California flood-watch: 37million are under warnings and urged to stay off the roads as up to 10 inches of rain is due in some parts as storms hit state for third day

• California’s central coast is at risk of ‘significant flooding,’ with up to 5 inches of rain predicted for many areas

Battered California is set to be hit by another wave of rainstorms as 37million people statewide are under flood warnings.

The Sunshine State is still recovering from getting drenched at the start of February as forecasters warn back-to-back storms are now set to hit through today, telling residents to stay off the roads.

Up to 10 inches of rain is due in some areas including in the Santa Lucia and Santa Ynez mountain ranges, while California’s central coast could see up to 5inches in many areas.

The latest in a series of wet winter storms blew ashore in Northern California on Sunday, with forecasters warning of possible flooding, hail, strong winds and even brief tornadoes as the system moves south over the next few days.

Gusts topped 30 mph in Oakland and San Jose as a mild cold front late on Saturday gave way to a more powerful storm that will gain strength into early Monday, said meteorologist Brayden Murdock with the National Weather Service office in San Francisco.

‘The winds are here and getting stronger, and the rains will follow quickly,’ he said on Sunday afternoon.

People are seen during heavy rain as massive waves hit the coast and high surf and coastal flood warning issued, in Pacifica, California, United States on Sunday

A view of houses near mountains during heavy rain as massive waves hit the coast and high surf and coastal flood warning issued, in Half Moon Bay, California, United States on Sunday

Thunderstorms in valleys around the state capital on Monday could bring ‘brief tornadoes, large amounts of small hail, heavy rain, lightning, and gusty winds,’ the weather service office in Sacramento warned on X.

The latest storm is expected to move through quicker than the devastating atmospheric river that parked itself over Southern California earlier this month, turning roads into rivers, causing hundreds of landslides and killing at least nine people.

‘It’s not the ideal setup for an atmospheric river, but it does have some of the characteristics,’ including a band of subtropical moisture bringing up the rear of the storm, Murdock said. ‘Otherwise it’s just a cold front.’

But it’s a cold front strong enough to cause problems including flash flooding and power outages, forecasters said. Flood watches and warnings were issued in coastal and mountain areas up and down the state.

Rainfall will be widespread even in the mountains, but several feet of snow is possible at elevations above about 6,800 feet across the Sierra Nevada, the weather service said. Motorists are urged to avoid mountain routes.

National Weather Service Los Angelese wrote on X: ‘Light rain moving into the area with rainfall rates around 0.10

An aerial image shows homes along Scenic Drive standing on the edge of a cliff above the Pacific Ocean after a landslide following heavy rains in Dana Point, California, on Thursday

‘Consider completing Sierra travel during the day Sunday, or rescheduling to later next week,’ said the weather service office in Reno, Nevada. The office issued a backcountry avalanche watch for the greater Lake Tahoe area and the eastern Sierra in Inyo and Mono counties.

Snowfall in the Sierra Nevada could total up to 1 to 2 feet for areas higher than 5,500 feet in elevation, and the tallest peaks could be covered with up to 4 feet of snow.

The California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services activated its operations center on Saturday and positioned personnel and equipment in areas most at risk.

Travel could be very hard or impossible across Sierra passes including Donner Summit, Echo Summit and Carson Pass, the Reno office said.

It also warned of higher levels of traffic during the holiday weekend and to expect longer commute times and potential travel delays.

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