Major California storm brings heavy rain, snow, evacuations

Los Angeles, United States: A major winter storm rolled into California Tuesday, forcing hundreds of evacuations in burn areas while threatening flood...

Los Angeles, United States: A major winter storm rolled into California Tuesday, forcing hundreds of evacuations in burn areas while threatening flooding and travel delays through holidays, officials said.

A "strong atmospheric river brings heavy rain, snow, and wind to California through Friday," the National Weather Service said in a statement Tuesday, warning anyone in northern, central and southern parts of the state to "exercise extreme caution."

"If you're planning to be out on the roads during the holiday, please reconsider your plans," National Weather Service meteorologist Ariel Cohen told reporters in Los Angeles Tuesday.

Driven by an atmospheric river known as "the Pineapple Express," which moves the heavy moisture from the tropical climes of Hawaii to rain on the West Coast, the storm is expected to dump rain and snow for several days.

"By the time we get to late Wednesday through Friday, many areas will likely be experiencing significant flooding, along with rockslides and mudslides, especially through the high terrain and canyon roadways."