At least three people have died as the powerful storm sweeps through California, causing downed trees, flooding, landslides and power outages.

The fire department says it has responded to more than 130 calls for help and made several rescues since the storm began.

Forecasters say heavy and dangerous rain will continue on Tuesday with the state’s governor declaring a state of emergency in eight counties.

The storm is due to an “atmospheric river” effect, a phenomenon in which water evaporates into the air and is carried by the wind, forming large currents that flow in the sky like rivers on land.

This slow-moving storm is the second atmospheric river to hit California in two weeks.

Officials issued evacuation orders for some hilly neighborhoods in the state’s south, including Los Angeles, where authorities have declared a state of emergency.

The storm also caused power outages as nearly 700,000 households were left in the dark, according to the specialist website PowerOutage.us.

Dozens of flights to and from Los Angeles airport were canceled or delayed, according to flightaware.com.

According to the NWS, 13-20 cm of rain is expected to fall in Los Angeles, with the total amounting to 35 cm of rain over a 48-hour period in various areas.