California crews attempt to blast boulders on the freeway before the bomb cyclone hits

California Department of Transportation officials worked quickly Monday to blast large boulders that disrupted traffic for hours ahead of another winter storm.

In a video posted online, demolitions experts could be seen dismantling the tractor-sized boulders to dust and ash in just seconds while California Department of Transportation officials kept Highway 50 clear of cars for about an hour.

The boulders reduced the freeway to just one lane in each direction on New Year’s Eve in a massive winter storm that ravaged Northern California with widespread flooding and heavy snowfall.

Fortunately, no vehicles were damaged on the road — one of three freeways that connect the area to Lake Tahoe, a popular ski resort for area residents.

But it could now be closed again as the area is hit by a second life-threatening storm, which has already prompted evacuation orders and Gov. Gavin Newsom to declare a state of emergency.

On Highway 50, which led to Lake Tahoe, tractor-sized boulders left only one lane open.

California Department of Transportation crews worked quickly to demolish the boulders ahead of another life-threatening storm Wednesday night

Several large boulders fell on Highway 50 east of Kyburz in a New Year’s Eve storm

A so-called bomb cyclone — a rapidly strengthening storm — hit California Wednesday night and is expected to bring “widespread flooding, impassable roads, mudslides/landslides.” [and] rapid rises in rivers/streams,’ according to the National Weather Service.

The NWS is now urging residents to have holdalls ready and insurance paperwork ready ahead of the storm – which is expected to worsen overnight into Thursday.

Almost all of northern and central California is under flood surveillance and strong wind warnings with expected gusts of up to 60 miles per hour, the Washington Post reports.

As of Wednesday’s evening commute, low-lying areas in the north could see two to four inches of rain, while higher elevations could see up to two to four feet of heavy snow.

Southern California will also experience heavy rain, high winds and dangerous surf with the potential for flooding north of Los Angeles.

Gov. Newsom has already declared a state of emergency across the country and urged all residents to keep up to date with severe weather warnings.

The bomb cyclone is heading towards California Wednesday night

The storm is expected to hit against the evening commute times and worsen overnight

Almost all of Northern and Central California is subject to flood watch and high wind warnings

Evacuations were also ordered in low-lying areas in the north.

In the Bay Area hub of San Jose, for example, a mandatory evacuation order was issued late Tuesday night for homeless people living near creeks.

About 50 miles south, Accuweather reports, the city of Watsonville issued a mandatory evacuation order for high-flood-risk residential neighborhoods on Tuesday.

And an evacuation order was issued in the southern coastal areas of San Mateo County, particularly in the burn scar area for the CZU fire that torched the area in August 2020.

The area was devastated by another winter storm last week, leaving Northern California cities several feet under water.

California residents are seen filling sandbags in preparation for Wednesday night’s storm

Ifeyinwa Nzerem is pictured loading sandbags into her car after picking them up from an emergency distribution point on Tuesday

Owner Matthew Coric climbs over a metal flood gate his family members installed outside Pink Onion, a pizza joint in San Francisco’s Mission District, on Tuesday to avoid flooding from the storm

Ifeyinwa Nzerem dumped sandbags near her home in San Francisco on Tuesday

Rescuers spent the weekend rescuing several flood victims using boats and helicopters, and responding to calls from downed trees and vehicles stuck in the floodwaters.

The massive storm cut power to thousands of residents, flooding and even breaching a dam near the town of Wilton.

Photos and video posted online showed cars submerged past their door handles while lower floors of homes in the Sacramento County areas were flooded.

Farther east, near the Nevada border, I-80 was briefly closed due to heavy snowfall, which resulted in slips, collisions and poor driving conditions as dozens of area drivers were rescued.

Sierra locations above 5,000 feet received about 20 to 45 inches of snow Saturday through Sunday morning, according to CNN.

The Sierra Snow Lab also recorded 24-hour snow totals of 29.9 inches, Bear Valley Ski Resort recorded 21 inches, Boreal Ski Resort received 40 inches, while the Sierra at Tahoe Ski Resort saw 42 inches and Soda Springs saw 40 inches.

Reno, Nevada also recorded six to 12 inches of snow on Saturday, with the local airport setting a new daily rainfall record.