Hermosa Beach Braces for Intense Storm

With a major storm and torrential rain headed to the region, Los Angeles is activating its Emergency Operations Center and fire departments around the county are beefing up staff to handle swift water rescues and search and rescue.

Los Angeles County public works crews have been working to remove debris from catch basins. Crews were also on standby with bulldozers and dump trucks. Sandbags are available to residents at stations throughout the county.

In addition to the risk of flooding, the National Weather Service has issued a wind warining.

“Winds this strong may down trees and power lines and cause property damage,” according to the NWS. “Dangerous driving conditions are also expected.

National Weather Service forecasters said rain could fall at a rate of nearly one inch per hour at times during the storm, drastically raising the possibility of flooding and mudslides.

The NWS expects 1-2 inches of rain over the next 24 hours in Hermosa Beach and up to double that in the mountains and foothills. The brunt of the storm should last 3-6 hours, according to the NWS. Winds across the local mountains could gust up to about 70 mph before and after the low-pressure trough sweeps across the Southland.

A flash flood watch will be in effect from late tonight through Friday evening in the San Gabriel Mountains and the San Gabriel and Antelope valleys. Additionally, a high wind warning will be in effect starting tonight in parts of Los Angeles, Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties. In L.A. County, it will take effect at 7 p.m. in the San Gabriel Mountains and the Antelope Valley, and at 10 p.m. in the Santa Monica Mountains, expiring everywhere at 7 a.m. Friday. Those areas will be swept by south winds at 30-45 mph and gusting to 60 mph in the Santa Monica Mountains.

Snow levels, meanwhile, will initially be above the resort level, but dip to about 5,000 feet on Friday afternoon.

“There could be a brief mix of rain and snow at the summit of the Grapevine on Interstate 5. However, no accumulations are expected,” according to the Weather Service.

Snow accumulations in upper mountain elevations could reach up to 10 inches, forecasters said.

• City News Service
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