Flood Advisories, Winter Storm Settles In Across Southland

GLENDORA, CA — Flood advisories were extended across Los Angeles, Orange and San Bernardino Counties Thursday morning, as heavy rain poured across the southland. Heavy rain, snow, and strong winds from the strong winter storm settled in for the holiday week most of Thursday, forecasters said. Up to three feet of mountain snow could fall, according to the National Weather Service.

Drivers should expect flooded streets and delays as post-Christmas Day travelers hit the roadways to return home. Mountain snow levels could drop to 2,500 feet, and accumulations could be 1-2 feet at resorts and 6-12 inches around the I-5 Grapevine, with at least 1-2 inches on the road itself, forecasters said. A Flood Advisory for the area was extended to 7:15 a.m., as roads closed to drivers due to flooding and debris.

Scattered light rain and showers fell in the Los Angeles Basin by late Christmas afternoon. Still, the brunt of the storm hit after 9 p.m. and was showing signs of continuing through mid-morning or early afternoon Thursday, National Weather Service Meteorologist Kristin Stewart said.
The system pivoted on itself, according to Stewart.

That means the rainfall could remain in the area longer than originally forecast," Stewart said.

In Orange County, heavy rain began overnight, and pounded the region at drive time, for those hitting the roadways. Moderate to heavy rain caused small stream flooding, as over an inch of rain was expected to fall.

The California Highway Patrol shut down the Golden State (5) Freeway between Lake Hughes Road and Grapevine Road over the Grapevine pass at about 10:30 p.m. Wednesday due to multiple stuck vehicles and heavy snowfall.

Throughout the early morning, the California Highway Patrol issued SigAlerts shutting down lanes on the Long Beach (710) and the Antelope Valley (14) freeways to allow flooding to subside in lanes. Snow closed the Grapevine at about 10:30 p.m. Wednesday.

The NWS reported that the deluge resulted in record-breaking rain in Long Beach on Christmas Day, with 1.03 inches through midnight.

A winter storm warning remained in effect until 10 p.m. Thursday, she said.

The low snow level also means Highway 14 and the Antelope Valley could have snow accumulation, Stewart said. Even Lancaster and Palmdale could get snow.

There could be 1-2 inches of rain in most areas during the storm, she said. The San Gabriel Mountains and foothills could get up to 4 inches of rain.
A wind advisory remained in effect until 10 p.m. Thursday because of those strong east-southeast winds that hitched a ride with the storm. Winds of 15-25 mph are forecast in the L.A. Basin with gusts of 40-50 mph, and mountain gusts could hit 50-60 mph, which could make travel treacherous.

L.A.-area temperatures were expected to drop into the mid-upper 40s along the coast and in Valleys with low-mid 30s in the mountains and Antelope Valley, Stewart said. Highs in the mid-upper 50s were forecast for the coast and inland Thursday with upper 30s to mid-40's in the mountains.

Thursday evening's temperatures were expected to be in the upper 20s in the Antelope Valley, she said.

In the mountains, inclement weather caused CalTrans to close the Angeles Crest Highway, State Route 2, indefinitely a mile east of Newcomb's Ranch to Islip Saddle/Highway 39 Junction, due to the weather.

City News Service, Patch Editor Ashley Ludwig contributed to this report.