California storm death toll reaches at least 17

Governor Gavin Newsom warns residents that storm is still a threat as 'enormous cyclone' bears down on Northern California

After days of rain, Bear Creek in Merced, California, overflowed its banks, flooding dozens of homes and vehicles. AP

People look at storm debris on the beach, with a storm-damaged pier in the background, in Capitola. Getty / AFP

A dead sea lion on a beach in Aptos. Getty / AFP

The San Francisco Bay Area and much of northern California continues to get drenched by powerful atmospheric river events. Getty / AFP

A hailstorm in San Francisco. Reuters

Angeles Molina carries belongings from her home flooded by the overflowing Bear Creek in Merced. AP

Residents scramble to retrieve belongings before flood waters rise too high in Merced. AFP

San Diego firefighters help Humberto Maciel rescue his dog from his flooded home in Merced. AFP

Fidel Osorio rescues a dog from a flooded home in Merced. AFP

San Diego firefighter Brian Sanford rescues a dog from a flooded home. AFP

Water rushes down a street towards rescue crews as they search for stranded residents. AFP

A flooded street after a rain storm on Treasure Island in San Francisco. Bloomberg

Workers remove damaged items from a shop flooded during a rainstorm in San Francisco. Bloomberg

A vehicle trapped by mud and debris at Jameson Lane near the 101 highway in Montecito. AP

A mudslide covers a road after a storm in Montecito. Bloomberg

California Governor Gavin Newsom warned residents that the storm is far from over. AP

Waves break over the seawall in Pacifica. Bloomberg

Cars stuck in a flooded underpass in Oakland. AP

Huge amounts of snow dumped during storms around south Lake Tahoe. AP

A fallen tree blocks a road after a rainstorm in Montecito. Bloomberg

The posh Montecito Inn in Santa Barbara has flooded again. Bloomberg

A convenience store in Santa Barbara was flooded during the storm. Bloomberg

The San Francisco Department of Public Works removes a tree that fell on Fulton Street after a storm passed through the area. Getty / AFP

A tree that fell on a commuter bus in San Francisco. Getty / AFP

Two cars were sucked into a sinkhole that opened during a day of relentless rain near Los Angeles. AFP

At least 17 people in California have been killed in a series of storms that have dumped record-breaking rainfall on parts of the US state.

The storms have flooded streets, shutting down some of the state's most critical motorways, with footage on social media showing fallen trees and inundated neighbourhoods.

Downed power lines left thousands without electricity as crews raced to remove live wires from roads and broken tree branches. A sinkhole in Orange County sucked in two vehicles and boulders crashed on to cars parked along the Pacific Coast Highway, blocking the streets of Malibu.

Crews raced going door-to-door, warning residents of mudslides and pulling stranded pets from flooded homes.

The latest atmospheric river — a storm that dumps tremendous amounts of rainfall — has eased in some areas, with the storm shifting to Northern California.

An “enormous cyclone” coming off the West Coast is forecasted to bring even more rain and heavy winds to the northern part of the state as well as the Pacific North-West in the coming days.

The National Weather Service in a Wednesday morning advisory said the “endless stream of atmospheric river events” will refocus in Northern California and into Oregon and Washington state, sparing parts of Southern California and in particular Ventura County, which reported a record 48 centimetres of rain. Mammoth Mountain resort has received nearly eight metres of snowfall this year.

“The fact is that we're not out of the woods; we expect these storms to continue at least through the 18th of this month,” California Governor Gavin Newsom told reporters during a news conference on Tuesday.

“We now have 17 confirmed — and I underscore 'confirmed' tragically — just confirmed deaths.”

Santa Barbara County, two hours north of Los Angeles, lifted an evacuation order that affected about 10,000 people, including the wealthy enclave of Montecito, home to celebrities such as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Oprah Winfrey, Jennifer Aniston and Carol Burnett.

The city's evacuation came on the fifth anniversary of mudslides that left 23 people dead and more than 100 homes destroyed.

Montecito is vulnerable to mudslides because it sits on a mountain front that was destroyed by a wildfire years ago.

Montecito deadly flood in 2018 - in pictures

Emergency personnel carry a woman rescued from a collapsed house after the 2018 mudslide. Photo: Santa Barbara News-Press

A member of the Fresno Fire Department searches homes in Montecito, California, following a deadly mudslide that occurred in January 2018. AP

A man walks through his Montecito home that was damaged by storms. AP

An aerial photo taken by the Santa Barbara County Fire Department shows the aftermath of the mudslide in Montecito. AP

Emergency personnel evacuate local residents and their dogs after the deadly mudslide. Reuters

The posh Montecito Inn was flooded after the mudslide. Reuters

A vehicle lies tangled in a tree on Hot Springs Road following heavy rains in Montecito. EPA

The US 101 Freeway at the Olive Mill Road overpass was flooded with runoff water from Montecito Creek and blocked by mudflow and debris. EPA

A Mercedes-Benz hood ornament covered in runoff mud after the vehicle was moved by floodwaters. EPA

A car is trapped in mud following heavy rains in Montecito. EPA

Damaged vehicles that were pushed by mudflow on to the US 101 Freeway. EPA

A rainbow forms above Montecito while law enforcement and others survey the damage to Hot Springs Road. EPA

A wrecked car lies amid debris after the mudslide. EPA

Rescue workers enter properties to look for missing people after the mudslide. Reuters

A lorry sits stuck in mud on US Highway 101 following heavy rains in Montecito. EPA

Boulders block a road after the mudslide. Reuters

An area damaged by the mudslide in Montecito. Reuters

Outside the gate of Prince Harry and wife Meghan's home in Montecito. AFP

The severe weather is the latest event to punish the state, which has experienced deadly wildfires and extreme heat in recent years due to global warming.

The storms could cost more than $1 billion, The Los Angeles Times reported — similar to damage costs caused by other extreme weather events that struck the US last year.

Despite the rainfall across the state, much of California remains in a moderate to severe drought, according to the US Drought Monitor.

“Megadroughts. Wildfires. Historic floods and atmospheric rivers. This whiplash weather is not an anomaly. California is proof that the climate crisis is real and we have to take it seriously,” Mr Newsom said in a tweet.

Search operations resumed for Kyle Doan, a five-year-old boy who was swept away by the floodwaters in Paso Robles earlier this week. The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff said finding the boy remains “our top priority”.

The boy's mother was driving when her vehicle became stuck in floodwaters on Monday morning. Bystanders were able to rescue the mother but the boy was swept away. Mr Newsom said he is praying for Kyle's safety.

US President Joe Biden approved an emergency declaration in California that will authorise federal resources to aid in recovery efforts.

Watch: Ellen DeGeneres documents raging floods in Montecito

Agencies contributed to this report