Downed Trees, Mudslides, Closed Roads and the Worst Storm Is Yet to Come

LOS ANGELES, CA -- The second winter rainstorm in a series of three struck the Southland Friday, bringing heavy rain and high winds that saw trees toppled and power lines downed, streets flooded and closed.

Mud flowed from a Duarte hillside into a residential neighborhood, forcing its way around and through K-rails into the front yards of several homes.

Five people were rescued from a homeless encampment in the Sepulveda Basin. One was reached by swift water rescue crew in a boat.

Fallen trees and downed power lines were reported throughout the region, with the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power saying that about 10,000 of its customers had lost electrical service in various areas, including Van Nuys, where a tree took out wires and knocked out service to about 1,000 customers, including at Van Nuys Airport.

Stretches of Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu and Pacific Palisades were closed by flooding and downed power lines and mud flowed onto the California Incline, closing that link between PCH and Santa Monica.

Flash flood warnings were issued for the Sand, Sage and Calgrove burn areas in northern Los Angeles County while residents of the waterfront Long Beach Peninsula were warned of storm surge danger amid high surf.

In Orange County, a flash flood watch was in force through the evening with warnings that thunderstorms could strike Newport Beach, Laguna Beach, San Clemente, Yorba Linda and Mission Viejo, according to the National Weather Service.

Snow was piling up in some local mountain areas, with levels expected to fall to between 4,000 and 5,000 feet through Saturday morning, prompting officials at the sheriff's Palmdale Station to warn people of avalanche danger in the Wrightwood area.

Friday's storm was expected to be the coldest but not the wettest of the three.

A more powerful system was expected to hit the area on Sunday.

City News Service; Photo by Jennifer Cook