Evacuations called as storm saturates California

A storm pounding California with record rain forced authorities in the San Joaquin Valley to call Monday for the evacuation of some 2,000 residents of the farming community of McFarland due to major flooding.

An estimated 400 to 500 homes were in danger, Kern County Fire Department spokesman Sean Collins said.

A sheriff’s helicopter crew was trying to locate the source of the flooding, which possibly was coming from ditches and canals that supply water to farms, Collins said. Two evacuation centers were set up.

Stormy weather has gripped California since late last week, triggering mostly minor flooding, mudslide, road closures and power outages, but forecasters had warned of significant flooding dangers.

The storm was expected to intensify Tuesday night and Wednesday, with between five and 10 more inches of rain.

Virtually the entire state was affected, from coastal cities to the Central Valley, Sierra Nevada and southern deserts. Rainfall records fell, numerous traffic accidents snarled roads and trees tumbled.