LOS ANGELES (AP) — A strong late-season Pacific storm brought more wind, rain and snow to overcrowded California Tuesday, as the first full day of spring showed little change from the state’s extraordinary winter.
Forecasters said the storm would focus on the southern half of the state, bringing threats of heavy runoff and snowfall on the mountains measured in feet.
Standing water closed several lanes of US 101 in downtown Los Angeles before dawn, and there were numerous reports of cars being disabled by potholes on the freeway.
The National Weather Service said the storm is a Pacific low-pressure system that has been interacting with California’s No. 12 atmospheric river since late December.
California’s unexpected siege of wet weather after years of drought also included February blizzards driven by arctic air.
The storms have caused flooding and loaded the mountains with so much snow that roofs have been crushed and workers have struggled to keep roads clear of avalanches.