California Braces for Massive Floods as Snow Melts and Rivers Rise.

California's record snowmelt due to one of the state's coldest, wettest winters on record could lead to significant flooding in the coming days, with the Tulare Lake basin and the San Joaquin River basin remaining the areas of top concern. Residents in the potential path of runoff should be prepared to take action, said Jeremy Arrich, manager of the division of flood management with the state Department of Water Resources. The state's water managers have been making strategic releases from reservoirs to make room for incoming flows, but such releases can put more pressure on rivers and tributaries downstream, creating more potential hazards for residents who have already suffered flooding and evacuations this year.