A significant winter storm is set to impact Southern California, with expectations of heavy rain and strong winds beginning Monday evening. Forecasters anticipate the storm to reach Ventura and Los Angeles counties shortly after midnight, affecting areas already under evacuation warnings due to prior burn scars.
As the storm system swept through Northern California on Monday afternoon, it prompted numerous flight delays at San Francisco Airport and led to flood advisories in several urban areas including San Francisco, Oakland, and Napa. Webcams from popular ski resorts like Mammoth Mountain and Bear Valley captured the emergence of the storm, with snow rapidly accumulating on the slopes.
The National Weather Service reported a heightened risk for damaging debris flows in Los Angeles-area burn scars, urging residents to adhere to local law enforcement advice. The storm is expected to bring four to six hours of rainfall, powerful wind gusts, and the potential for thunderstorms and tornadoes. The heaviest impacts are projected to hit San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties before reaching Los Angeles County between midnight and 2 a.m.
During the day, isolated showers started in the Bay Area with accumulations between half an inch to an inch by early afternoon. Meteorologist David Gomberg mentioned that strong thunderstorms could generate wind gusts up to 60 miles per hour, presenting risks of toppled trees and downed power lines, with isolated waterspouts and tornadoes also possible.
Evacuation warnings have been issued in regions affected by recent wildfires, including areas near the Palisades, Eaton, and Hurst fires. Residents are advised to stay alert and to heed official updates. L.A. Mayor Karen Bass emphasized the importance of signing up for emergency alerts and noted the city’s preparations to address potential flooding and mudslides, having fortified vulnerable areas in anticipation of debris flows.
Rainfall rates could peak at 0.25 to 0.5 inches per hour, leading to total precipitation of 0.75 to 1.5 inches in coastal and valley areas and 1.5 to 3 inches in mountainous regions. A flood watch is set to go into effect at 8 p.m. Monday for areas near recent burn scars in Southern and Central California, remaining in place through Tuesday afternoon, while urban flooding could occur in areas with poor drainage.
In addition to Southern California’s warnings, the National Weather Service has also issued a flood watch for mountainous areas in San Bernardino County, Santa Ana Mountains, and inland Orange County. Wind advisories are in effect throughout the high desert, anticipating gusts of up to 45 mph.
As the storm shifts further north, the heaviest rain is expected along the Central Coast and in the Central Sierra late Monday, with snow levels dropping to around 6,000 feet. Accumulations may reach 4 to 8 inches in certain elevations with totals exceeding 1 to 2 feet at higher altitudes.
By Tuesday afternoon, while showers may persist, the most severe impacts are anticipated to have subsided. Following the storm, cooler weather will grip the state into Thursday, with overnight lows in the Owens Valley expected to dip into the 20s, marking the first freeze of the fall season.
Residents are encouraged to remain cautious as this evolving weather system unfolds, keeping an eye on official alerts and updates.