USA: fresh storm threatens to worsen flooding in California even as 'atmospheric river' moves eastward

California's weather troubles continue as a fresh storm threatened to hit the US state on 13 March 2023.

Even as an atmospheric river that caused major flooding moved eastward, the National Weather Service warned that fresh rain and snow might exacerbate the severe flooding suffered in recent days. The fresh storm is expected to affect areas from central California to Oregon and northern Nevada.

Earlier, widespread evacuations were carried out from the central coast area. Across Monterey County, more than 8,500 people were evacuated Saturday, including roughly 1,700 residents — many of them Latino farmworkers — from the unincorporated community of Pajaro.

“We are still in disaster response mode,” said Monterey County spokesman Nicholas Pasculli on Sunday. He said the county is staging high water rescue teams around the county and opening more shelters in anticipation of more flooding.

Highway 1, also known as the Pacific Coast Highway, is closed at several points along Big Sur as well as near Pajaro due to flooding.

(With agency inputs)

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