Heavy rains continued pouring down in parts of California on Monday as Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger declared a state of emergency in seven storm-affected northern counties. (Xinhua/Reuters)

    LOS ANGELES, Jan. 2 (Xinhuanet) -- Heavy rains continued pouring down in parts of California on Monday as Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger declared a state of emergency in seven storm-affected northern counties after days of heavy rains in these areas.

    Schwarzenegger, who issued a statement Monday afternoon, said conditions in these areas, including Sacramento County where the state capital is located, is of extreme peril to the safety of local residents and their property as a result of a series of severe rainstorms since late last month.

    The series of storms brought unusually heavy rains that caused flooding and mudslides and damaged roads, according to the statement.

    A man was killed Saturday in Northern California when he was hit by a falling tree in the storm, while firefighters earlier spent about an hour to rescue a woman trapped in her home that was destroyed by a mudslide.

    Schwarzenegger, who is expected to tour a storm-affected area later in the day, said the state of emergency was announced because the magnitude of the disaster exceeded local capacities to cope with.

    He asked all agencies of the state government to utilize and employ state personnel, equipment and facilities for the performance of all necessary activities to alleviate the current emergency.

    Weather forecast said that the storms were calming down Monday in Northern California and moving towards the southern part of the state, where officials already issued mudslide and flood warnings to coastal and hillside residents.

    In Pasadena, some 20 kilometers west of Los Angeles, hundreds of thousands of spectators from across the United States lined a main street in heavy rain to watch the 117th Tournament of Rose Parade, an event participated by 48 floats, 23 equestrian units and 25 marching bands this year. Enditem