A succession of storm blew into California on Saturday, heavily flooding waterlogged regions with snowfall of up to six feet (two meters) in areas.
The latest storm was expected to bring "heavy lower-elevation rain, significant mountain snow, and strong winds," with "another surge of Pacific moisture" expected Monday, the National Weather Service (NWS) said.
It predicted "disastrous flooding" across the lower Salinas River valley. In Spreckels, a community a few hundred yards from the river, most residents had opted not to evacuate despite warnings from authorities.
Nearly 26,000 Californians remained under a flood watch Saturday evening, according to the NWS, with tens of thousands ordered to evacuate.
The storms of recent weeks were originally welcomed -- coming after years of drought -- but by now have brought "disastrous" flooding, officials say.
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