Heavy rain and snow pummel California after a season of historic wildfires

The most powerful storm yet this season is pummeling California, drenching the northern part of the state on Monday and dumping several feet of snow on the Sierra Nevada mountaintops before sliding south Tuesday.

The deluge was a welcome relief from dry conditions, but wreaked havoc on roads, caused power outages, and raised the threats of mudslides in areas scarred by wildfires.

A second storm predicted to hit California midweek shortly after the current storm moves on could deliver almost continuous snow in mountainous areas, said Edan Weishahn of the weather service in Reno, which monitors an area straddling the Nevada state line.

Drivers caught in the waters had to be rescued from their vehicles in northern California. Downed trees and power lines, bowled over by heavy winds, littered the streets. Officials issued evacuation warnings and orders in several areas across the state affected by wildfires in recent years, including in Monterey county, the Santa Cruz mountains, Santa Barbara and Orange county.