The new year is quickly passing by. Already over one week in is bringing about various changes and new turns of events, while setting the stage for what's to come.

In some communities, this is more positive than negative....or vice versa. Much of California, for instance, is seeing some very hard times as nasty weather (with more projected to come) takes its toll.

This makes it very critical for individuals within and around California to take the necessary precautions. Staying safe, knowing what to look out for, and how to prepare makes all the difference in the world right now.

A closer look at what California is up against

This past weekend, Northern California endured heavy winds, damaged powerlines, and the destruction of personal property, such as cars.

Flooding on roads, soil mudslides, and growing bodies of water are also anticipated to emerge, due to the current storms. This is so serious that the National Weather Service has put out alerts, warning residents of California and others in the state to be on guard.

According to the National Weather Service, storms to come can unleash significant amounts of snow and rain throughout Northern California. This means people should be staying off roads and doing their best to fortify their homes as a means of minimizing potential damages from the weather.

In Sacramento, California, there are reportedly tens of thousands of individuals without power, due to downed electricity lines. When this gets fixed remains to be seen. So long as heavy storms continue on as they have been, it will not be safe for anyone to get out there and begin repairing these lines.

Updates from California's governor

According to Gov. Gavin Newsom, this week could see more destructive weather that mirrors the past weekend. The Democratic governor also confirmed that at least one dozen individuals have lost their lives because of California's current climate.

Amid warning that the worst is not behind his state, Newsom yesterday announced his call for the federal government to confirm a national emergency. This will ultimately empower the Biden administration to aid California in its efforts against this storm.

According to weather projections, some of the nastiest parts of Northern California's storms could occur later today.