California weather: Three killed as atmospheric river storm brings half a year’s rain
At least three people have died in a winter storm that has brought near-record amounts of rain and destructive mudslides to parts of California.
Two men were killed by fallen trees in Carmichael, a suburb of Sacramento, and in Boulder Creek, to the south of San Jose, as the storm lashed the west coast of the United States.
Police also launched an investigation into the death of a man who was found under a tree in his garden in Yuba City, to the northeast of San Francisco.
The storm was the second so-called Pineapple Express weather system, or atmospheric river storm, to hit the state in the past week.
A garage door in Studio City, California, is damaged by the storm. Pic: AP
An SUV sits buried by a mudslide in the Beverly Crest area of Los Angeles. Pic: AP
A car is damaged by debris. Pic: AP
On Monday, virtually all of southern California was under flash flood warnings, including the Los Angeles area, where up to 25.4cm (10in) of rain had fallen, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).
At one measuring station in downtown Los Angeles, 17cm (6.7in) of rain had fallen by Monday afternoon – nearly half the yearly average of 36cm (14.25in).
The NSW said that, across two days, it was the third-wettest period in more than 140 years.
“We’re talking about one of the wettest storm systems to impact the greater Los Angeles area since records began,” Ariel Cohen, chief NWS meteorologist in Los Angeles, said.
“Going back to the 1870s, this is one of the top three.”
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The remains of a home destroyed by a mudslide. Pic: AP
Kristin Crowley, Los Angeles fire chief, said her crews had responded to at least 130 flooding incidents by Monday morning.
There were around 120 mudslides and debris flows throughout the city on Monday, and at least 25 structures were damaged by heavy rainfall or mudslides as of Monday evening, Ms Crowley said.
About 710,000 people across wider California were without power on Monday evening.
Near the Hollywood Hills, floodwaters carried mud, rocks and household objects downhill through Studio City, damaging at least two homes.
“It looks like a river that’s been here for years – I’ve never seen anything like it,” said Keki Mingus, whose neighbours’ homes were damaged.
Firefighters rescue a dog. Pic: AP
Firefighters rescue a woman. Pic: AP
California’s governor, Gavin Newsom, declared a state of emergency for most of coastal Southern California, while emergency shelters were opened.
Areas of southwestern Arizona were also impacted.
President Biden pledged to provide federal aid.
Atmospheric rivers are weather patterns made from relatively narrow plumes of moisture that form over an ocean and can produce torrential amounts of rain as they move over land.
In these two cases, the atmospheric rivers were called a “Pineapple Express” because they originated near Hawaii.
Donald Trump has waded into the debate surrounding Sydney Sweeney’s jeans ad.
The American Eagle ad, which features the 27-year-old actress, who starred in the HBO series Euphoria and White Lotus, has the tagline “Sydney Sweeney has great jeans”.
It has sparked a debate in the US over race and Western beauty standards.
One of the Sydney Sweeney jeans ads. Pic: AP
In a Truth Social post, the US president described it as the “hottest ad out there”.
Hailing Sweeney as a “registered Republican”, he said the jeans are “flying off the shelves”, adding: “Go get ’em Sydney!”
Most of the criticism of the ad has centred on videos using the word “genes” instead of “jeans”, with one in which Sweeney says: “Genes are passed down from parents to offspring, often determining traits like hair colour, personality and even eye colour. My jeans are blue.”
Critics argued the play on words potentially promotes eugenics, a discredited theory that believed humanity could be improved through the selective breeding of certain traits.
But others have defended the ad, saying the critics are reading too much into its message.
The video appeared on American Eagle’s Facebook page and other social media channels, but is not part of the ad campaign.
In a statement on Instagram on Friday, American Eagle Outfitters said the campaign “is and always was about the jeans. Her jeans. Her story. We’ll continue to celebrate how everyone wears their AE jeans with confidence, their way. Great jeans look good on everyone.”
Stocks in American Eagle Outfitters jumped by 23.3% after Mr Trump’s intervention.
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In his Truth Social post, which he reposted three times to fix various typos, Mr Trump compared the ad with “woke” ones “on the other side of the ledger” – as he criticised other companies, as well as hitting out at Taylor Swift.
“The tide has seriously turned – Being WOKE is for losers, being Republican is what you want to be,” he wrote.
Sky News has contacted Sweeney’s agent for comment.
Police in Tennessee have discovered 14 improvised explosive devices in a man’s home as they were arresting him, the local sheriff’s office said.
Officers were executing a warrant in the home of Kevin Wade O’Neal in Old Fort, about 45 miles (70km) east of Chattanooga, after he had threatened to kill public officials and law enforcement personnel in Polk County.
After arresting the 54-year-old, officers noticed “something smouldering” in the bedroom where he was found.
Kevin Wade O’Neal. Pic: Polk County Sheriff’s Office
On closer inspection, they discovered an improvised explosive device and evacuated the house until bomb squad officers arrived at the scene.
Fourteen devices were found inside the property – none of which detonated.
Improvised explosive devices were found in Kevin Wade O’Neal’s home. Pic: Polk County Sheriff’s Office
Kevin Wade O’Neal’s home in Old Fort, Tennessee. Pic: Polk County Sheriff’s Office
O’Neal was charged with 11 counts of attempted first-degree murder, corresponding to nine officers and two other people inside the property when the suspect tried to detonate the devices.
He also faces 14 counts of prohibited weapons and one count of possession of explosive components.
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O’Neal is being held at the Polk County jail and his bond is yet to be determined.
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