Storm Hitting California May Be Worst in 5 Years

A storm described as perhaps the strongest to hit California in five years barreled in from the Pacific Ocean on Thursday and hammered the state with all manner of weather misery — hurricane-force winds, sheets of rain and heavy snow in the mountains.

More than 200,000 customers lost power in and around San Francisco, including more than 80,000 when a power station was flooded.

Trees were toppled, cars crashed, and scattered flooding was reported. In Santa Cruz, an 80-foot tree fell and pinned an elementary school student for 15 minutes until rescuers freed him with chain saws. He was in good condition at a hospital…

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