Heavy rain hits drought-stricken California, triggering evacuations, rescues

Heavy rain has hit drought-stricken California but also triggered evacuations and rescues on Tuesday. 

The system that caused heavy rainfall across the state is called an atmospheric river, as it took moisture from the Pacific Ocean and dumped it on California, The Associated Press reported. 

The storm caused seven inches of rain near Santa Barbara, more than 11 inches at Mount Tamalpais and more than 4.6 inches in an area of Orange County. 

Although the rain was much needed in California after severe drought and wildfires, it caused evacuations in multiple areas due to fear of mudslides, according to the AP. 

More than 800 homes in Orange County were under evacuation orders due to a flash flood warning, and avalanche warnings have been in effect in the Mono and Inyo county areas since Sunday.

Evacuation orders in parts of Santa Barbara county were lifted on Tuesday after the fear of flash flooding passed.

Authorities in Orange County’s Silverado Canyon had to conduct rescue missions after a mudslide occurred. One man was rescued in San Fernando Valley after he was caught in a flash flood. The man was rescued by firefighters and suffered from hypothermia, the AP noted.

Los Angeles firefighters are searching to see if there are any victims from three cars that were swept away in a flash flood.

“The circumstances surrounding these three separate vehicles and their journey down the LA River remain unclear,” the fire department said.