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                       Major Storms Pummel US West Coast

   by VOA News

   After months of record-breaking drought the western U.S. is being hit
   by powerful storms featuring heavy rain, wind and even snow.

   California's San Francisco Bay Area and areas north of there dealt with
   heavy rain and floods on Thursday and in the early hours of Friday.

   In some areas, residents were warned they may have to evacuate their
   homes.

   To the north, in the state of Washington, rain and surf ate away at the
   coastline. One house was filmed sliding into the Pacific Ocean at
   Washaway Beach.

   The Bay area bore the brunt of the storm, flooding roads, downing trees
   and keeping thousands of people home from work and school.

   Heavy snow also hit Northern California's mountains.

   Ski resorts in the northern Sierra Nevada -- where schools and roads
   were closed by whiteout conditions and power outages -- were hoping for
   3 feet [one meter] of snow once it all settles.

   Powerful winds were hitting the state, with gusts in the Sierra Nevada
   mountains reaching 225 kmph.

   The rains are expected to continue throughout Friday across much of
   California.



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   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/major-storms-pummel-us-west-coast/255
   6784.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/major-storms-pummel-us-west-coast/2556784.html