were ordered to leave homes in Reno, Nev., due to flood threats.
Other regions, such as the Sierra Nevada, have received heavy snowfall, which is expected to continue through Thursday. Heavy rains have also prompted officials to open a Sacramento dam for the first time in a decade.
Over the weekend, NPR reported that the iconic “Pioneer Cabin Tree,” a sequoia in Calaveras Big Trees State Park known for its carved tunnel, was brought down by the powerful California winter storm.
More information is available at the following links:
- Powerful Storms Head for U.S. West After Thousands Flee Floods (Reuters)
- California, Nevada Flooding Worsens, Sacramento Weir Gates Opened (The Weather Channel)
- More Rain and Snow Slam Soaked Northern California, Nevada (Associated Press)
- I-80 in Sierra Closed as Rare Blizzard Warning Issued (via SFGate)
- Iconic Sequoia ‘Tunnel Tree’ Brought Down by California Storm (NPR)
