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Winter storm deluges western US with floods and snow, killing four Winter storm deluges western US with floods and snow
(about 9 hours later)
The western US has been drenched by a powerful storm system that blasted several states and has led to four deaths. A powerful storm system that caused hundreds of accidents across the western US has marched east with predictions of widespread snow, freezing temperatures and gusty winds.
The weather has prompted flooding and water rescues in California, stranded dozens of drivers in Nevada, caused hundreds of crashes among desert dwellers in Arizona and brought snow to northern New Mexico. The system was expected to head east and reach the Atlantic coast by the middle of next week, but not before hitting the south-west again with rain, snow and wind, forecasters said. The fierce weather caused at least eight deaths and prompted advisories on Saturday afternoon in New Mexico and Texas.
In California, the storms were linked to three deaths. In Oakland, one person was found dead near downed power lines and another crashed his vehicle into a tree while apparently trying to avoid debris in the road, news reports and officials said. Also, a 52-year-old woman died in Yuba County, north of Sacramento, when a tree fell on the parked car in which she was sitting. In southern California, a homeless man had to be rescued from a tree by helicopter and four others were plucked from an island after becoming trapped in the swollen Santa Ana River in San Bernardino County. As thick clouds covered the south-west, forecasters said the storm would sweep across the south and towards the Atlantic coast next week.
In New Mexico, authorities and residents braced for a second hit after parts of the state were blanketed with snow and freezing rain. A four-year-old girl died in a crash in the eastern part of the state and three other storm-related deaths were reported on Saturday in a crash in the Texas panhandle involving nearly a dozen vehicles.
In California, the storms were linked to three deaths. In Oakland, one person was found dead near downed power lines and another crashed his vehicle into a tree while apparently trying to avoid debris in the road, news reports and officials said. Also, a 52-year-old woman died in Yuba County, north of Sacramento, when a tree fell on the parked car in which she was sitting. In southern California, a homeless man had to be rescued from a tree by helicopter and four others were plucked from an island after becoming trapped in the swollen Santa Ana river in San Bernardino County.
In Arizona, firefighters recovered the body of a man who was swept away by high waters on Friday in the Santa Cruz river in the southern part of the state.
The storm has affected much of the western US, causing hundreds of rollover accidents and prompting officials to cancel events and close roads.
In Nevada, snow in higher elevations in rural, eastern Lincoln County stranded 50 to 60 cars early Friday, dispatcher Shannon Miller said. No injuries were reported, but US 93 was closed south of Ely. Sheriff's dispatch said early Saturday that the roadway had been reopened, but the office did not have any information on the stranded cars.In Nevada, snow in higher elevations in rural, eastern Lincoln County stranded 50 to 60 cars early Friday, dispatcher Shannon Miller said. No injuries were reported, but US 93 was closed south of Ely. Sheriff's dispatch said early Saturday that the roadway had been reopened, but the office did not have any information on the stranded cars.
In Arizona, firefighters in Tucson on Friday recovered the body of a man who was swept away by high water in the Santa Cruz River. Meanwhile, authorities across the state responded to hundreds of vehicle crashes as the storm dropped rain on typically dry roads. A flood watch was in effect until early Saturday in the Phoenix area, where several miles of the Loop 303 freeway in the western suburbs were closed due to flooding. The weather service said rain totals through Saturday morning could exceed two inches in the Phoenix area. In Arizona, firefighters in Tucson on Friday recovered the body of a man who was swept away by high water in the Santa Cruz river. Meanwhile, authorities across the state responded to hundreds of vehicle crashes as the storm dropped rain on typically dry roads. A flood watch was in effect until early Saturday in the Phoenix area, where several miles of the Loop 303 freeway in the western suburbs were closed due to flooding.
The wet conditions prompted the Arizona Interscholastic Association to push back high school football playoff games set for Friday and Saturday. Officials rescheduled the games to Monday. Weather officials said the mountains and the Antelope Valley foothills north-east of Los Angeles were under the most risk, but there was only a small chance of rainstorms like those that prompted flooding in California on Thursday.
In New Mexico, snow- and ice-packed roads in the northern part of the state, but forecasters say the latest storm is far from over. The National Weather Service in Albuquerque said the brunt of the storm is expected to cross into New Mexico on Saturday, bringing widespread snow through the rest of the weekend, frigid temperatures and gusty winds. In Texas, freezing rain and cold temperatures have already hampered travel. Several traffic accidents were reported on Saturday, including the fatal crash late on Friday that also left several injured in Vega, about 30 miles (50 kilometres) west of Amarillo, and one that injured three members of singer Willie Nelson's band when their bus struck a pillar near Sulphur Springs, north of Dallas.
In northern Utah, transportation officials warned truck drivers of potential trailer-toppling gusts. No accidents had been reported, but big rigs pulled off to the side of the freeways to wait out the winds Friday morning, Utah Highway Patrol officials told The Salt Lake Tribune.
Forecasters said parts of both California and Arizona can also expect more severe weather with winter storm warnings through midday Saturday in the mountains and the Antelope Valley foothills northeast of Los Angeles. However, there's only a small chance of rainstorms like those that prompted flooding in California on Thursday.
At least one business in thirsty southern Nevada was rejoicing over the storm system. Officials at the Las Vegas Ski and Snowboard Resort north of Sin City measured 11.5 inches of snow at midday Friday, with a week to spare until opening day.
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