Rain Brings Relief but Challenges to Parched California

Flooding a concern for drought-stricken state

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A storm moving through California brought badly needed rain to the drought-stricken state on Wednesday, but with more rain on the way, parts of the state are gearing up for flooding where too much water could pose a danger.

San Francisco saw about an inch of rain from a storm that then made its way south, sprinkling Los Angeles by Wednesday night. The rain was a welcome relief for a state that has been punished by drought for much of the winter. Los Angeles has received less than a quarter-of-an-inch of rain in the last month, and rain deficits from Los Angeles to San Francisco range from five to nearly ten inches.

Meteorologists are predicting more rain later this week, as a combination of two storms could drop more rain on parts of the state than have been seen in months. That has increased flood worries—parts of Los Angeles, especially those at the foot of the San Gabriel Mountains, have a high danger of flooding and mudslides. Glendora, a city in the Los Angeles area in the San Gabriel Valley, urged residents to prepare essentials such as clothes and medications in case they receive an evacuation order.

Depending on how the coming storms move, Los Angeles could see 1-2 inches or rain, nearly half of the rain that fell in all of last year. The storms are expected to continue into the weekend.

[Weather Channel]