Dramatic videos, photos show the force of powerful bomb cyclone, 'Pineapple Express' slamming California
A powerful double whammy of an atmospheric river and bomb cyclone continues to drench California on Thursday, dropping several inches of rain on a region that has struggled to wring out from an onslaught of winter storms and creating a widespread risk of flooding, mudslides and power outages. Some forecasters are suggesting it will become one of the most impactful storms to strike the state in years.
Watch as powerful waves destroy pier in California
Powerful waves from a deadly bomb cyclone are seen on video destroying a pier in the city of Aptos, California, on Thursday.
At least two people have been killed during a powerful bomb cyclone that has been bringing heavy rain and high winds to California, and dramatic videos and photos are showing the scope of the damage.
Some forecasters suggest that this storm could be one of the most impactful to strike the Golden State in years.
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Image 1 of 17A pedestrian walks on the street against heavy rain as a bomb cyclone hits California, bringing powerful winds and torrential rain on January 4, 2023 in San Francisco, California. (Liu Guanguan/China News Service/VCG)
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Image 2 of 17Cars run on the road against heavy rain as a bomb cyclone hits California, bringing powerful winds and torrential rain on January 4, 2023 in San Francisco, California. (Liu Guanguan/China News Service/VCG)
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Image 3 of 17People look on as a tow truck pulls a car out of a flooded intersection on January 04, 2023 in Mill Valley, California. (Justin Sullivan)
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Image 4 of 17Los Angeles, CaliforniaJan. 4, 2023Mathew Prado, who works at the Sheraton Hotel at Universal Studio, sweeps water from the front drive. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)
![An image showing crews working to remove a tree that fell across the roadway in Sonoma County, California.]()
Image 5 of 17An image showing crews working to remove a tree that fell across the roadway in Sonoma County, California. (Sonoma County Fire District/Twitter)
![Warning messages for drivers are posted along US Highway 101 in Marin County before a powerful storm arrives to the area in Novato, California on Wednesday January 4, 2023.]()
Image 6 of 17Warning messages for drivers are posted along US Highway 101 in Marin County before a powerful storm arrives to the area in Novato, California on Wednesday January 4, 2023. (Melina Mara/The Washington Post)
![A damaged Valero gas station creaks in the wind during a massive "bomb cyclone" rain storm in South San Francisco, California on January 4, 2023. - A bomb cyclone smashed into California on January 4, 2023, bringing powerful winds and torrential rain that was expected to cause flooding in areas already saturated by consecutive storms.]()
Image 7 of 17A damaged Valero gas station creaks in the wind during a massive "bomb cyclone" rain storm in South San Francisco, California on January 4, 2023. - A bomb cyclone smashed into California on January 4, 2023, bringing powerful winds and torrential rain that was expected to cause flooding in areas already saturated by consecutive storms. (JOSH EDELSON/AFP)
![A damaged Valero gas station creaks in the wind during a massive "bomb cyclone" rain storm in South San Francisco, California on January 4, 2023. - A bomb cyclone smashed into California on January 4, 2023, bringing powerful winds and torrential rain that was expected to cause flooding in areas already saturated by consecutive storms.]()
Image 8 of 17A damaged Valero gas station creaks in the wind during a massive "bomb cyclone" rain storm in South San Francisco, California on January 4, 2023. - A bomb cyclone smashed into California on January 4, 2023, bringing powerful winds and torrential rain that was expected to cause flooding in areas already saturated by consecutive storms. (JOSH EDELSON/AFP)
![A damaged Valero gas station creaks in the wind during a massive "bomb cyclone" rain storm in South San Francisco, California on January 4, 2023. - A bomb cyclone smashed into California on January 4, 2023, bringing powerful winds and torrential rain that was expected to cause flooding in areas already saturated by consecutive storms.]()
Image 9 of 17A damaged Valero gas station creaks in the wind during a massive "bomb cyclone" rain storm in South San Francisco, California on January 4, 2023. - A bomb cyclone smashed into California on January 4, 2023, bringing powerful winds and torrential rain that was expected to cause flooding in areas already saturated by consecutive storms. (JOSH EDELSON/AFP)
![Drivers barrel into standing water on Interstate 101 in San Francisco, California on January 4, 2023. - A bomb cyclone smashed into California on January 4, 2023, bringing powerful winds and torrential rain that was expected to cause flooding in areas already saturated by consecutive storms.]()
Image 10 of 17Drivers barrel into standing water on Interstate 101 in San Francisco, California on January 4, 2023. - A bomb cyclone smashed into California on January 4, 2023, bringing powerful winds and torrential rain that was expected to cause flooding in areas already saturated by consecutive storms. (JOSH EDELSON/AFP)
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Image 11 of 17A worker builds a flood protection barrier at the entrance to a business in the Mission District of San Francisco, California, US, on Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023. While California tries to clean up from floods and mudslides that killed at least one person over the weekend, the next in a series of atmospheric rivers is bearing down on the most populous US state for later this week. (David Paul Morris/Bloomberg)
![FILE - A view of flooding on Highway 280 in Daily City as heavy rainstorm hits West Coast of California, United States on December 31, 2022.]()
Image 12 of 17FILE - A view of flooding on Highway 280 in Daily City as heavy rainstorm hits West Coast of California, United States on December 31, 2022. (Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency)
![Workers build a flood protection barrier at the entrance to a business in the Mission District of San Francisco, California, US, on Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023. While California tries to clean up from floods and mudslides that killed at least one person over the weekend, the next in a series of atmospheric rivers is bearing down on the most populous US state for later this week.]()
Image 13 of 17Workers build a flood protection barrier at the entrance to a business in the Mission District of San Francisco, California, US, on Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023. While California tries to clean up from floods and mudslides that killed at least one person over the weekend, the next in a series of atmospheric rivers is bearing down on the most populous US state for later this week. (David Paul Morris/Bloomberg)
![Workers build a flood protection barrier at the entrance to a business in the Mission District of San Francisco, California, US, on Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023. While California tries to clean up from floods and mudslides that killed at least one person over the weekend, the next in a series of atmospheric rivers is bearing down on the most populous US state for later this week.]()
Image 14 of 17Workers build a flood protection barrier at the entrance to a business in the Mission District of San Francisco, California, US, on Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023. While California tries to clean up from floods and mudslides that killed at least one person over the weekend, the next in a series of atmospheric rivers is bearing down on the most populous US state for later this week. (David Paul Morris/Bloomberg)
![A worker builds a flood protection barrier at the entrance to a business in the Mission District of San Francisco, California, US, on Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023. While California tries to clean up from floods and mudslides that killed at least one person over the weekend, the next in a series of atmospheric rivers is bearing down on the most populous US state for later this week.]()
Image 15 of 17A worker builds a flood protection barrier at the entrance to a business in the Mission District of San Francisco, California, US, on Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023. While California tries to clean up from floods and mudslides that killed at least one person over the weekend, the next in a series of atmospheric rivers is bearing down on the most populous US state for later this week. (David Paul Morris/Bloomberg)
![Workers build a flood protection barrier at the entrance to a business in the Mission District of San Francisco, California, US, on Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023. While California tries to clean up from floods and mudslides that killed at least one person over the weekend, the next in a series of atmospheric rivers is bearing down on the most populous US state for later this week.]()
Image 16 of 17Workers build a flood protection barrier at the entrance to a business in the Mission District of San Francisco, California, US, on Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023. While California tries to clean up from floods and mudslides that killed at least one person over the weekend, the next in a series of atmospheric rivers is bearing down on the most populous US state for later this week. (David Paul Morris/Bloomberg)
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Image 17 of 17SAN FRANCISCO, CA - JANUARY 3: San Franciscans lined up with their cars and rush to get sandbags outside of the Department of Public Works (DPW) on January 3, 2023 ahead of tomorrow's rainstorm in San Francisco, California, United States. (Photo by Tayfun CoÅkun/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) (Tayfun CoÅkun/Anadolu Agency)
State officials have warned residents to prepare for the storm since the beginning of the week, and Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency on Wednesday. Newsom said the state's storm response offices are also at their highest emergency level.
Strong winds rattle windows at Salesforce Tower in San Francisco
Windows at the Salesforce Tower in San Francisco can be seen and heard rattling as strong winds whipped across the region during a powerful bomb cyclone on Wednesday night.
Listen to the video above.
Windows at the Salesforce Tower in San Francisco can be seen and heard rattling as powerful winds from the bomb cyclone battered the region on Wednesday night.
The Santa Rosa Fire Department said in a Facebook post that emergency crews have been busy since Wednesday night responding to numerous storm-related incidents across the city. Most of the emergency responses were because of downed trees and power lines and broken water lines.
Officials have warned residents to avoid unnecessary travel if possible.
Far from the coast in Placer County, a portion of S Brewer Road between Nicolai's and Moore Roads was impassable due to floodwater.
Bomb cyclone floods road in northeast California
Part of S. Brewer Road in Placer County, California, was impassable on Thursday due to floodwater. (Courtesy: @PlacerSheriff/Twitter)
The storm has also caused significant damage in Santa Cruz County.
Photos posted to Twitter show heavy damage to a pier in Capitola and Seacliff.
Capitola streets and buildings were surrounded by floodwater.
Floodwater overtakes streets, beaches near Santa Cruz, California
The town of Capitolo in Santa Cruz County experienced flooding caused by a bomb cyclone. (Courtesy: Mark Woodward and Native Santa Cruz)
A beach in Capitola was completed flooded, as seen in the video below.
High tide from bomb cyclone washes away beach near Santa Cruz
Video shows a flooded beach from the Stockton Ave bridge over Soquel Creek in Capitola, California. (Courtesy: Capitola Police Department via CHP Santa Cruz)
East of Capitola in the town of Aptos, the sea breached another beach perimeter. Waves could be seen crashing into the palm tree-lined streets.
Flooding is seen in Santa Cruz County, California, during a powerful and deadly bomb cyclone.
(Santa Cruz County/Twitter / FOX Weather)
Officials are asking people to avoid the coast due to dangerous surf.
Powerful waves pummel, flood beaches in Santa Cruz County
Footage shows a restless ocean slamming wave after wave onto the shores of California. The state has been hard-hit by a bomb cyclone this week. (Courtesy: @lucky_donuts / Twitter)
The San Francisco Public Works Department also shared a video of crews with the Bureau of Urban Forestry clearing downed black acacia trees that were knocked down during the powerful storm.
The tree was blocking the westbound upper Market roadway.
Watch: Streets flooded in Oakland, California, as deadly bomb cyclone slams region
Video recorded Wednesday in Oakland, California, shows flooded streets as a powerful and deadly bomb cyclone brought heavy rain and strong winds to California.
Video recorded in Oakland, California, showed flooded streets after the storm dropped several inches of rain across the region.
Parts of the Bay Area have picked more than 4 inches of rain over the past three days.
Just north of San Francisco in Monte Rio, floodwater poured into the Russian River, causing the river to rush and spill over its banks.
California river surges with floodwater after bomb cyclone
Heavy rain caused the water level of the Russian River to rise in Monte Rio, California. This footage was taken on January 5, 2023. (Courtesy: @sonomasheriff/Twitter)
In the town of Ventura in southern California, rising floodwater from the Venture River trapped an individual, who was then rescued by the Ventura County Fire Department.
Strong winds and heavy rain caused major damage to a San Francisco gas station.
A damaged Valero gas station creaks in the wind during a massive "bomb cyclone" rain storm in South San Francisco, California on January 4, 2023.
(JOSH EDELSON / AFP / Getty Images)
Winds gusts over 35 mph have been blasting the San Francisco Bay Area as the bomb cyclone continues to impact the region Thursday. Farther inland in elevated areas, a gust as strong as 132 mph was reported at Alpine Meadows in the Sierra Nevada.
Another video recorded in Fremont, California, showed the aftermath of a mudslide caused by the heavy rain associated with the bomb cyclone impacting the Golden State.
The mudslide was reported at the intersection of Canyon Heights Drive and Pickering Avenue.
Video shows moment strong winds knock out power in Ben Lomond, California
A man was recording video outside his home in Ben Lomond, California on Wednesday when strong winds from a powerful bomb cyclone knocked out power.
Winds were so strong in Ben Lomond, California, that power was knocked out.
A video shared with FOX Weather showed high winds whipping through the trees before the lights went out. Nearly 200,000 power outages were reported in California on Thursday because of the storm.
The Sonoma County Fire District shared a video on its Twitter page showing the U.S. and California flags whipping when strong winds battered the region on Wednesday.
Watch: Trees sway during strong winds in Redwood City, California
Video recorded in Redwood City on Wednesday show strong winds whipping through trees as a powerful bomb cyclone impacts California.
High winds were also whipping across Redwood City, California, and video recorded there showed trees swaying.
Trees across the state have been brought down due to those powerful winds and heavy rain, and many have knocked out power, covered roadways and even landed on homes.
Watch: Heavy rain falls across San Jose, California
Video recorded Wednesday night shows heavy rain and gusty winds in San Jose, California. A powerful bomb cyclone has brought flooding rain and damaging winds to the Golden State since Wednesday.
More video recorded in the San Jose area shows the heavy rain falling in San Jose on Wednesday night.
Heavy rain has led to numerous reports of flooding and caused mudslides because of the powerful storm.
The Kings Mountain Fire Department was also busy all night working to clear fallen trees and other debris from roadways during the bomb cyclone.
Fire officials in a tweet said many roads were blocked by large trees and downed power lines.
Fire crews are also getting their first look at the damage caused by the storm in San Mateo County.
Clean-up efforts continued throughout the day in San Mateo County.
San Mateo County Dept. of Public Works remains continues to clear roads and debris on January 5, 2023, after a bomb cyclone struck California.
(County of San Mateo / FOX Weather)
Photos and images from the area show numerous trees that were brought down across roads. Some trees also fell on top of structures.
The community of Whispering Pines in Lake County also saw trees that fell across the road.
A downed tree blocking Highway 175 near Maple Shadows Drive in Whispering Pines, California.
(@CALFIRELNU/Twitter / FOX Weather)
As destructive as the latest storm has been, California braces itself for more rounds of storms this week.
In Napa County, California, officials are seen closing the Napa River Bypass Flood Gates on Wednesday afternoon in advance of the powerful bomb cyclone that has been battering California.
On Thursday, the California National Guard's 649th Engineer Company installed flood dams and sandbags at the Rio Consumnes Correctional Center.
Soldiers from Cal Guard’s 649th Engineer Company are currently supporting the Sacramento Sheriffat the Rio Consumnes Correctional Center in Elk Grove to install flood dams and sandbags as northern California prepares for more storms midweek.
(California National Guard / FOX Weather)