A major atmospheric river that struck California has destroyed homes and killed 17 people, while a five-year-old boy is missing, according to officials.
The adverse weather event that began on Monday was the latest in a number of storms that began in December and has prompted evacuation orders and school closures amid flash flooding, strong winds, mudslides, and road closures.
According to the National Weather Service (NWS), nearly all of California has received rainfall totals 400 percent to 600 percent above average in the past several weeks.
Santa Barbara County’s Cachuma Reservoir rose almost 5 feet in 24 hours, according to NWS warning coordination meteorologist, Eric Boldt….