Powerful storm slams into California

Victor Lopez of Ontario, Calif., called for help yesterday after his car stalled out while crossing a flooded intersection. (Walter Weiss/ Associated Press)

LOS ANGELES - A powerful storm plowed through California yesterday, producing heavy rain that caused a school roof to collapse and forced hundreds to flee their homes in an area devastated by recent wildfires.

Power failures caused by the weather blacked out about 20,000 homes and businesses around the state. Two traffic deaths were linked to the storm.

At higher elevations, heavy snow in a mountain pass east of Los Angeles closed the main route connecting Las Vegas to Southern California. North of the city, the main route to San Francisco was snarled by snow that forced the state Highway Patrol to shepherd motorists over another pass in caravans.

The rain apparently collapsed the roof of a classroom at the North Orange County Regional Occupational Program building in Anaheim.

In Yorba Linda, where 100 homes were lost to a wildfire last month, hundreds of homes were ordered evacuated yesterday morning because of the threat of mudslides.

ASSOCIATED PRESS