More back-to-back storms are on the way for California, where a parade of atmospheric rivers have already left at least 18 dead - CNN

CNN  — 

Monterey Peninsula residents could soon beryllium surviving connected an land arsenic mammoth flooding threatens to chopped them disconnected from the remainder of California.

The authorities has been hammered by a cascade of atmospheric rivers – long, constrictive regions successful the ambiance that tin transportation moisture thousands of miles.

At slightest 18 radical person died, neighborhoods person turned into lakes, and countless homes person been destroyed arsenic a drawstring of storms toppled trees and paralyzed communities implicit the past 2 weeks.

California's flooding, successful pictures

But a sliver of bully quality emerged Thursday: The astir relentless rainfall has lifted overmuch of California retired of “extreme drought” conditions.

And overmuch of the authorities is getting a little respite from brutal upwind Thursday. But cities are inactive inundated – and much storms are connected the way.

Just southbound of the San Francisco Bay Area, cities including Monterey, Carmel and Pacific Grove connected the Monterey Peninsula could soon beryllium severed from the remainder of California owed to epic floodwater.

“If anyone was present successful 1995, you cognize that during a ample flooding event, the Monterey Peninsula became an land – radical were either stuck connected 1 broadside oregon the other,” Monterey County Sheriff Tina Nieto warned Wednesday evening.

“And we expect that we’re going to spell into a akin situation, but not arsenic bad. Some of the roadways are going to beryllium closed, and you could beryllium stuck connected 1 broadside oregon the other.”

The sheriff’s bureau upgraded evacuation warnings to evacuation orders Wednesday successful low-lying areas adjacent the Salinas River.

“Monterey Peninsula whitethorn go an land again similar it did successful the ’95 floods, truthful delight commencement preparing now,” the sheriff warned.

Nieto said it could beryllium days earlier residents are allowed to instrumentality home, arsenic crews request to marque definite the country is safe.

According to the Storm Prediction Center, here’s what’s successful store for California arsenic different circular of storms heads its way:

Thursday: Heavy rainfall volition beryllium confined on the bluish California seashore and into Oregon and Washington done Thursday night, with a flimsy hazard of excessive rainfall successful effect for northwestern California.

Friday: An atmospheric stream volition apt pummel the bluish California and cardinal California seashore connected Friday. Winter tempest watches volition apt statesman crossed the Sierra Nevada range.

Heavy snowfall could pb to unsafe upland question conditions Friday and Saturday astatine elevations implicit 5,000 feet and successful the bluish and cardinal California passes.

Saturday: A 2nd strategy volition determination successful connected Saturday, and rainfall volition dispersed southbound and statesman to interaction the full state. Excessive rainfall threats volition apt beryllium issued for cardinal California.

The caller storms person crippled question and near dozens of highways inoperable.

At slightest 40 authorities routes were closed arsenic of Wednesday night, authorities proscription spokesperson Will Arnold said.

“We’re asking the public: If you don’t request to beryllium connected the roadways, delight enactment location and debar immoderate non-essential trips,” Arnold said.

Over 100 National Guard members were successful San Luis Obispo County searching for missing 5-year-old Kyle Doan aft helium was swept distant from a conveyance surrounded by floodwater connected Monday.

Less than 1% of California is present nether “extreme drought” – down from one-third of the authorities conscionable 2 weeks ago, according to the latest US Drought Monitor study published Thursday.

“Intense precipitation successful California the past fewer weeks – peculiarly precocious December and aboriginal January – has importantly reduced drought strength successful California,” according to the US Drought Monitor.

In 16 days, swaths of California received 50% to 70% of the magnitude of precipitation that they would usually get successful a full year, according to the National Weather Service.

Isolated areas, particularly successful the mountains adjacent Santa Barbara, person recorded much than 90% of their yearly precipitation.

But much than 95% of the authorities inactive faces immoderate drought designation.

Large portions of the authorities stay successful “moderate” oregon “severe” drought “since moisture deficits person been entrenched crossed immoderate areas for the past 2-3 years,” the drought summary said.

The caller rains person “provided a generous boost” to cardinal reservoirs successful the state, but astir are inactive beneath the semipermanent mean for this clip of the year.