Los Angeles (CNN) -- Monsoon-like conditions overwhelmed southern California on Wednesday, creating flash floods that kept workers at home and businesses and streets knee deep in mud and water.
The National Weather Service issued a flash flood warning Wednesday afternoon for much of Los Angeles County and for several parts of San Bernardino and Riverside counties. The Mojave Desert also was included in that warning.
As many as 40 homes in the San Bernardino County community of Highland were damaged by mud and water after two small rivers in the foothill town overflowed, said Bill Peters, spokesman for the California Department of Forestry.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger declared a state of emergency in six counties Wednesday as the rainstorms continued for a fifth day and another powerful Pacific front moved in.
Schwarzenegger warned of a forecast that calls for "extraordinary and continuing rainfall" that is likely to cause more flooding and landslides. His declaration authorizes state assistance for local authorities in Kern, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Luis Obispo and Tulare counties, all in southern California.
"We're preparing for what we expect to be a very heavy, severe rainstorm," said Mike Kaspar with Los Angeles County Public Works. "... In the worst-case scenario, we could be looking at as much as 8 inches more of rain in the southern California area". CNN
