Hollywood Warned Of Flooding Risk As Storm Pounds The Southland

HOLLYWOOD, CA — A winter storm slammed the Southland Wednesday, and the National Weather Service is warning of the danger of flooding in Hollywood. County officials are also warning of possible power outages in the region.

A wide swath of Los Angeles County experienced minor flooding while portions of the Bobcat and Ranch2 burn areas faced the risk of mudslides. The rainy conditions are expected to last through Friday. In the meantime, local mountains can expect a foot or more of snow dropping to low elevations, according to the National Weather Service.

The Los Angeles County Office of Emergency Management asked residents to be ready for possible power outages and hazardous road conditions. Crashes on rain-soaked roadways kept the California Highway Patrol busy throughout the morning Wednesday.

Some locations at risk of flooding include Long Beach, Alhambra, Downtown Los Angeles, Whittier, Pasadena, Inglewood, Griffith Park, Hollywood, Culver City, Universal City, Mount Wilson, Torrance, West Covina, Burbank, Beverly Hills, Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, Redondo Beach and North Hollywood, Monrovia, Azusa, the NWS said.

Forecasters said there could be three to six hours of steady rain starting in the early hours Wednesday, followed by "off-and-on-again showers" into Thursday, along with "a few periods of more organized bands of showers Wednesday afternoon and evening."

A winter storm warning is in effect until 10 p.m. Thursday for the Los Angeles County mountains, excluding the Santa Monica range, with the National Weather Service anticipating snow accumulations of 6 to 12 inches above 4,500 feet, down to a dusting for elevations around 3,000 feet. The snowy conditions will be joined by southwest winds of 20 to 35 mph, with gusts up to 50 mph.

Forecasters warned that conditions will make driving hazardous in the county's northern reaches, with the Golden State (5) and Antelope Valley (14) freeways likely to be affected.

"A cold storm system will bring rain and low elevation snow to the region ... through Thursday evening, potentially causing significant mountain travel issues including Interstate 5," according to the NWS. "There will be a slight chance of thunderstorms, especially Wednesday through Thursday. It will be breezy to windy at times and very cool."

"Rainfall has finally arrived once again in L.A. County, and residents should practice rain safety tips during morning commutes and be prepared for power outages if they should occur, especially since many individuals are working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic," said Kevin McGowan, director of the County Office of Emergency Management.

City News Service and Patch Staffer Paige Austin contributed to this report.