Storm Pummels Southland a Day After North Is Swamped

A powerful Pacific rainstorm began pounding Southern California on Sunday and threatens to set off flooding and mudslides as heavier downpours blow ashore this morning. Wind gusts up to 70 mph are forecast in the mountains of Ventura County and other areas north of Los Angeles.

The last in a series of storms to hit California’s coast in recent days, the new rains struck a day after widespread flooding caused extensive damage to communities just north of San Francisco. Authorities reported at least one storm-related death.

In Sonoma County, the Russian River inundated hundreds of homes before cresting Sunday at 10 feet above flood level. In one beach town, the river dumped debris into the ocean amid driving rain and blustery wind -- a TV set, logs, remnants of home decking.

Tens of thousands of Bay Area residents still had no electricity Sunday afternoon -- down from as many as 500,000 who went without power over the New Year’s weekend. Near Lake Tahoe, mudslides and fallen rocks closed a major highway, snarling holiday traffic.

Raging river currents reportedly breached at least two levees, heightening concerns about the state’s aging flood-control system. Since New Orleans flooded last year, state and federal lawmakers have warned that California’s system needs billions of dollars in upgrades.

In the Los Angeles area, the latest storm was expected to dump 3 to 5 inches of rain by tonight, potentially soaking this morning’s Rose Parade.

Coastal mountains face the most severe downpours: Forecasters predicted 8 to 16 inches on some south-facing slopes in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties. Throughout Southern California, areas burned last year by wildfires are among those at the highest risk of mudslides and flash floods.

High surf churned up by the storm also poses dangers. By this morning, waves as high as 11 feet are expected, with potential flooding of low-lying beaches that face west, including Venice and Manhattan Beach. With riptides likely, authorities advised extreme caution to anyone going into the ocean.

The storm -- spawned in the Gulf of Alaska -- was expected to peak this morning, with rainfall at a rate of up to 1 1/2 inches per hour in coastal and valley areas. “This one is going to be the most intense,” National Weather Service spokesman Bill Hoffer said Sunday as the storm’s leading edge hit the Southern California coast.

In addition to high elevations of Ventura County, forecasters said the mountains of Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties also could see heavy winds. The storm was relatively warm, however, so the snow level was expected to drop no lower than 7,000 feet. The region’s highest peaks could get 4 to 8 inches of snow, according to the National Weather Service.

In Northern California, some communities braced for more fallout from the rains.

In Sacramento, state Department of Water Resources officials were on alert for possible breaches in the 1,100 miles of levees in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta that protect 700,000 acres across half a dozen counties.

Strong winds Sunday blew water over the top of a levee on Twitchell Island, forcing the evacuation of up to 100 residents. Officials said they were hopeful that the levee would hold through the night, when darkness would make repairs impossible.

“We’ll very likely have a flood-fight there to preserve the island,” said department spokesman Pete Weisser.

In Solano County, a Sacramento River levee breached, forcing the evacuation of up to 15 homes, Associated Press reported. High winds had thrashed water over the levee, which began cracking under the pressure, said Paula Toynbee, a spokeswoman for the Solano County Sheriff’s Department.

“It’s getting worse,” she said. “It’s actually tearing apart.”

So far, some of the worst damage has occurred in resort towns along the Russian River, north of San Francisco. The highway that hugs the river as it snakes its way through Sonoma County to the Pacific was closed Sunday as the water neared its peak. In one river town, Monte Rio, cars were nearly submerged, and water was flowing into the first floor of Fay Massie’s home.

“Our water’s gone up about a foot since this morning,” Massie said. “It’s all over downstairs. We’re going to lose our water heater in just a few minutes.”

Guerneville, the river’s biggest resort town, remained badly flooded Sunday. Shelters were set up for a few dozen evacuees. Many local roads remained closed.

“The amount of damage the water causes is tremendous,” said Linda Eubanks, a county spokeswoman. “It’s probably going to take the community some months to get the mud out of their homes, to clean up and dry out.”

Peter Hackett, owner of the Stumptown Brewery and Smokehouse in Guerneville, waded in two feet of water in his restaurant Sunday, but had a matter-of-fact attitude shared by many locals.

“There’s no shortage of people who have been through it before and are happy to help,” he said. “It was very much a team effort. Volunteers came in and helped load all my equipment into the attic.”

“If you are going to get stranded anywhere in a flood,” he added, “a brewery is a nice place to get stuck.”

Guerneville carpenter Mark Detweiler was lucky: The water lapped at his garage but no farther. “Normally, I can’t see the river from my house, but I’ve got riverfront property right now,” he said.

The storm was blamed for the death of DeeWayne Jackson, 63, of Vacaville, northeast of San Francisco. He died after being hit in the head by a tree uprooted by storm erosion, according to the Solano County coroner’s office. A few minor injuries and cases of hypothermia also occurred.

In Petaluma, just north of San Francisco, residents of about 75 mobile homes were evacuated.

Interstate 80 -- a major east-west route across Northern California -- was closed between Truckee, Calif., and Reno on Sunday because of mud and rocks on the highway.

It reopened Sunday afternoon.

In the drenched wine-growing region, the swollen Napa River receded below its banks Sunday, but not before causing extensive damage to downtown Napa. About 600 homes and 150 businesses were flooded, along with 100 vehicles.

The local water system also was damaged, but tap water was safe to drink, said Peter Dreier, a city spokesman.

“Our total damage estimates may approach $50 million once we get into the remaining inaccessible areas,” he said.

The town was partly closed Sunday as river and creek overflow drained. Nearby, mudslides blocked California Highway 12.

In San Anselmo, a hard-hit Marin County town, scores of volunteers pitched in Sunday to clear debris and damaged goods at some 70 local businesses, said Jim Providenza, a city police commander. He estimated the damage at more than $10 million, including 100 water-logged homes.

Overall, hundreds of structures were flooded in Marin County, including several homes in Novato that were inundated with mud when a levee broke Saturday.

The levee was fixed Sunday, said Ursula Hanks, a county spokeswoman.

As the rain started falling Sunday in Southern California, some braced for damage. But owners of hillside homes in a Burbank canyon that was awash with mud and water last October said Sunday that they were taking the storm in stride.

“I’m not worried at all,” said Janice Shafer, who has lived in her home on Country Club Drive for 16 years. “The streets are designed to take the flow of water like a riverbed.”

But just in case, her two sons stacked sandbags in her backyard.

Times staff writers Jonathan Abrams, Michael Finnegan and Larry B. Stammer contributed to this report.