SAN FRANCISCO - The Latest on California storms (all times local):

5:30 p.m.

Mandatory evacuations have been ordered for neighbourhoods beneath fire-scarred hillsides in Southern California as another storm raises flooding fears.

Hundreds of residents in the Lake Elsinore area southeast of Los Angeles have been ordered to leave Wednesday as a very wet storm moves south through the state. Nearby Trabuco Canyon is under voluntary evacuation orders. That section of the Santa Ana Mountains was scorched last year and officials say the risk of debris flows is high.

Heavy rain already has fallen in Northern California, feeding on a plume of moisture that stretches across the Pacific.

Wind warnings and advisories are up across the state and a winter storm warning is in effect across the Sierra Nevada.

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3:00 p.m.

Officials in Northern California are urging people to avoid travelling on roads unless it's absolutely necessary and have declared an emergency for Shasta County, where thousands are without power.

KRCR-TV reports the Shasta County Sheriff's Office says residents should prepare for several days of power outages, limited public services and extended emergency response times.

In the county seat of Redding, police are urging residents to avoid several streets because of downed power lines.

The storm has dumped at least 10 inches of snow in Redding, according to the National Weather Service.

Paul Moreno, a spokesman with Pacific Gas & Pacific Gas, says 42,000 of their customers remain without power, most of them in Shasta county.

Another 15,200 Redding Electric Utility customers remain without electricity.

Forecasters say the area will see rain and snow through the weekend.

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1:30 p.m.

California's Mammoth Mountain says so much snow has fallen this winter that the slopes will be open to skiing and boarding through the Fourth of July, at least.

The resort in the Eastern Sierra reported Wednesday that the latest storm is adding to its summit season total — which is nearing 38 feet (11.5 metres). More than 5 more feet (1.5 metres) could fall before the current system moves through.

The storm packing wind gusts in excess of 130 mph (209 kph) over the top of the Sierra is barrelling down on Lake Tahoe.

A winter storm warning is in effect until 10 p.m. Thursday for the Tahoe area, where more than 2 feet (61 centimetres) of snow is possible in the highest elevations.

A backcountry avalanche warning also has been issued throughout the Sierra.

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12:00 p.m.

More than 60,000 customers are without power in several rural Northern California counties as heavy rain and snow hit the area, flooding roads and toppling trees.

Paul Moreno, a spokesman with Pacific Gas & Pacific Gas, says 45,000 of their customers are without power in Shasta, Tehama, Butte and Glenn Counties.

Another 16,000 customers of Redding Electric Utility are also without power in Redding. The utility says the storm has caused major damage to their system.

Moreno says crews are working to restore power, which is expected to be back online by later Wednesday.

Kirkwood Mountain Resort spokesman Kevin "Coop" Cooper says the Sierra have been receiving rain and snow since Tuesday. He says strong winds have subsided but they are forecast to return.

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8 a.m.

An atmospheric river aimed at California is bringing a new round of stormy weather to the state.

Rain is falling widely in Northern California early Wednesday and is expected to spread south, feeding on the deep plume of moisture that stretches across the Pacific to near Hawaii.

The National Weather Service says small creeks and streams have been rising rapidly through the morning, and there are reports of localized roadway flooding.

Much of the state is blanketed in wind warnings and advisories, and a winter storm warning is in effect across the Sierra Nevada.

In the Fresno County city of Sanger, police posted on social media photos of wind damage to the roof of school along with snapped trees.

Flights into San Francisco International may be delayed several hours.

News from © The Associated Press, 2019