Updated Jan 5, 2023 - Science

In photos: Storm slams California with hurricane-force winds, heavy rains

Rebecca Falconer

A damaged Valero gas station creaks in the wind during a massive "bomb cyclone" rain storm in South San Francisco, California on January 4, 2023. — A damaged Valero gas station creaks in the wind during a massive "bomb cyclone" rain storm in South San Francisco, California on Jan. 4. Photo: Josh Edelson/AFP via Getty Images

A major storm is pummelling California with heavy rains and hurricane-force winds — triggering evacuation orders, causing power outages and forcing school closures throughout the state.

The big picture: California issued a state of emergency Wednesday in response to the deadly atmospheric river storm associated with a bomb cyclone. Wind gusts exceeding 100 mph have been recorded in parts of the state, as emergency services responded to hazards including downed trees blocking roads.

A vehicle turns around on a flooded road in Sebastopol, California, on January 05. — A vehicle turns around on a flooded road in Sebastopol, California, on Jan. 5. Photo: Josh Edelson/AFP via Getty Images

A bulldozerclearing debris from the street at Capitola Village after waves pushed debris down the street damaging bars and restaurants along Esplanade in Capitola, Calif., on Thursday, Jan. 5. — A bulldozer clearing debris after massive waves pushed seawater and debris down the street, damaging bars and restaurants along the esplanade in Capitola, California, on Jan. 5. Photo: Dai Sugano/MediaNews Group/The Mercury News via Getty Images

A yman runs from the spray of waves hitting and going over the breakwall of Redondo Beach, CA, Harbor, in the wake of a storm in Los Angeles County, Thursday, Jan. 5. — Waves rushing over the breakwall of Redondo Beach in Los Angeles County on Jan. 5. Photo: Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

A fallen eucalyptus tree forced residents to evacuate their homes in an apartment complex along Lynde Street on Thursday, Jan. 5, 2023, in Oakland, Calif. — A fallen eucalyptus tree forced residents to evacuate their homes in an apartment complex along Lynde Street on Jan. 5 in Oakland, Calif. Photo: Aric Crabb/MediaNews Group/The Mercury News via Getty Images

5: The sun begins to come out over a flooded 18th Street at Olive Avenue in Huntington Beach as a winter storm brought wind, rain and flooding to Southern California on Thursday morning, January 5. — A flooded street in Huntington Beach, California, on Jan. 5. Photo: Mark Rightmire/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via Getty Images

A screenshot of a tree across a San Francisco road as a storm pummels California. — Photo: San Francisco Fire Department/Twitter

A traffic sign warns of inclement weather in San Rafael, California, on January 04. — A traffic sign warns of inclement weather in San Rafael, California, on Jan. 4. Climate change is increasing the likelihood of sharp swings between extremely dry and very wet conditions in the state, per Axios' Andrew Freedman. Photo: Josh Edelson/AFP via Getty Images

San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is seen during heavy rain in San Francisco, California, United States on January 4. — San Francisco International Airport during heavy rain on Jan. 4. Photo: Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

Unstable cliffs loom over Pacific Coast Highway as heavy rains threaten to create road-closing landslides on Jan. 4. — Unstable cliffs loom over Pacific Coast Highway as heavy rains threaten landslides on Jan. 4. Photo: Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

A screenshot of a Twitter image showing a rockslide in the Bay Area of California on Jan. 4. — Photo: Cal Fire/Twitter

Go deeper: Studies show climate change is increasingly driving extreme weather risks

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In photos: Storm slams California with hurricane-force winds, heavy rains

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