From The Washington Times – Dangerous flooding could occur as heavy rain falls on snowpack in central California’s coastal range and in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada. A powerful atmospheric river — a fire hose of deep tropical moisture from the Central Pacific Ocean — is bringing life-threatening flooding and avalanche risks to waterlogged and snow-laden California, forcing evacuations as a storm delivers more mountain snowfall and heavy rain. The National Weather Service declared a “flash flooding emergency” — its most dire flooding alert — Friday morning in Tulare County, southeast of Fresno in the southern Central Valley, as heavy rain fell and rapidly melted snowpack in the lower Sierra Nevada. Authorities urged residents to seek higher ground. (more)