School, college and other closings for Monday

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Hundreds of thousands of people across California are waking up Monday morning without electricity, as a major rain and wind storm works itself south, just days after a 

More than 600,000 customers were without electricity early Monday, 

Meteorologists and local officials have warned residents in Los Angeles and beyond to prepare for potentially life-threatening conditions as the storm moved south.

"This is one of the most dramatic weather days in recent memory," the National Weather Service said in an 

 Sunday night. "The current focus for the most dangerous portion of this system has now shifted to LA County where multiple flash-flood warnings are in effect." 

The storm — known as an atmospheric river — could drop as much as 8 inches of rain along the coast and in valley areas and more than a foot in the foothills and mountains, the NWS 

. Rain could fall at a rate of more than 1 inch per hour in some areas.

Heavy showers and thunderstorms combined with "very dangerous"

also increased the chances of potentially dangerous flash flooding and rough surf, with flood watches in effect across the area.

 on Sunday in eight Southern California counties: Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ventura.

"California: this is a serious storm with dangerous and potentially life-threatening impacts. Please pay attention to any emergency orders or alerts from local officials," Newsom said in a statement.

By late Sunday morning, meteorologists had 

wind gusts above 80 miles per hour in some areas and the NWS 

a hurricane-force wind warning for part of the coast near San Francisco.

 Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass. "There are indications that the coming storm could be as strong as Tropical Storm Hillary was in August."

people should expect roads and freeways to flood and close, homes and businesses to take on water, and trees to fall in the powerful winds.

Officials ordered residents in parts of Los Angeles, Ventura and Santa Barbara counties to evacuate, LAist 

, in Santa Clara County, was also under a mandatory evacuation order.

Several school districts have already canceled Monday classes or warned parents they might, and NASCAR 

 the Busch Light Clash race one day earlier to Saturday evening to avoid the wet and windy forecast.

California's Office of Emergency Services 

 it had prepositioned fire engines, personnel and other resources in multiple counties to help respond to the storm when it arrived.

San Diego County was giving people sandbags and sand that could be used to protect against flooding, and state officials were urging residents to travel only if absolutely necessary.

 narrow bands that transport water vapor from the tropics to the West Coast of the U.S. When they are especially windy and filled with large amounts of water vapor, atmospheric rivers can unleash extreme weather.

On Sunday, the powerful storm converging on Southern California was expected to drop 4 to 8 inches of rain in lower-lying areas, with 8 to 14 inches of rain in the foothills and mountains. Rain began Sunday morning and was expected to intensify as the day wore on.

 early Sunday that heavy rainfall was on the way but strong winds had already arrived. The NWS 

 wind gusts upwards of 60-70 miles per hour, which could topple trees and cause power outages.

Potentially life-threatening flooding would likely also be widespread, officials warned. Coastal flooding was possible, and flash flooding 

 for parts of the San Joaquin and Sacramento Valleys on Sunday as well as in upslope portions of the Sierra Nevada.

 Snow could also begin in some areas late Monday, and the rain and strong winds brought by the storm were expected to last through Tuesday night for many areas.

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Joe Hernandez

Author

The storm was "starting to bring one of the most dramatic weather days in recent memory," the National Weather Service said. California's governor declared an emergency in eight counties.

Hundreds of thousands are without power as atmospheric river churns down California

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