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Thousands evacuated, boy swept away, as strongest atmospheric river yet hits California

Flash flooding prompts evacuation of Montecito and parts of Santa Barbara amid torrents expected to continue into Tuesday

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Updated January 10, 2023 at 1:46 a.m. EST|Published January 9, 2023 at 6:00 a.m. EST
Heavy rain fueled by an atmospheric river again pummeled California on Jan. 9, flooding homes and roads, prompting evacuation orders and knocking out power. (Video: Julie Yoon, John Farrell/The Washington Post, Photo: Melina Mara/The Washington Post)
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SANTA CRUZ, Calif. — Thousands of residents were ordered to evacuate a seaside community Monday, and a 5-year-old boy was swept away in a creek, authorities said, as the latest in a string of strong storms triggered mudslides and caused widespread flooding across California.

The storms Monday caused significant damage along the state’s central coast, including mudslides, collapsed roadways and flooding that trapped people in vehicles and homes. In Southern California, thousands of residents of Montecito were ordered to evacuate Monday amid extreme rainfall on what was the fifth anniversary of a mudslide that killed 23 people there.