It never rains in California? It pours, man, it pours

Flash flood alerts were issued in Santa Barbara, Ventura and Los Angeles counties, and hundreds of residents were evacuated in areas denuded by a wildfire last year. A bicyclist rides along a flooded street. (Photo | AFP)

Winds gusting to 60 mph or more lashed the area. Several stretches of freeways and highways were closed by flooding. A man boards a bus on a flooded street as the powerful storm continued to lash the area. (Photo | AFP)

Several roads in the area were covered with up to 2 feet of mud. A man wears plastic bags while looking at a flooded street in Southern California. (Photo | AFP)

After years of severe drought, heavy winter rains have lashed the state, known more for its long droughts. Streets were flooded as torrential rains lashed on Friday. (Photo | AFP)

Several cars were trapped in swift-moving water on roadways, with the Fire Department sought for people to be rescued. A firefighter checks on stalled cars in a flooded street. (Photo | AFP)

An apartment building stands damaged after a 75-feet-tall tree crashed onto it as the strongest storm in six years slammed Los Angeles, California. (Photo | AFP)

An officer in a police vehicle mans a roadblock after a mandatory evacuation order was put in place for residents. (Photo | AFP)

The busy I5 freeway is shut down in both directions because of flooding. (Photo | AFP)

Schoolchildren race back to their bus after getting caught in heavy rain during a school excursion. The National Weather Service said the storm could end up being the strongest to hit Southern California since January 1995. (Photo | AFP)