Southern California weather: rain all over, heavy snow in mountains, flooding possible
LOS ANGELES — As heavy snow fell in the San Gabriel Mountains, a winter storm warning remained in effect Thursday, scheduled to expire at 5 a.m. Friday.
The National Weather Service forecast an accumulation of 12 to 24 inches of snow above 6,500 feet and 6 to 12 inches at 5,500 feet. It said a mixture of rain and snow is possible as low as 4,500 feet.
“Travel could be very difficult to impossible, especially on higher elevations roads including Highways 2 and 39. No snow impacts expected over the Grapevine on Interstate 5,” according to an NWS statement. “If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency.”
The weather service warned of possible road closures, icy roads, rocks and dirt on roadways and minor troubles on Interstate 5.
The NWS said that as the pressure system continues to move slowly across the region, there could be a renewed round of potentially heavy rainfall, especially through Friday morning. Isolated flash flooding will be possible as well as “significant urbanized flooding risk.”
NWS meteorologist Kristen Stewart said she expects showers throughout the day Thursday amid below-normal temperatures, with the storm departing in an easterly direction by Friday afternoon.
A flash flood watch will be in effect in Orange County through Friday afternoon.
Rain was forecast in LA County Thursday, slong with highs of 38 on Mount Wilson; 51 in Palmdale and Lancaster; 53 in Sylmar and Santa Clarita; 54 in Pacoima and Agoura Hills; 55 in Panorama City, Granada Hills, North Hills, Chatsworth, Canoga Park, Winnetka, Encino, Tarzana, Woodland Hills, Calabasas and Claremont; 56 in Van Nuys, Sherman Oaks, Studio City, Northridge, Burbank, Pomona and San Gabriel; 57 in North Hollywood, West Covina and Pasadena; 59 in Glendale, Whittier, Long Beach and Avalon; 60 in downtown LA, Hawthorne, San Pedro and at LAX; and 61 in Torrance. Showers are expected Friday, followed by several days of cloudy skies.
Showers were forecast in Orange County Thursday along with highs of 37 on Santiago Peak; 48 on Ortega Highway at 2,600 feet; 52 at Fremont Canyon; 53 at Trabuco Canyon; 54 in Yorba Linda; 56 in Anaheim; 57 in Mission Viejo, Laguna Niguel, Fullerton, Laguna Beach and San Clemente; and 58 in Irvine, Huntington Beach, Newport Beach, Garden Grove and Santa Ana. More showers are forecast Friday followed by several cloudy days.
