Another atmospheric river will thrash storm-ravaged California, threatening more flooding and hurricane-force wind gusts

Swaths of California still saturated by ruthless storms will get walloped by another atmospheric river, spawning fears of renewed flooding and forcing some residents to flee.

The state has already been hammered by at least 11 atmospheric rivers this season. An atmospheric river is like a fire hose that carries saturated air from the tropics to higher latitudes, dumping relentless rain or snow.

The last, which struck California last week, left soil overly saturated and vulnerable to new flooding and rapid runoffs, the National Weather Service said.

The next atmospheric river is expected to slam California from late Monday night through Wednesday.

"The system will bring heavy rain and a flood threat, heavy snow with dangerous travel and high winds gusting over hurricane force" in some places, CNN Meteorologist Dave Hennen said.

Peak wind gusts of 60 to 80 mph are forecast for the mountains and deserts of Southern California, where power outages will likely develop, Hennen said.