Prince Harry and Meghan Markle face 'life-threatening' flood warning at home
Weather warnings have been issued in California due to severe rain that is causing flash flooding and landslides.
The areas affected include Santa Barbara, where Prince Harry and Meghan Markle live with their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. In some parts of the US state, evacuations have been ordered and millions of people have been told to brace for "life-threatening" floods.
Some roads have been closed by the emergency services due to flooding, landslides and fallen trees. Last night, the California Highway Patrol told people to stay away from the area of Market and 18th in San Francisco, while the CHP Santa Cruz said Felton Empire Road was closed.
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Heavy rain is hitting California (NOAA/ZUMA Press Wire/REX/Shutterstock)The Duke and Duchess of Sussex faced the same issue last month when flash flooding warnings threatened Montecito and trapped dozens of people in cars as a super storm ripped through California. The latest forecast comes from the US National Weather Service, which has raised alarms about a "particularly dangerous situation" unfolding due to heavy rainfall.
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They issued a flood warning on Sunday which read: "Dangerous and life-threatening flooding is possible with this event. Extensive roadway flooding is likely. Significant debris flows are possible in and around recent burn scars. Creeks and streams may rise out of their banks."
Montecito specifically is prone to flooding and landslides, and videos are already surfacing online of the significant damage this storm is doing to the celebrity-filled neighbourhood. One video posted on X shows water pouring in a strong flow down Montecito Creek. Though it has not burst its bank yet, the creek is expected to keep filling up as the rain intensifies.
In terms of travel disruptions, State Route 192 is closed in both directions from Chelham Way to State Route 144 in Santa Barbara County due to roadway flooding, with no estimate for reopening, reports the Express. UCLA climate scientist Daniel Swain highlighted the gravity of the impending storms during a live-streamed weather briefing, cautioning that extreme rainfall could lead to a dramatic escalation of flash flooding.
A flooded street in Santa Barbara, California (Getty Images)The forecast indicates that the greater Los Angeles area will see conditions worsen during Monday afternoon. Swain warned of the potential for "torrential" storms to cause flooding in highly populated areas, including Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, and Ventura counties. The concern is amplified by the fact that these regions are already saturated from previous rainfall.
"There is a significant risk of major flooding developing," Swain stated, emphasising that mountainous areas around Los Angeles could see up to 20 inches of rainfall. Downtown Los Angeles is expected to receive up to six inches of rain, posing the risk of overflow in major watersheds.
Santa Barbara and San Bernardino counties are now assigned the "highest possible risk rating for flash flooding," with the danger possibly persisting on Tuesday as well. Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown expressed the severity of the situation, saying: "This storm is predicted to be one of the largest and most significant in our county's history." The goal, he emphasised, is to navigate through it without any fatalities or serious injuries.
Trailers sit in a flooded field in Petaluma, California (AFP via Getty Images)As a precautionary measure, evacuation orders and warnings have been issued for mountain and canyon areas of Monterey, Santa Barbara, Ventura, and Los Angeles counties. In response to the looming threat, Governor Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency for the region.
Santa Barbara remains on flood watch until Tuesday, with the National Weather Service also issuing a wind advisory. The advisory warns of gusty winds, making driving difficult and posing a threat to unsecured objects.
The advisory further notes that rainfall totals of three to six inches are expected, with six to 12 inches likely in south and southwest-facing foothills and mountains. Rainfall rates of 0.50 to one inch per hour are predicted during the peak of the event, potentially leading to unusually high three to six-hour rain totals.
A person walks along a flooded street in Santa Barbara (Getty Images)As Southern California faces this imminent weather crisis, residents, including Harry and Meghan, are urged to stay vigilant and follow evacuation orders to ensure their safety amid the impending deluge. The Sussexes are reportedly eyeing up a cheaper £3million home in Malibu after passing on the opportunity to buy a plot of land back in September last year. It was thought the couple were planning to build a 10,000-square-foot home.
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With plans to relocate with their children, four-year-old Archie and two-year-old Lilibet, Californian locals say the couple are "never seen" at their nine-bedroom property which was one of the main backdrops in their explosive tell-all Netflix series Harry & Meghan. One local Barry Maher, a PR and communication expert whose TV credits include the Today show and programmes on NBC, told The Mirror people are becoming annoyed with the couple's "travelling soap opera" amid the pair's dramatic life in the spotlight.
"Harry and Meghan live down the street but in a considerably pricier spot, though nobody around here is exactly living in cardboard boxes," he explained. "Since we never see them, local tolerance seems to mirror USA tolerance in general.
"People who like them seem to have an unlimited tolerance, no matter what they do, somehow tied to the 'handsome prince falls for commoner' fairytale. Everyone else is either unimpressed by the traveling soap opera or is just sick of hearing about them."
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