A​ powerful atmospheric river left at least three people dead in California, knocked out power to hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses and sent search-and-rescue crews scrambling to an avalanche near Las Vegas.

More than 10 inches of rain have fallen in some parts of California and wind gusts well over 100 mph have been reported in some higher elevations.

(​MORE: Where We Expect The Rain To Continue)

The flooding is expected to persist into Tuesday, so here’s the latest news on the areas hit hardest.

Death Toll Increased To 3

A​t least three people were reported dead in the storm.

Among those who died were two men killed by fallen trees Sunday in Carmichael, a suburb of Sacramento, and in Boulder Creek in Santa Cruz County. Police had previously confirmed the death of another man in Yuba City, about 100 miles northeast of San Francisco, who was found under a redwood tree in his backyard Sunday.

Update On Historic Rainfall Totals From Southern California

Downtown Los Angeles picked up 7.03 inches of rain Sunday and Monday, which ranks as the third-most for any two-day period on record for the city.

T​he highest rainfall total in the Los Angeles area is 11.81 inches in Bel Air.

Los Angeles City Reports Hundreds Of Mudslides

A report from the Los Angeles Fire Department says there had been 307 mudslides in its area of responsibility as of 4:15 p.m. local time on Monday. Thirty-five buildings will need to be inspected due to either mudslides or slope failures, and five buildings have been red-tagged, meaning no entry is allowed.

S​ee The ‘Firehose’ In Action

W​hen we talk about an atmospheric river, this satellite loop of moisture is a perfect example. Watch the way the “firehose” of moisture just points at one area of Southern California and stays locked in for hours. It’s the reason why some parts of the region got 10 to 12 inches of rain during this event.

H​ere’s The Scene In The Higher Elevations

I​t wasn’t just the rain that fell near the coast – in the higher elevations, snow was plentiful, which was a welcomed sight to some ski areas. At Mammoth Mountain, up to 3 feet of snow fell in 24 hours, according to the ski resort’s website.

I​t was a much-needed boost to California’s snowpack, which was barely half of average a week ago.

S​ki patrols were out surveying the slopes for any avalanche danger, and as a result, chairlift delays were expected at the resort.

Here were Monday’s updates as the storm pummeled the region:

(7:09 p.m. ET) The Rain Isn’t Over Yet

From weather.com digital meteorologist Madeline Scheinost: The heaviest of the rain will continue through Tuesday in parts of Southern California, with a flood threat continuing through tomorrow there. In the northern part of the state, showers are still lingering bringing a more localized flood threat.

S​ee the full forecast here.

(​6:57 p.m. ET) Everyone Safe In Nevada Avalanche

L​as Vegas police just issued this update: “Four people were initially reported missing. Everyone has been located and is safe. We are currently assisting people off the mountain.”

(​6:52 p.m. ET) Cars, Emergency Vehicles Stuck On Road At Lee Canyon After Avalanche

C​ars and emergency vehicles are stuck and a line of traffic is backed up waiting to get out of Lee Canyon, according to a social media post.

(6​:39 p.m. ET) Las Vegas Police Ask Public To Stay Away From Avalanche Area

The avalanche is in the Lee Canyon – Mt. Charleston area, according to an email from the Las Vegas Metro Police Department.

“Residents and the public are urged to avoid the area,” the email said. “LVMPD Search and Rescue is responding due to several people being reported missing at this time.”

(​6:02 p.m. ET) Several People Reported Missing In Lee Canyon, Nevada, Avalanche

From a social media post a few minutes ago by Las Vegas Metro Police: “Metro Police Search & Rescue is en route. We are trying to locate several people who are reported missing.

Conditions are hazardous due to the weather. Please avoid the area until the weather and conditions improve. We will have more information soon.”

(​5:47 p.m. ET) Avalanche Reported In Nevada

E​mergency officials are responding to an avalanche in Lee Canyon, Nevada. The exact location wasn’t clear, but the area is home to the Lee Canyon ski area, located about 30 miles northwest of Las Vegas.

T​he area is under a winter storm warning until 10 p.m. local time Tuesday night.

A post on the ski area’s Facebook page earlier today noted 11.5 inches of new snowfall over the previous 24 hours.

“If you’re coming up to the mountain, anticipate delays & snow chain restrictions,” t​he post Drive carefully y’all.”

(​5:11 p.m. ET) Storm Ramps Up Avalanche Danger

A​valanche warnings are in place for much of the Sierra Nevada.

From the Eastern Sierra Avalanche Center: “Though snowfall rates peaked early last night, wind loading onto a snowpack with a weak base will continue to create very dangerous avalanche conditions today. Very large natural avalanches from above threaten the slopes below. Avoid being on or underneath steep terrain until the snowpack adjusts to the new load.”

H​ere’s what to know.

(​4:49 p.m. ET) Evacuations Canceled For Santa Barbara County, Schools Reopening Tomorrow

E​vacuation orders in Santa Barbara County were lifted at noon local time, or 3 p.m. ET. Residents are advised to be aware of road conditions and watch out for loose or fallings, according to the latest update from the county.

Most schools in the area will reopen tomorrow, with the exception of three that are still being assessed.

(4:28 p.m. ET) Climate Change Is Turbocharging Atmospheric Rivers

“These rivers of moisture in the atmosphere are not new and are vital to the West Coast as a major source of water and snowpack,” weather.com meteorologist Kait Parker says. “But 85 percent of flooding in this region is caused by atmospheric rivers.”

These kinds of storms are only expected to get more extreme as our atmosphere and oceans warm, pumping more moisture into the air.

Learn more from Parker here.

(​4:15 p.m. ET) Still A Steady Rain

From weather.com senior meteorologist Jonathan Erdman: While it’s not the type of heavy rain you’ll see in Florida in summer, rainfall rates in parts of L.A. County from near LAX to the San Fernando Valley are still from one-quarter to one-half inch per hour.

Even at those modest rates, this rain cannot soak into saturated ground. And those rates are high enough to trigger additional flooding, rockslides and debris flows.

A flash flood warning continues for the Santa Monica Mountains and Hollywood hills until 3 pm PT, or 7 p.m. ET.

(​3:55 p.m. ET) Power Outages Drop Below 400,000

A​fter peaking at nearly a million late Sunday night, the number of power outages reported statewide dropped to less than 400,000, according to PowerOutage.us. Most are customers of Pacific Gas & Electric, the state’s biggest utility provider. Santa Clara County had the most outages, around 56,000.

(​2:48 p.m. ET) Protect Yourself From Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

W​ith hundreds of thousands of power outages still being reported in California, it’s important to remember to never run a portable generator in any enclosed space or close to one. Doing so can cause deadly carbon monoxide poisoning. Here are some other ways to stay safe:

-​Make sure you have battery powered carbon monoxide detectors in your home. The International Association of Fire Chiefs recommends at least one per level, and that they be placed less than 10 feet from bedroom doors.

-​Know the proper operating procedures for your generator.

-Position portable generators outdoors well anyway from any structure. Experts recommend at least 15 to 20 feet, but that can vary according to wind and other conditions.

-​Inspect and test run your generator annually.

-​Using outdoor grills or other alternative heating devices inside can also cause carbon monoxide poisoning.

(​2:23 p.m. ET) Second Death Connected To Storm

A​ person was killed in Boulder Creek, near Santa Cruz, when a tree fell onto a home.

F​irst responders were called to the scene around 3:20 p.m. local time Sunday.

“One resident made it out of the house but another was trapped inside,” Ashley Keehn, public information for the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office, told weather.com in a phone call a few minutes ago.

“Unfortunately the resident inside sustained injuries from the tree falling into the home and was pronounced dead at the scene.”

T​he death is the second confirmed to be connected to the storm. The first was in Yuba City, located north of Sacramento in Sutter County.

(1:58 p.m. ET) R​ainfall Tops 10 Inches

H​ere are the latest rainfall numbers from Los Angeles County:

-​Topanga, 10.8 inches

–Stunt Ranch, 10.75 inches

–Bel Air, 10.59 inches

-​Woodland Hills, 10.4 inches

(​1:50 p.m. ET) Resident Describes Moment Mudslide Hit Neighborhood

Travis Longcore, who lives in the Beverly Glen area of Los Angeles, told KTLA-TV a house near his was washed away.

“We heard a very loud rumbling sound and thought something exploded. But it was the house, probably powered by a debris flow, coming out into the road…it then hit another house and crushed a carport next to our property,” Longcore said.

“[The mudslide] sheared off the gas line … my neighbor was out and noticed the gas line and I was starting to smell it,” Longcore said “So, we all basically self-evacuated and the fire department came and evacuated another person who was unable to get out through her front door.”

(​1:28 p.m. ET) It’s Not Just Rain

S​now is piling up in higher elevation ski areas as the storm moves through. These are some of the highest 24-hour totals:

–Mammoth Mountain, 33 inches

–June Mountain Ski, 31 inches

–Northstar Ski, 27 inches

(​1:04 p.m. ET) Shelters Open Around Los Angeles

A​t least seven shelters are open in the Los Angeles area. Five are for affected residents and two are for large animals including horses and livestock. The city’s Emergency Management Department has this map listing the locations, as well as area road closures and evacuations.

(1​2:48 p.m. ET) Dangerous Weather Heading East

From weather.com senior meteorologist Dina Knightly: “The heavy rainfall and flooding in Southern California will move into Arizona Tuesday and Wednesday. Rainfall up to 1.5 inches is possible in some areas, with excessive runoff causing flooding along creeks and streams. Road closures are likely and residents should remain alert.”

(​12:35 p.m. ET) Power Outages Dropping

A​bout 500,000 power outages are being reported statewide, down from nearly a million late last night, according to PowerOutage.us. Most are customers of Pacific Gas & Electric, California’s largest utility provider.

“PG & E has more than 3,000 employees engaged in this event to assess damage, make repairs and handle emergency calls, and hundreds more staffed in emergency operations support centers across our service area,” the company said in a news release.

“Members of the public should use caution and remain vigilant for hazards including weakened trees, flooding and downed power lines.”

(​12:20 p.m. ET) Los Angeles Resident: ‘I Can’t Believe It’

Keki Mingus, who lives in the Studio City section of Los Angeles, told The Associated Press she received a text Sunday night alerting her that a nearby home was in trouble.

“Mud, rocks and water came rushing down through their house and another neighbor’s house and into our street,” Mingus said as water continued to rush down the road around dawn on Monday. “I can’t believe it. It looks like a river that’s been here for years. I’ve never seen anything like it.”

(​12:06 p.m. ET) Latest Photos Show Damaged Vehicles, Mud Rushing Down Streets

L​os Angeles

S​tudio City

(​11:20 a.m. ET) Water Rushes Through Santa Barbara Botanic Garden

V​ideo posted by the garden shows a muddy torrent of water from Mission Creek rushing over a historic dam yesterday.

T​he area is normally accessible by walking, but was closed due to the weather.

“​However, thanks to the work of our grounds crew and volunteers, trails and areas along the creek are holding up and there is no damage to the garden,” an update posted to social media.

P​ortions of the garden will reopen today.

(​10:51 a.m. ET) Sierra Nevada Winds Gust Up To 162 MPH

“The Sierra Nevada is known for some prolific wind gusts in these kinds of storms, but this is impressive even by those standards,” weather.com senior meteorologist Chris Dolce says.

The Sierra Nevada mountain range runs along the California-Nevada border and includes Mt. Whitney and Yosemite National Park.

Here’s a look at some of the peak wind gusts at the highest elevations in the region:

–Alpine Meadows/Ward Mountain, 162 mph

–Palisades Tahoe/Siberia, 148 mph

–Mammoth Mountain Summit, 125 mph

(1​0:20 a.m. ET) Mud And Debris Flows Force Residents From Homes In Los Angeles

M​ore than a dozen people had to be evacuated from the Laurel Canyon area as a rushing torrent of rocks, mud and other debris flowed down a hill on a residential street.

T​he Weather Channel’s Justin Michaels is on the scene.

(​10:08 a.m. ET) 10 People, Including A Baby, Rescued From Vehicles

F​irst responders pulled several people from vehicles stuck on a flooded road in the Topanga Canyon area of Los Angeles County, KCAL-TV reported. Those rescued included a baby.

R​escues were ongoing in the area overnight. Besides flooding, boulders and mud also blocked some roads.

Evacuation orders were in place in the area due to fears of mudslides and debris flows in wildfire burn scar areas.

(​9:15 a.m. ET) These Are The Top Rain Totals So Far

S​ome staggering rainfall totals are coming in from the National Weather Service, and there’s plenty more rain on the way. These are two-day totals:

-​Topanga Canyon: 9.94 inches

-​Stunt Ranch: 9.86 inches

-​Sepulveda Canyon: 9.57 inches

-​Woodland Hills: 9.29 inches

-​Bel Air: 9.25 inches

(​8:50 a.m. ET) Rescues Ongoing Amid The Floods

D​angerous conditions have prompted more water rescues in parts of Southern California. In areas where burn scars from past wildfires are still present, mudslides and debris flows have also occurred.

W​e have new visuals coming in from the areas hit hardest; meteorologist Domenica Davis walks you through it all here.

(​8:25 a.m. ET) As Santa Barbara Flooded, Police Went Door-To-Door

A​s roads became swamped and creeks were overwhelmed with flood water, some police in Santa Barbara needed armored vehicles to traverse the flooded roads and go door-to-door to evacuate residents, NBC News reported. This was occurring last night.

S​everal parts of the city were placed under mandatory evacuations as the flooding worsened.

(​8 a.m. ET) California Storm, By The Numbers

102 mph: Top wind gust report. This was clocked on Sunday at Pablo Point in Marin County.

9.86 inches: Top rainfall report at Stunt Ranch Reserve in the Santa Monica Mountains at 1,305 feet in elevation.

6 feet: This is the upper range of how much snow was expected to fall in the highest elevations of the Sierra Nevada. No totals this high have been measured yet, but this is what the forecast called for.

(​7:40 a.m. ET) Authorities Confirm Death In Yuba City

I​n a social media post late Sunday night, the Yuba City Police Department confirmed that a man was killed when a redwood tree fell on top of him. It was the first death confirmed to be caused by the atmospheric river storm striking California.

“​Paramedics began lifesaving measures, however, the male was never revived,” said the police department. Through the investigation, it appeared he was possibly using a ladder to try and clear the tree away from his residence when it fell on him.”

I​t’s believed that the tree fell some time around 5 p.m. local time Sunday.

“​This was an unfortunate accident and our condolences are with the male’s family and friends,” the post also read.

(​7:15 a.m. ET) Where’s The Biggest Concern This Morning?

F​rom weather.com senior meteorologist Chris Dolce:

The most persistent rain through the morning rush hour will be over much of the Los Angeles metro area. In particular, locations from the Santa Monica Mountains eastward through Hollywood Hills and Beverly Hills areas are seeing the most serious flooding, which is where 5 to 9 inches of rain has fallen, prompting the National Weather Service to issue a “particularly dangerous situation” flash flood warning.

Locations farther south, from around downtown Los Angeles to around Oceanside, are in flood advisories for light to moderate rainfall. Commuters this morning could see flooded roads and should avoid driving through any floodwaters.

(​6:30 a.m. ET) Nearly 600,000 Customers Still Without Power

T​hough the numbers declined overnight, some 587,000 homes and businesses are still in the dark across California, according to PowerOutage.us.

I​f you’re ever facing a power outage, these tips will be very helpful to remember.

(​5:30 a.m. ET) Los Angeles Picks Up A Month’s Worth Of Rain In One Day

D​owntown Los Angeles was soaked by 4.1 inches of rain on Sunday. That’s more than the city averages in the entire month of February (3.64 inches). It was also enough to clinch their third-wettest February day on record.

O​ver the last two days, L.A. has recorded 5.48 inches of rain. The city needs at least 5.58 inches of rain to clinch one of their 10 wettest two-day stretches on record.

(5​:09 a.m. ET) ‘Particularly Dangerous Situation’ Flash Flood Warning In Effect

T​he National Weather Service (NWS) issued this urgent flash flood warning for the Hollywood Hills area and near the Santa Monica Mountains until 9 a.m. local time. A report from the NWS stated there was excessive street flooding in the area with multiple vehicles floating in the Hollywood Hills to Sherman Oaks and Studio City areas.

(5​:00 a.m. ET) More Than 100 Reports Of Flooding, Landslides

S​ince this storm began, there have been at least 101 reports of flooding and landslides submitted to the National Weather Services across the state of California. The blue icons in this map below show where those flooding and landslide reports are located.

Y​ou can read our updates from Sunday here.

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