The west coast is being pummelled by back-to-back storms in the Pacific, thanks to an El Niño weather system that is tied with the strongest ever on record, NBC News reports.

California received a beating on Tuesday, with 1.42 inches of rain recorded at Los Angeles International Airport that broke a daily record set in 1979. Two more storms are forecast for Wednesday and Thursday, bringing as much as three inches of rain as well as a possible flash-flood watch for California by The National Weather Service.

NBC Los Angeles reported a voluntary evacuation order in the Silverado Canyon area of Orange County due to mudslide fears, while southbound lanes of Route 101 in Ventura County were closed due to debris.

Air Canada has issued a low ceiling alert on flights to Los Angeles (LAX) and San Francisco (SFO). The airline is monitoring the situation closely and recommends travellers check their flight status prior to leaving for the airport.