The National Weather Service issued a severe thunderstorm warning for parts of Los Angeles County on Thursday as an unusually strong storm system moved across the area, forecasters said.
The warning, which described a “strong thunderstorm” moving east at 10 miles per hour and bringing potential 55 mph wind gusts and pea-sized hail, was issued at 4:13 p.m. for areas of LA County, including San Dimas, Glendora, Pomona, La Verne, Azusa, Covina, and Claremont. The warning is set to expire at 5:16 p.m.
Those areas could see a storm with high winds, hail and brief heavy downpours.
The San Fernando Valley was experiencing heavy downpours along with thunder and lightning between 4 and 4:45 p.m.
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This kind of strong, short-lived storm is relatively uncommon for Los Angeles, said NWS forecaster Joe Sirar.
“It’s unusual, but when we have the right kind of weather pattern, we have all of the ingredients,” Sirar said. “The strength of this storms are pretty unusual, I will say that.”
The NWS issued a severe thunderstorm warning for areas of LA County including San Dimas, Glendora, Pomona, West Covina, La Verne, Claremont, Covina, Azusa, and Walnut. That warning was lifted for some areas about 4:19 p.m.
A flash flood warning was issued for west central Los Angeles County, and the NWS said areas that could experience flooding include Encino, Van Nuys, Beverly Hills, North Hollywood, Woodland Hills, Hollywood, Interstate 405 through the Sepulveda Pass, Bel Air, Brentwood, Sherman Oaks, Pacific Palisades, Century City, Studio City, West Hollywood, Canoga Park, Mandeville Canyon, Coldwater Canyon through the Hollywood Hills, Reseda, Topanga Canyon Road through the Santa Monica Mountains and Tarzana. That warning was set to be in effect until 7 p.m.
Another flash flood warning also was issued for parts of San Bernardino County, including Fontana, Ontario, Rialto, Chino, Rancho Cucamonga, Upland, Montclair, San Antonio Heights, Mira Loma, and Glen Avon. That warning was set to expire at 6:45 p.m.