Watch: woman airlifted after spending 14 hours on top of car in overflowing creek

In Livermore, east of San Francisco, a woman was rescued Tuesday morning after spending 14 hours on top of her overturned and submerged pickup in a swollen, rushing creek, authorities said.

She was cold but unhurt. Firefighters said the victim is lucky to be alive. Emergency crews determined that the woman had attempted to drive across the rain-swollen creek and a bridge.

The driver under-estimated how deep the water actually was, according to the Alameda County Fire Department.

The creek and lake water levels were high from recent winter rainstorms.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency for San Diego County and Ventura County on Tuesday, which was hit by heavy rains and high surf that caused flooding.

Flash floods from a torrential storm produced the San Diego's fourth-wettest day in nearly 175 years, an inundation in stark contrast to its image as a balmy seaside paradise.

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An astonishing 2.73 inches (6.9 centimeters) of rain fell Monday in the Pacific coast city, which normally gets about 2 inches (5 centimeters) on average for the entire month of January. It was also the city's rainiest day ever in January, according to records dating to 1850.