A storm drenched Southern California on Saturday as a car was found floating in a flood channel in Fullerton, power went out in Los Angeles, roads were closed in the Inland Empire and snow created dangerous driving conditions in the mountains.
And there’s more rain, possibly intense, on the way for Easter Sunday, forecasters say.
In Fullerton, the car wound up submerged after a possible spinout on the 57 Freeway.
CHP officers responded to the area of the 57 Freeway and Chapman Avenue, where a dark-colored sedan was found just past 10 a.m., without a driver and “90% underwater,” a California Highway Patrol log entry states. Authorities would have to wait to try to take it out of the channel until the rain slowed.
Video from OC Hawk, a freelance service that often works with the Southern California News Group, shows the car wedged perpendicular in the channel with water running through it. The video shows damage to a portion of a chain link fence just off the right shoulder of the northbound 57 Freeway near Yorba Linda Boulevard.
Heavy rain fell across Southern California Saturday morning. In the afternoon, the National Weather Service said thunderstorms are expected to expand through Saturday night over southwestern Los Angeles County, including coastal areas.
“Some may become severe with damaging winds and/or hail,” the NWS said.
Forecasters said some locations that would experience flooding include Long Beach, Acton, Pasadena, Alhambra, Whittier, West Covina, downtown Los Angeles, Glendora, Burbank, Universal City, Hollywood, San Dimas, Inglewood, Pomona and Culver City.
The Los Angeles County Public Works Department warned residents about the potential for debris and mudflow in parts of the north county.
Just before noon, the City of Los Angeles temporarily closed the Sepulveda Basin due to weather conditions.
Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger advised residents to take appropriate precautions in light of threatened mudflows.
“Our County will experience another storm system this weekend that brings an increased threat of flash flooding, along with debris and mudflows,” she said in a statement early Saturday. “I am asking residents who were recently impacted by wildfires — such as the Agua and Fish Fires — to remain extremely vigilant and aware of your surroundings. Burn areas and hillsides in particular are vulnerable to debris and mudflows.”
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said late Saturday morning that the storm had caused power outages in some neighborhoods, and Los Angeles Department of Water and Power crews were working to restore power quickly.
In the Inland Empire, Riverside County was under a flood advisory Saturday morning, affecting Riverside, Moreno Valley, Corona, Temecula, Rialto, Chino and other areas. A broader flood watch was in effect until 6 p.m. Sunday, forecasters said.
Steady rain fell across the Inland Empire Saturday morning, with intermittent rain and isolated thunderstorms expected to continue Saturday night and more rain on Easter Sunday.
“The heaviest and most widespread precipitation will occur Saturday morning, with rain becoming more scattered in nature afternoon and lasting through Sunday night,” the NWS said.
The NWS said radar detected widespread moderate rain at a rate of a quarter inch per hour at 1 p.m. Saturday that would result in minor flooding in low-lying and poor drainage areas.
Heavy mountain snow was also creating dangerous travel conditions, with visibility to near zero for drivers, according to the NWS.
Numerous roads were closed in Menifee, including Cherry Hills Boulevard from Northwood Drive to Grosse Point Drive; Sun City Boulevard from Ridgemoor Road to E. Worcester Road; and Ridgemoor Road between Bellwood Drive and Waverly Drive.
Caltrans said Interstate 5 was open through the Grapevine, but drivers should expect high winds, rain, possible snow and CHP escorts.
Forecasters said one to two feet of snow could fall at elevations above 6,000 feet, “with even higher amounts at the highest peaks.” In the Inland Empire, snow levels were expected to fall to 4,500-5,000 feet across the mountains, with several feet of snow possible above 6,000 feet, potentially making travel in the mountains difficult when coupled with strong winds.
“Snow levels should remain above the Grapevine but there is a 10% chance of a snow burst under a thunderstorm,” according to the NWS. “Wind gusts from 60 to 65 mph will pummel the mountains as well but they will diminish Saturday afternoon.”
A winter storm warning will be in effect through 11 p.m. Sunday for the San Gabriel Mountains and the Golden State (5) and Antelope Valley (14) freeway corridors, with forecasters warning that “travel could be very difficult to impossible.”
Cooler temperatures were also in the forecast for Easter weekend, with most areas stuck in the 50s.
Temperatures were expected to warm slightly by Monday, the NWS said, as much as 10 degrees in some areas, but maximum temperatures will still be 4 to 8 degrees below normal.
Staff writer Nathaniel Percy contributed to this report.
Source: Orange County Register
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