Rain soaks Southern California as storms pummel the area

A car sits partially submerged on a flooded road during a rain storm Monday, Jan. 22, 2024, in San Diego. Heavy rainfall around the US on Monday prompted first responders in Texas to conduct water rescues and officials in California to issue evacuation warnings over potential mud slides in parts of Los Angeles County. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

LOS ANGELES – Rain again soaked the Southland overnight as the strongest in a series of storms pummeled the area, leading to flooding on some freeways that left many commuters stuck in a worse-than-usual Monday morning drive.

The latest burst of rain moved more quickly through the area than anticipated, but it still packed a punch, with reports of heavy downpours that flooded parts of some freeways around the area, including on the San Diego (405) Freeway in the Carson area and on the Harbor (110) Freeway in the San Pedro area.

The National Weather Service did not issue any flood warnings or advisories in Los Angeles County, but the county Office of Emergency Management issued an evacuation warning for residents in the Topanga Canyon area, affecting the area along Santa Maria Road north of Topanga Canyon Boulevard.

The warning took effect at 9 p.m. Sunday and will remain in force until 6 a.m. Tuesday.

The warning urged residents to prepare for possible evacuations. “Gather loved ones, pets and supplies,” the warning stated. “Monitor local weather, news and alertla.org for more information.”

A flood watch will be in effect most of the day Monday in Orange County coastal and inland areas, along with the Santa Ana Mountains and foothills.

By mid-morning Monday, NWS forecasters said the “primary rain band” had already passed through the area, but “we’re not quite done with the rain.”

“There are at least a couple more impulses to come through the area through this evening and the air mass will remain moist and slightly unstable so showers can develop just about anywhere at anytime with still a slight chance of a thunderstorm,” according to the NWS. “Rain rates will likely top out around a third of an inch per hour, though there is a 10-20% chance of an isolated storm generating rates around a half inch per hour.”

A wind advisory had been issued for parts of Los Angeles County, with particularly strong gusts initially anticipated in the mountains and Antelope Valley foothills. But the NWS canceled the advisory early Monday morning, with forecasters saying the winds were expected to remain below 35 mph in most areas.

The rain was affecting some Southland amusement parks. Six Flags Magic Mountain was closed Saturday and remained closed Sunday and Monday, with tickets purchased for those days honored through Dec. 29.

Knott’s Berry Farm announced the park closed early at 6 p.m. Saturday due to inclement weather. Unused tickets purchased will be valid until Feb. 25.

Due to the rainfall, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health advises beach users to avoid all water contact, especially near discharging storm drains, creeks and rivers due to potentially higher bacteria levels in these areas. This includes any runoff that may flow onto or pond on the beach sand.

The advisory will be in effect until at least 11 a.m. Tuesday.

The rain is expected to largely exit the region by Tuesday, when temperatures are also expected to begin warming. Additional warming was expected by next weekend. (CNS)

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