California drenched as atmospheric river tears across the state

Roads were flooded and trees toppled amid calls for people to get ready for powerful downpours, heavy snow and damaging winds

• What are the atmospheric rivers hitting California right now?

The first of two severe storms drenched California on Thursday, bringing intense downpours that flooded roads and toppled trees. But the worst is far from over - officials warned residents to prepare for a significant threat" as larger storm is expected to douse the state over the weekend.

Confidence is increasing for another impactful storm system to move through Sunday into Monday," the National Weather Service's Bay Area division wrote on Twitter/X Thursday afternoon.