Southern California saw torrential rain and flash floods as a result of a massive atmospheric river, causing Governor Gavin Newsom to declare an emergency in eight counties, including Los Angeles and Orange.
Los Angeles and San Bernardino County have also declared states of emergency.
"Los Angeles County is taking action to protect our communities during the storm and recover from any potential consequences," said Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chair Lindsey P Horvath.
Following Sunday's deluge, more than 11 million people in California are at high risk of life-threatening flooding, with sections of the Los Angeles area expected to get about half a year's worth of rainfall by Tuesday.
Over 900,000 California power consumers lost service due to torrential rain and strong winds from a violent atmospheric river, as officials warned of one of the "most dramatic weather days in recent memory."
Atmospheric rivers are large plumes of precipitation that work like firehoses, drawing in warm, moist air from the tropics and dumping heavy rain and snow on land.
These storms are prevalent on the West Coast during the winter, although weaker rivers offer much-needed rainfall and snow during the wettest months.
This rain and snow are critical to western water resources, filling reservoirs during scorching summers.
However, significant rainfall from storms can raise flooding hazards, particularly when a series of storms occur in rapid succession with little time for drying out in between.
Last week's atmospheric river broke numerous rainfall records across California, resulting in road closures and water rescues.
Atmospheric rivers can also affect the eastern United States and are common in portions of Europe, Africa, Australia, and New Zealand.
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