Published: January 5,2016
A series of storm systems impacting the West Coast has closed and flooded highways in California and iced over parts of Oregon and Washington, where a plane skidded off a runway in Spokane. While wet conditions are normal for the area this time of year, the amount of precipitation being received is unusual.
"January is historically the second wettest month of the year at Los Angeles, but the presence of a strong El Niño favors above average precipitation across Southern California," said weather.com meteorologist Quincy Vagell. "It is no surprise that a wet pattern is emerging after what has been one of the strongest El Niños on record."
Here are the latest impacts from this storm system.
California
Heavy rains have flooded numerous highways and at least one business in California. Highway 101 was closed southbound about 4 miles south of the Santa Barbara/Ventura County line, due to a mudflow. Cal Trans crews were on the scene Tuesday afternoon working to clear the debris and reopen the highway.KNX radio is reporting that at least one vehicle was completely underwater on Burbank Blvd. near Balboa, and the road was being closed because due to the flooding. Another vehicle stuck in several feet of water had to be removed from the Sepulveda Basin — a flood-control area along the Los Angeles River, CBS Los Angeles reported.
On the roads that were open, there were accidents and slowdowns all over the city.
In Yosemite National Park, a commercial tour bus carrying 54 passengers slid off an icy road on Highway 41, according to NBC Bay Area. Despite one minor injury, all passengers were able to to safely exit the bus following the accident.
Boulders fell onto the roadway on Malibu Canyon at Pacific Coast Highway. Four vehicles were damaged in what the California Highway Patrol labeled as a mud, dirt and rock slide, Siara Lund, CHP information officer, told the Los Angeles Times. No injuries were reported.
In East Sacramento, water entered at least one building, owned by Chris Lene, who spent part of his day Tuesday sweeping water out of the ground floor.
Washington
Emergency
vehicles surround a United Airlines aircraft as passengers wait to be
evacuated, Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2016, at the Spokane International Airport
in Spokane, Wash. (Jesse Tinsley/The Spokesman-Review via AP)
Kennaugh also told KREM.com that emergency vehicles were unable to get to them because it was too icy. He said flight operations would bring out a ladder to get them off of the rear of the plane in about 40 minutes.
You can see @united 737's wheels in the snow at @iflyspokane in pic sent to us from passenger Chris Zetino. #kxly
Numerous flights have been delayed or canceled at the airport. In a statement, United Airlines confirmed that there was no damage done to the plane.
"Spokane saw periods of light snow much of Monday, with less an inch of accumulation," said weather.com meteorologist Chris Dolce. "Early Tuesday morning, a brief period of light freezing rain fell at the airport just before 6 a.m. local time, which could have made for icy conditions."
Oregon
Across the region, wintry weather was expected to be a problem for days. Light snow and freezing rain turned streets and sidewalks into a skating rink, prompting school closures in Portland, Beaverton, Hillsboro and other districts in the Willamette Valley on Monday.(FORECAST: Series of Storms to Bring Plenty of Rain, Snow to California and the Southwest)
Numerous offices were closed Monday in Portland as well, as icy roads made the morning commute dangerous, KOIN.com reported.
Several accidents and slide-offs have been reported, including an incident on Monday when a semi-truck jackknifed on a hill and slid into an apartment complex in Troutdale, according to KPTV.com.
Dave Palmer witnessed a multi-car pileup on along Southwest 18th Avenue in Portland, Monday morning KGW.com reported.
"It was just boom after boom after boom," Palmer said. "They almost cleared it up and then a truck decided to come driving up here and whip a U-turn and slid back into them all again."
On Sunday, a vehicle traveling on icy Interstate 84 crashed into a parked Portland police cruiser. The officer suffered minor injuries.
Numerous roads had reopened Monday morning, and the Portland Bureau of Transportation is tracking which roads are closed here. Additionally, Portland's public transportation provider Tri-Met was reporting numerous delays and closures Monday morning.
An estimated 14,000 PGE customers were without power at one point Sunday afternoon, according to KOIN.com.
State offices were closed in the Portland area and Hood River. OHSU Hospital remained open for patients, but urged non-essential employees to stay home. Vancouver canceled garbage pickup because of icy neighborhood streets.
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