Los Angeles County, Orange County and western Inland Empire area residents were urged to stay off freeways and other roads through Monday morning, as a potentially life-threatening, slow-moving multiple-day storm continues to drop rain and snow on the region.
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Flooding could be “catastrophic” during heavy rainfall in Orange County and inland cities including Corona, Rancho Cucamonga and San Bernardino, National Weather Service forecaster Adam Roser warned Sunday.
Gov. Gavin Newsom on Sunday proclaimed a state of emergency for eight local counties, including Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino.
“California: this is a serious storm with dangerous and potentially life-threatening impacts,” Newsom said. “Please pay attention to any emergency orders or alerts from local officials.”
Emergencies were also declared by Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties.
“Very heavy” rainfall was expected through 6 a.m. Monday in the Los Angeles area, with a 20% chance of thunderstorms. Heavy rainfall, around 4-8 inches is anticipated there until midnight on Tuesday, before turning into more moderate rain the rest of the day.
Mountain and foothill areas could see up to 8-14 inches – and possibly 15 inches of rain throughout that window.
“That’s a lot of water, people,” NWS meteorologist Ryan Kittell said in a briefing on Sunday. “We’re just expecting a lot of freeway flooding and road flooding, road closures. There will be a lot of flooding of parked cars … just a real mess.”
Here are the latest details on the upcoming storm. This is a DANGEROUS SYSTEM with major risks to life and property. Substantial flooding. Residents should heed any evacuation orders. Stay off the roads, especially the freeways, this afternoon through at least Monday morning. pic.twitter.com/z7uVIvKMAN
— NWS Los Angeles (@NWSLosAngeles) February 4, 2024
Those who can work remotely should do that, or at least stay off freeways Monday morning, he said.
The region was under a flood watch through Tuesday afternoon and at least one flash flood warning: For the Malibu/Topanga area stretching east to Santa Monica and West Hollywood.
Flash Flood Warning including Santa Monica CA, West Hollywood CA and Beverly Hills CA until 9:00 AM PST pic.twitter.com/c17sBIanMb
— NWS Los Angeles (@NWSLosAngeles) February 5, 2024
Through 6 p.m. Sunday, Downtown Los Angeles had received 1.18 inches from the early hours of the storm system, the NWS said. In Orange County, Brea had received 1.42 inches by 8:30 p.m.
Yesterday, Feb 4th, DT L.A. had 4.10″ of rain. Exceeded daily record of 2.55″ set in 1927. Since 1877, 3rd wettest day ever for Feb (hiest 4.80″ on 2/24/1913). Ties for 10th wettest day ever with 3/15/2003. (Wettest day ever 5.88″ on 3/2/1938.) #LARain #LAWeather #SoCal #cawx
— NWS Los Angeles (@NWSLosAngeles) February 5, 2024
In Long Beach, 19 people were temporarily stranded off the coast Sunday afternoon when a boat shipwrecked into the breakwater. One minor injury was reported from the accident, which officials said happened after the mast on the vessel broke off amid gale force winds and rough waves.
Heavy rain and flooding Sunday also led to some motorists getting stranded in Tarzana, where a Los Angeles Fire Department swift water rescue team deployed a raft to rescue victims in their cars in the 19000 block of Oxnard Street, at Donna Avenue, news agency Onscene.TV reported.
The cars were stuck in two to three feet of water at the intersection. A 911 call came in at 6:22 p.m. Sunday, Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman Nicholas Prange said.
The stranded vehicle’s occupants remained inside because of the unpredictable currents at the intersection, Prange said. No injuries were reported.
Onscene also reported that in La Habra, a wall collapsed into a parking area, damaging at least three vehicles at 990 W. Las Lomas Drive.
Later Sunday, rock and mudslides were reported in the canyon roads leading to and from Malibu, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said.
“Currently, Malibu Canyon Road is closed between Malibu Crest and Mulholland Highway. Traveling on other routes (Kanan Dume Road, Topanga Canyon, etc.) is not advisable,” LASD said on social media.
In Studio City, nine homes were evacuated Sunday night due to a debris flow that damaged at least two of those homes and threatened others.
Firefighters were called at 9:08 p.m. Sunday to 11960 W. Lockridge Road, off Fryman Road and bordering on Fryman Canyon Park, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department’s Nicholas Prange.
Firefighters assisted 16 residents with evacuations, Prange said. Some were precautionary, “in case further soil instability causes another flow nearby,” Prange said.
LAFD heavy equipment was on the scene to help deal with soil and debris, he said.
No injuries were reported, Prange said. The American Red Cross was available to help the displaced residents.
In Huntington Beach, a stretch of Pacific Coast Highway was closed in both directions by flooding.
#FLOODING: Northbound & Southbound PCH from Warner Avenue to Seapoint Street is closed due to flooding caused by heavy rains. Please use caution while driving and obey all detour signs. For real time updates, please check: https://t.co/0mHKv5L74s #CHP #BeSafe #StayAlert #MoveOver pic.twitter.com/4OiPIjR1On
— Caltrans District 12 (@CaltransOC) February 5, 2024
Residents in the La Tuna Canyon Road area north of Hollywood Burbank Airport were ordered to evacuate Sunday because of the high risk of debris flow triggered by the heavy rain.
Quick timing update for everyone:
Key points:
Focus of heavy rain on Orange County, Inland Empire, and San Bernardino County Mtns Today-Mon
Moderate to heavy rain not reaching San Diego County until Mon evening
Snow levels not falling until Mon evening#CAwx pic.twitter.com/woKMozC2p3
— NWS San Diego (@NWSSanDiego) February 4, 2024
In Riverside County, officials on Sunday advised anyone within the Santa Ana river bottom or the San Jacinto riverbed or channels to leave immediately to higher ground as heavy rains may result in dangerous water flows in that area.
Orange County and Inland Empire areas will also see steady and significant rain move through Monday night, National Weather Service meteorologist Brian Adams said on Sunday.
Flooding also is expected in various parts of the Inland Empire, as the storm will deliver prolonged periods of rain and mountain snow, with gusty south winds in the deserts.
San Bernardino and Riverside County mountain areas should expect heavy rain until 6 p.m. Monday. Mountain areas along the 15 Freeway and through the Cajon Pass could see up to a foot of rain, Roser said.
A wind advisory has been issued for coastal areas of Orange County until 10 a.m. Monday, with 15 to 25 mph winds and gusts of up to 45 mph. Residents should expect heavy rain and a moderate to high risk of potential flooding through Tuesday evening, with rainfall totals between 4 to 6 inches in Orange County, Adams said.
In the Inland Empire, rainfall will vary from 2 inches to upwards of 6 inches in areas including Chino and Ontario. The mountains also are expected to receive substantial rain, between 4 to 8 inches, as well as 6-12 inches in foothill areas near Mt. Baldy.
There also is a remote chance of a waterspout or tornado along the coast, Kittell said.
California has mobilized 8,500 emergency responders to help local agencies around the state with potential flooding, mud and landslides, transportation problems and 911 calls, Newsom said.
Cal Poly Pomona, Cal State Fullerton, Cal State San Bernardino, Cal State Dominguez Hills, Cal State Los Angeles, Cal State Northridge and Cal State Long Beach all planned to be closed Monday.
Long Beach City College has closed both its Liberal Arts Campus at 4901 East Carson St. and its Pacific Coast Campus at 1305 E. Pacific Coast Highway on Monday. Students should check to see if their classes will be online, and employees will work remotely.
Los Angeles Unified School District Superintendent Alberto Carvalho said the district planned to keep schools open Monday, with the exception of Vinedale Elementary School in Sun Valley. Carvalho added that district officials would continue to monitor the storm, and plans could change later.
Elsewhere, strong winds and heavy rain brought treacherous conditions to the coastal city of Ventura, west of Los Angeles, said Alexis Herrera, who was trying to bail out his sedan, which was filled with floodwater. “All the freeways are flooded around here,” Herrera said in Spanish. “I don’t know how I’m going to move my car.”
On Sunday, customers called the Santa Barbara Home Improvement Center inquiring about sandbags, flashlights and generators, said assistant manager Lupita Vital. Sandbags sold out on Saturday, so people were buying bags of potting soil and fertilizer instead, she said.
“People are trying to get anything they can get that’s heavy to use it as, you know, protection for their doors and everything,” Vital said Sunday.
Nearly 846,000 customers were without electricity statewide by Sunday evening, with most of the outages concentrated in coastal regions, according to poweroutage.us.
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Evacuation orders and centers include:
In Los Angeles County, evacuation orders were issued for the Owen Fire area, on Santa Maria Road from Topanga Canyon, and the Agua Fire area along Soledad Canyon Road east of Agua Dulce Canyon Road, in effect from 6 p.m. Saturday through 6 p.m. Tuesday.
A shelter was established at OneGeneration Senior Enrichment Center, 18255 Victory Blvd. in Reseda.
Evacuation centers for people and household pets opened at Sunland Senior Citizen Center at 8640 Fenwick St. and Lake View Terrace Recreation Center at 11075 Foothill Blvd.
Large animals can be evacuated to Hansen Dam Horse Park at 11127 Orcas Ave. in Lake View Terrace, the LA Equestrian Center at 480 Riverside Drive in Burbank, and at Agoura Animal Care Center, 29525 Agoura Road in Agoura Hills.
There were assorted evacuation warnings in the region, including in San Bernardino, Los Angeles and Orange counties.
Staff writer Hunter Lee and The Associated Press contributed to this report.