The heaviest parts of the storm, which hit the Los Angeles area and other parts of the South, had subsided somewhat by Christmas morning, but locally heavy rain is expected to continue throughout the day, and areas of recent fires such as the Palisades and Eaton fires remain at risk of landslides.
Due to the forecast and heavy rain, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass announced .
The chance of precipitation across Los Angeles County is 50% during the day Thursday and 80% overnight, according to the National Weather Service.
The rain has caused an estimated 10,000 gallons of sewage to spill, creating dangerous conditions three-quarters of a mile upstream and downstream from San Pedro’s Cabrillo Beach, where visitors are advised to avoid contact with water or wet sand, county officials said. The county public health department is conducting water sampling and the closure will remain in place until bacteria levels reach healthy standards.
Meteorologists expect new rainfall amounts for Los Angeles County to be between a tenth of an inch and a quarter of an inch during the day, but localized thunderstorm activity could bring more rain to some areas.
Rainfall is expected to increase overnight, with amounts ranging from 0.5 inch to 3/4 inch.
The National Weather Service also issued a flash flood warning for southwestern Los Angeles County on Thursday.
“At 8:53 a.m., Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing heavy rain across the warning area.” “Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin soon.” The alert warned of “flash flooding in small streams and streams, urban areas, highways, roads, underpasses, and other poorly drained or low-lying areas.”
Areas expected to flood include “Eastern Malibu, Topanga State Park, Pacific Palisades, Topanga Canyon Road through the Santa Monica Mountains, Malibu Canyon through the Santa Monica Mountains and Mandeville Canyon, and Los Vergenes Road.”
On Thursday morning, there was radar-tracked storm activity along a line extending from 9 miles south of La Conchita to near Mugu Point. The National Weather Service said wind gusts reached 80 mph and that “while unlikely to occur soon, Doppler radar indicates weak rotation associated with this activity, and a short-lived weak tornado cannot be ruled out.”
The storm spread across the region into Wednesday, dumping 4 to 8 inches of rain in some areas and 10 inches in hilly and mountainous areas.
As of Wednesday evening, the Los Angeles Fire Department had sent teams to three river rescue incidents. Additional information was not immediately available.
Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Police Department responded to more than 100 traffic accidents. No traffic-related injuries or deaths were reported. The city’s Department of Transportation was working to restore five traffic lights, and city crews were responding to “nearly 500 tree emergencies.”
A winter storm warning is in effect for the entire state through Friday for the Sierra Nevada, which is more than 7,000 feet above sea level, from Yosemite to the area around Lake Isabella, with 12 inches of snow per day expected. Snow could accumulate in areas as high as 5,000 feet above sea level by the end of the week.
The cities of Tehachapi, Frazier Park, Lebec and Grapevine were experiencing southerly winds of 15 to 25 mph, up to 45 mph, through Friday at 4 p.m., with conditions likely to impact drivers heading north or south on the main route through the mountainous Grapevine Pass.
“Damaging winds will blow down trees and power lines,” the National Weather Service said. “We expect widespread power outages. Movement will be particularly difficult for large vehicles.”
The NWS warned that people living in the most affected areas should “stay in the lower floors of your home and avoid windows during the storm. Be aware of falling debris and tree branches. Use caution if you must drive.”
Mayor Bass: “We are making every resource and tool available to facilitate the City’s continued response efforts…We ask all Angelenos to stay safe and use extreme caution on the roads if you must travel. Please do not take this storm lightly. Please follow official guidance, plan ahead, and register for emergency alerts at:
Showers are expected to taper off by late Friday night, with drier, warmer weather returning into the middle of next week.
