The first of back-to-back atmospheric rivers is drenching California. Heavy rain and gusty winds began hitting the state’s north on Wednesday before moving south along the coast and snarling the Thursday morning commute in Los Angeles.
A car is nearly completely submerged under flood waters in Long Beach, Calif., Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024. Heavy rain flooded roadways and much-needed snow piled up in the mountains on Thursday as the first of back-to-back atmospheric rivers pummeled California. (Brittany Murray/The Orange County Register via AP) 
Ruben Gomez points along a partially flooded street as he breaks from clearing away mud and flood debris that engulfed his parents’ home in the previous rainstorm as more rain falls Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024, in San Diego. Gomez has spent all of his time since the Jan. 22 storm shuttling between caring for his parents who were rescued by boat and later hospitalized that day, and trying to salvage what he can from the flooded home. Now, with more rain coming, Gomez worries the floodwaters may rise again in his parents’ neighborhood. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull) 
Tourists walk along the Embarcadero, Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024, in San Diego. The first of two back-to-back atmospheric rivers drenched California on Thursday, flooding roads and toppling trees while triggering statewide storm preparations and calls for people to get ready for powerful downpours, heavy snow and damaging winds. Heavy rain and gusty winds that began hitting the San Francisco Bay Area on Wednesday moved south and arrived in Los Angeles in time to snarl the Thursday morning commute. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy) 
Ruben Gomez pauses as he digs away some of the mud and flood debris that engulfed his parents’ home in the previous rainstorm as more rain falls, Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024, in San Diego. Gomez has spent all of his time since the Jan. 22 storm shuttling between caring for his parents who were rescued by boat and later hospitalized that day, and trying to salvage what he can from the flooded home. Now, with more rain coming, Gomez worries the floodwaters may rise again in his parents’ neighborhood. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull) 
Storm clouds hang over Walton Lighthouse, Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024, in Santa Cruz, Calif. The first of two back-to-back atmospheric rivers drenched California on Thursday, flooding roads and toppling trees while triggering statewide storm preparations and calls for people to get ready for powerful downpours, heavy snow and damaging winds. (AP Photo/Nic Coury) 
A worker carries a hose on a flooded street Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024 in Long Beach, Calif. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer) 
Cars are submerged on a flooded street under a railroad bridge Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024 in Long Beach, Calif. Heavy rain flooded roadways and much-needed snow piled up in the mountains on Thursday as the first of back-to-back atmospheric rivers pummeled California. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer) 
A television reporter does a broadcast as cars are seen submerged on a flooded street under a railroad bridge Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024 in Long Beach, Calif. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer) 
Bruce Rowlison, of Los Gatos, walks downtown in Santa Cruz, Calif., Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Nic Coury) 
A person walks along the beach with flooding along the boardwalk Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024 in Seal Beach, Calif. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer) 
In this photo provided by the Mammoth Mountain Ski Area, cars and buildings are covered in snow in Mammoth Lakes, Calif., on Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024. (Samantha Lindberg/Mammoth Mountain Ski Area via AP) 
A rainbow forms over the Pacific Ocean near Black’s Beach, Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024, in San Diego. The first of two back-to-back atmospheric rivers drenched California on Thursday, flooding roads and toppling trees while triggering statewide storm preparations and calls for people to get ready for powerful downpours, heavy snow and damaging winds. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy) 
In this photo provided by the Mammoth Mountain Ski Area, a snow plow clears a road in Mammoth Lakes, Calif., on Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024. (Samantha Lindberg/Mammoth Mountain Ski Area via AP) 
In this photo provided by the Mammoth Mountain Ski Area, skiers cross a road during heavy snowfall in Mammoth Lakes, Calif., on Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024. (Samantha Lindberg/Mammoth Mountain Ski Area via AP) 
In this photo provided by the Mammoth Mountain Ski Area, cars are covered in snow during heavy snowfall in Mammoth Lakes, Calif., on Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024. (Samantha Lindberg/Mammoth Mountain Ski Area via AP) 
Cars pass through a flooded 710 Freeway in Long Beach on Feb. 1, 2024. (KTLA) 
A portion of PCH was closed in Huntington Beach due to flooding in on Feb. 1, 2024. (KTLA) 
Traffic backed up along Pacific Coast Highway due to flooding in Santa Monica, Calif., Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024. The first of two back-to-back atmospheric rivers is drenching California. Heavy rain and gusty winds began hitting the north on Wednesday and moved south along the coast, snarling the Thursday morning commute in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer) 
A portion of the 405 Freeway flooded in Long Beach on Jan. 22, 2024. (KTLA)
The stor flooded roads, toppled trees and caused traffic accidents, but also dumped welcome snow in the mountains. Forecasters say the storm will be followed by an even more powerful one arriving late Saturday night. The California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services has activated its operations center and positioned personnel and equipment in areas most at risk from the weather.
