Winter storm pounds California
2008-01-06 09:31
San Francisco - Hundreds of thousands of people across California remained without power early ON Saturday following a severe storm that pummelled the region with hurricane-force winds, driving rain and heavy snow.
More than 600 000 homes from San Francisco to Los Angeles were experiencing electricity outages on Saturday, power company officials said, one day after the Pacific storm roared into the state.
San Francisco bore the brunt of Friday's weather, which dumped up to eight inches of rain in the worst-hit areas and saw winds in excess of 161km/h, according to National Weather Service Figures.
More than 400 trees were uprooted as winds battered the city, prompting officials to declare a local state of emergency, although there were no reports of fatalities or injuries.
A spokesperson for Pacific Gas and Electric said 615 000 households and businesses in northern California were affected by power outages and warned that it may take days for full service to be restored.
The storm also forced the closure of several major highways and intermittently disrupted mass transit systems throughout the San Francisco area, weather service bulletins reported.
The Sierra Nevada and Lake Tahoe basin areas were enveloped by snowstorms, with up to five feet falling in some areas, the National Weather Service reported on its website.
Although a blizzard warning was downgraded on Friday, authorities have urged communities to limit all non-essential travel on the regions roads. A winter storm warning remains in place until Sunday.
Further south, several hillside communities stricken by last year's devastating wildfires in southern California were the subject of evacuation orders amid fears heavy rains could trigger mudslides.
Around 10 000 homes in Los Angeles saw power cuts because of Friday's rain, although flash flood warnings were lifted early Saturday across the city and surrounding areas.