Strong Storm Pounds Sacramento Region, Sierra, Sets Sights On Northern San Joaquin Valley
DONNER SUMMIT (CBS13) — Thursday's storm lived up to its promise, pounding Northern California with rain and wind throughout the day, causing flooding in the valley and travel troubles in the Sierra.
Drivers heading into the Sierra faced near whiteout conditions, leaving some drivers like Octavio Sida marooned on the side of Interstate 80 after his chains broke.
Earlier in the day, several wrecks on eastbound I-80 stopped traffic completely near Donner Summit, frustrating not only drivers, but Caltrans plows trying to keep the roads clear. The plows couldn't make it through the busy traffic in rough conditions.
Down the hill toward Placer and El Dorado counties, flash flood warnings were issued for the King Fire and American Fire burn scar areas. The prolonged rainfall is feared to cause mudslides in the area.
The relentless rain left people like Ryan Selvidge wondering about flash flooding near his home on the outskirts of the King Fire burn scar
"If it was coming this way, we would get hit by it," he said. "It's kind of intimidating, scary."
The power outages were kept to small, clustered areas on Thursday, as the worst of the wind died off early in the afternoon.
Arcade Creek neared flood stage at Winding Way as the rain dumped heavily on the region.
A driver on Bruceville Road was lucky to be alive when a tree fell on her car. The tree crushed the front end of her car, but she was able to walk away from the scene.
In Midtown, a beloved silk floss tree fell in front of a Queen Anne Victorian mansion on 21st Street. It's often called the spiky tree because of its large thorns. It was beloved in the community because of its unique appearance. The homeowner was just glad nobody was hurt.
Minor flooding was seen in the Stockton area, where the rain is expected to pick up overnight.