The latest storm system sweeping through Southern California has caused significant disruptions, including flooding, tornado activity, and vehicles trapped in snow. Rainfall is anticipated to continue through Saturday, impacting numerous areas across the region.
In Orange County, a potential tornado or waterspout was reported moving ashore around 10:15 p.m. on Thursday near the eastern Dana Point Harbor. Witnesses described how the intense winds lifted a 12-foot segment of chain link fence with privacy fabric and hurled it 70 feet across the parking lot, as stated by the National Weather Service.
Westminster experienced astonishing rainfall, with over 1.84 inches falling in just one hour between 9:30 and 10:30 p.m. on Thursday. Nearby, a gauge in Garden Grove recorded 1.5 inches during the same period. These conditions led to numerous reports of flooding across the city, prompting local police to issue warnings.
In Huntington Beach, a three-mile stretch of the Pacific Coast Highway was closed due to flooding, particularly between Warner Avenue and Seapoint Street, which is located just southwest of the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve. Other streets, such as Artesia Boulevard in Redondo Beach, also faced significant water accumulation, complicating travel for residents.
Before dawn on Friday, Highway 330, a crucial road leading to the San Bernardino Mountains, was affected by both flooding and a rockslide. Meanwhile, in Irvine, the southbound Highway 133 offramp to Irvine Boulevard was completely flooded, trapping multiple vehicles. Here, rain was falling at an alarming rate of about half an inch per hour.
In Big Bear Lake, authorities reported that a dozen vehicles were trapped in snow along Highway 18 at Bear Valley Dam, highlighting the severe winter weather impacting the area.
As Friday morning progressed, intense rainfall persisted over parts of Los Angeles County, with a flood advisory in effect. Doppler radar indicated pockets of heavy rain, particularly in urban areas and regions with poor drainage, such as downtown Los Angeles, the South Bay, the Westside, Long Beach, and the San Gabriel Valley.
One area of concern is the border between Los Angeles and Orange County, where the storm could potentially rotate, leading to the development of a small tornado. The National Weather Service reported a 10% to 20% chance of rain rates reaching up to 1 inch per hour, which is sufficient to trigger landslides.
Later on Friday, a “semi-wet Santa Ana event” is anticipated across parts of Los Angeles and Ventura counties. Unlike typical Santa Ana winds that are dry and capable of spreading wildfires, this event will bring rain along with the winds, creating a unique weather situation.
Forecasts indicate a 60% to 70% chance of rain in Los Angeles County on Friday morning, with chances tapering to 30% to 50% in the afternoon and evening. In contrast, Ventura County faces a 30% to 50% likelihood of rain during both the morning and afternoon hours.
A winter storm warning remains in effect for the mountains of San Bernardino County and Riverside County until Friday afternoon, with heavy, wet snow predicted at elevations above 6,500 feet. Snow accumulations of 4 to 8 inches are expected between 6,000 and 7,000 feet, while areas above 7,500 feet could see up to 16 inches of snow.
Big Bear Lake, sitting at an elevation of 6,752 feet, is forecast to receive additional snow through Saturday, potentially adding 2 to 5 more inches. A winter weather advisory is also in place for the San Gabriel Mountains, predicting 3 to 6 inches of snow above 6,000 feet.
Once the storms finally move out, the rest of the weekend is expected to be dry but cool. Looking ahead to the following week, including Thanksgiving, temperatures are projected to rise to seasonal norms with no rain expected through Black Friday. However, meteorologists caution that another storm system could arrive between November 29 and December 2.