In pictures: extraordinary rainfall causes flooding and landslides in California

On Sunday February 4 a severe storm system began to move through the state of California. In the areas of the state with lower elevations, heavy rain has caused flooding and higher elevations prepared for possible whiteout conditions.

Pictured: A car is stuck in mud aon February 5, 2024, in Los Angeles, California.

According to NBC News at least three people have died due to the storm, as the result of falling trees.

Pictured: A home in L.A. that slid off of it's foundation, destroying the home and damaging surrounding homes  on February 5.

CNN reported that as many as 38 million Californians are at risk of flooding as an atmospheric river hits the Western coast of the United States.

Pictured: A woman walks along a flooded street on February 4 in Santa Barbara, California.

According to CNN some areas of the city of Los Angeles are even expected to get 75% of its annual rainfall at the beginning of the second month of 2024.

Pictured: People attending the Grammy's run between the red carpet and a parking garage as another storm bears down at L.A. on February 4.

On Monday February 5, nearly all of Southern California was under flash flood warnings, including Los Angeles, where according to the Associated Press, between 5 and 10 inches (12.7 to 25.4 centimeters) of rain fell with more to come.

Pictured: An aerial view of the Los Angeles River swollen by storm runoff on February 5, 2024 in Los Angeles, California.

As reported by the Associated Press, the downtown measuring station in Los Angeles found that 6.7 inches of rain had fallen by the afternoon on February 5. This amounts to almost half the yearly average of 14.25 inches of rainfall, making it the third wettest day in the history of the city.

Pictured: the incredible amount of rainfall made the Los Angeles river swell to unprecedented heights on February 5.

Flash flood warnings were issued for the southern and central coast, including the city of Los Angeles on February 4. According to USA Today, authorities believe this could be the biggest storm in years to hit the state.

Pictured: muddy waves hit the pier in Santa Barbara.

“This storm is predicted to be one of the largest and most significant in our county’s history and our goal is to get through it without any fatalities or any serious injuries,” Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown said according to USA Today.

The New York Times reported that the Los Angeles weather service  issued a warning regarding  “numerous damaging landslides” on February 4 in Malibu and Beverly Hills in Los Angeles County, along with the Santa Monica Mountains and adjacent foothills.

Pictured: Flooding is seen along Camp Chafee Road at Casitas Vista Road on Sunday, Feb. 4.

Here we can a see a home that was destroyed by a mudslide in Los Angeles on February 5. More rain is expected to hit the state of California over the course of Tuesday, February 6, undoubtedly causing more damage.

Authorities in the state of California have urged residents not to travel. In some areas residents have been evacuated from their homes due to the risk of landslides.

Pictured: a driver is forced to turn around due to a mudslide near Santa Barbara.

CNN reported that various school districts within Santa Barbara County cancelled classes on February 5 due to the severe weather. However, with the hope of the worst of the storm being over, most schools expect to be open by the 6th.

Pictured: A giant tree fell on a house on El Grande Dr. in San Jose on February 4.

Here we can see just how extreme some areas have already been hit by the flooding and more rain is expected.

Pictured: vehicles and farm equipment flooded at the Mickelson Pumpkin Patch in Petaluma, California, on February 4.

According to USA Today over 700,000 Californians lost power since February 4 due to the intense rains and strong winds.

Pictured: palm trees are blown by strong wind as the second and more powerful of two atmospheric river storms arrives to Santa Barbara, California, on February 4.

The authorities are already busy with rescues. According to CNN, in the early hours of February 5, the San Bernardino County Fire Department had to rescue three individuals from a tree, which they climbed after their vehicle got caught in rapid flood waters.

Pictured: A truck sits in flood waters at the Mickelson Pumpkin Patch in Petaluma.

According to USA Today, in some parts of  the San Francisco Bay Area, the wind reached speeds of over 80 mph in the mountains, strong enough to qualify for a Category 1 hurricane.

Pictured: A view of California Street in San Francisco, on the evening of February 4.