Three killed as record rainfall drenches California

At least three people have been killed by falling trees as a powerful storm moved across California bringing flooding, mudslides and power outages.

Fire officials have responded to over 130 flooding incidents and conducted several rescues since the storm began.

About six months of rain was expected to fall in Los Angeles and surrounding areas in just 24 hours.

Forecasters say heavy rain with life-threatening flash flooding will continue into Tuesday.

The storm is due to an “atmospheric river” effect, a phenomenon in which water evaporates into the air and is carried along by the wind, forming long currents that flow in the sky like rivers flow on land.

It is the second atmospheric river to hit California in two weeks.

Officials have issued evacuation orders for some hilly neighbourhoods in southern California, including in Los Angeles, where city leaders declared an emergency.

“It is vital now more than ever, stay safe and off the roads,” LA Mayor Karen Bass said on Monday. “Only leave your house if it is absolutely necessary.”

A state of emergency has also been declared by the governor in eight state counties.

Three men have died from tree falls, including one in Sacramento Valley, and another when a tree toppled on to a home in Santa Cruz County, officials said.

Mud flows seen in Beverly Hills [GETTY IMAGES]

Mudslides and debris flows have been reported. On Sunday, 16 residents were forced from their Hollywood Hills homes after mudslides flowed through houses, knocking buildings off their foundations and rupturing gas lines.

Witnesses have reported seeing refrigerators and pianos flowing through streets amid the debris.

Damage was also reported in the upmarket Bel Air and Beverly Hills neighbourhoods of LA.

Drivers stranded by flooding in Los Angeles and San Bernardino County had to be helped by rescuers.

The LA River is around 10-12ft above flood stage [REUTERS]

A father, mother and daughter were forced out of their car early on Monday and were able to climb into a tree to escape the rising flood waters, according to San Bernardino County Fire.

Fire rescue crews on the coast came to the aid of 19 boaters who became stranded on rocks near the Long Beach breakwater after their 50ft (15 metres) sail boat lost its mast in gale-force winds.

Lifeguards sent rescue swimmers to make contact with the group, who were then assisted into rescue boats with only one person suffering non-life threatening injuries.

Strong winds of up to 70mph (112km/h) have also caused power cuts and downed trees, though gusts were forecast to decrease significantly by Monday night.

It follows what has already been a record-setting day for the state. The National Weather Service (NWS) said that on Sunday, 4.1in (10.4cm) of rain fell in downtown Los Angeles, surpassing the previous record of 2.5in set in 1927.

Officials responded to downed trees and power outages on Monday morning [EPA]

The storm has also forced schools in Malibu to close as some staff were not able to get there due to road flooding and closures. Schools were also closed further north in Sonoma County, near San Francisco, and in the city of San Jose.

San Francisco has also seen landslides occur inside the city, as well as the surrounding areas.

Rock slides were also reported in Studio City [GETTY IMAGES]

“Very heavy” snows would continue in the Sierra Nevada mountains, the NWS said, rendering travel “dangerous to impossible”.