A powerful storm system battered the Sacramento region overnight into early Wednesday, flooding roads, knocking out traffic signals and triggering a surge of minor crashes from downtown Sacramento to the foothills as drivers faced standing water and slick freeways during the morning commute.
Forecasters warned the worst of the wind was still ahead later in the day on Christmas Eve.
The storm was the second of two atmospheric systems expected to rake Northern California through Christmas, bringing periods of heavy rain and powerful southerly winds. High wind warnings remain in effect across the Sacramento Valley and Sierra foothills through Thursday afternoon, with National Weather Service forecasters cautioning that saturated soils combined with strong gusts could topple trees, damage power lines and create dangerous travel conditions as additional rain moves through the Valley and snow begins piling up in the Sierra…