Flash flooding and landslides led to the death of a two-year-old boy in California in the US last week, after heavy rainfall followed on the heels of Tropical Storm Mario further south. The storm skirted the Pacific coast of Mexico with minimal disruption, eventually dissipating to the west of Baja California on Tuesday, but the remnants went on to cause havoc on Thursday. Residual moist air from the tropical storm was drawn north-east towards California, bringing heavy downpours and thunder to central and southern counties. Though the front weakened somewhat as it moved towards North Island on Sunday, lower parts of the island were also battered by wind and rain. There was little let-up for western parts of South Island, which is being lashed by further heavy rain after a second front moved in during Sunday night.