Forecasters said a wave of torrential rains will impact parts of the Golden State — particularly in the south, where the National Weather Service issued flash-flood watches Friday for Los Angeles, Ventura and southern Santa Barbara counties.
The warning affects about 21 million people, CNN reported. As many as 3 inches of rain have already fallen in some parts of Southern California.
Authorities lifted the mandatory order on Tuesday, which allowed nearly 200,000 people to return to their homes. Since then, work crews have been shoring up the spillway, which drains lake water after it reaches its 901-foot capacity threshold.
State workers have also been lowering the lake’s water level, to below 840 feet, to make room for rain and snowmelt. Forecasters say rainstorms are expected in the area for early next week.
The storms have also been accompanied by strong wind gusts statewide, including 50 mph gusts in San Joaquin and Stanislaus counties.
