Hundreds of residents were stranded Monday in mountain communities across Southern California after thunderstorms created flash floods and mudslides, killing at least one person, authorities said. They weren't the only ones to get drenched: Areas of the Florida Gulf Coast were sheltering from the rainiest August day ever as more than an inch an hour fell throughout Monday.
About 2,500 residents of the California communities of Forest Falls and Oak Glen were trapped in their homes after heavy downpours Sunday blocked roadways in the area, San Bernardino County authorities said. The driving rain swept a Toyota Prius driven by Joo-Hwan Lee, 48, of El Segundo off a mountain road Sunday near the camping community of Mount Baldy, killing him, The Associated Press reported.
In Naples, Florida, 6.55 inches of rain had fallen by 5 p.m. Monday, the National Weather Service said. No injures were reported and flash flood warnings expired for Naples and surrounding Collier County late in the afternoon, but almost 650 customers remained without power and more rain was expected in the evening.
IN-DEPTH
- California Drought Crisis Reaches Worst Level as It Spreads North
- Groundwater Levels Plunge as Southwest Slurps It Up: Researchers
SOCIAL
— M. Alex Johnson, Tricia Culligan and Christopher Essner