California faces three new storms in wake of atmospheric river event: Live

A massive landslide on a coastal bluff has left a Southern California mansion on the edge of a cliff, but authorities have determined that the ocean-view home and neighboring residences are not in immediate danger.

The slide occurred last week in the city of Dana Point after back-to-back drenching storms that also caused numerous mud and debris flows throughout the region.

The city’s building inspector assessed the residential structures and a geotechnical engineer observed the slide site, the city said in a statement Wednesday.

UC Berkeley Central Sierra Snow Laboratory reported that it had already received 13 inches of snow in the last 24 hours, with more expected.

The lab, located in Soda Springs in northern California, said its storm total of snowfall was now up to 14.2 inches.

“We are now at 85% of median snowfall and 83% of median snow water equivalent to date. More on the way!” the lab wrote on X.

The Marine Corps released the names of the five Marines killed when their CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter went down in the mountains outside San Diego during a historic storm. All of them were in their 20s.

The decorated Marines were assigned to Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 361, Marine Aircraft Group 16, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing and were based at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego.

“We have been confronted with a tragedy that is every service family’s worst fear,” said Lt. Col. Nicholas J. Harvey, commanding officer of the squadron. “The Flying Tigers family stands strong and includes the friends and community who have supported our squadron during this challenging time. We will get through this together.”

The military confirmed last Thursday that all five Marines were killed when their helicopter went down during stormy weather, and efforts were underway to recover their remains, which will take weeks because of the rough terrain and weather, said Col. James C. Ford, operations officer with 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing.

In the meantime, Marines are staying with the remains round-the-clock to adhere to their ethos of never leaving any Marine behind.

Los Angeles forecasters were warning residents to get ready for more heavy rain, mountain snow, strong winds, flooding and possible power outages from Sunday through Tuesday.

“Stay safe: avoid low-lying areas and large waves at the coast and be prepared for disruptions,” the National Weather Service said.

California’s Department of Transportation warned drivers to take it easy in the Sierra Nevada on Thursday as snow was falling heavily.

Forcasters say that a significant winter storm will hit the mountain range from Saturday and through Tuesday morning.

The National Weather Service in the Bay Area shared satellite imagery on Thursday of the new storm systems heading for the west coast. “Enjoy the next couple of dry days before a stronger system gets here Saturday,” the agency posted on X.

Two aviation experts who reviewed newly released photos and video of Friday’s helicopter crash that killed a prominent Nigerian banker and five others said the flight likely should have been canceled because of poor nighttime weather conditions in Southern California‘s Mojave Desert.

The National Transportation Safety Board released photos and video of the mangled wreckage this week as its investigators continue to look into what caused the crash. The agency’s preliminary investigation report will be released in the coming weeks.

Weather reports from the time show a mix of rain and snow, and the aircraft flew over a remote area of the desert that likely would have had few lights for the pilot to navigate by, other than cars’ headlights and taillights along the interstate.

A new system came ashore on Wednesday from the Pacific, though with moderate impact. By Thursday, officials say they expect this latest storm to have moved well inland, bringing heavy snow to the Cascades, Sierra Nevada, and also the northern Rockies.

However the National Weather Service (NWS) Los Angeles says that by next week – Sunday through to Tuesday – harsher conditions will return again.

Ryan Kittell, meteorologist for NWS Los Angeles told The Independent that details of the coming storm and its severity were still uncertain.

“We are looking at another slow moving storm system to impact our area mainly Sunday through Tuesday of next week,” he said. “It is an atmospheric river with a potential for moderate to heavy rainfall, but there’s a lot of details that are uncertain at this point.”

Although conditions are not expected to be as severe as the state has seen recently, officials say there is cause for concern.

Last week, swathes of the state experienced torrential downpours, flash flooding and hurricane-force winds. Los Angeles had 500 landslides in a matter of days. Nine people were killed from falling trees, vehicle collisions, and cars being swept away by raging waters.

The first of the three new weather systems blew in from the Pacific Ocean on Wednesday, though with moderate impacts. The storm will continue to push eastwards through the weekend.

The next two storms are expected to sweep ashore from early next week, bringing more heavy downpours for much of the state.

The incoming rounds of heavy precipitation have the potential to produce isolated flash flooding along the northern California coast, the National Weather Service warned, before pushing into central and southern parts of the state.

You can follow The Independent’s live coverage of the unfolding events here: