US authorities issue evacuation orders in California as massive storm slams into coast

The US authorities issued evacuation orders in several parts of California as a major storm slams into the coast, bringing high winds and rain that knocked out power and threatened to flood roadways.
California Governor Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency for the storm - the second to drench the state in a week - as the weather was expected to bring heavy rain, snow and flooding. The declaration will allow state agencies to respond quickly as the storm develops and support local jurisdictions.
Mandatory evacuation orders were in effect for several cities in Northern California, including Richmond in the Bay Area and Watsonville in Santa Cruz County.
Forecasters say the storm will form into a bomb cyclone, a type of explosive storm, and will probably kill people.
Northern California, which saw a deadly levee breach over the weekend, is expected to be hardest-hit.
The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a flood watch and high wind warning for the entire Bay Area in northern California, saying that wind gusts were expected to down trees and cause power outages.