Powerful Thunderstorm Creates Flood and Mudslide Risk In LA County

LOS ANGELES, CA — The Memorial Day Weekend summer kickoff may just be a week away, but parts of Los Angeles County are still being inundated with heavy downpours, flash flooding and large hail. Mudslides and rockslides are anticipated in the mountain areas, the National Weather Service warned Sunday.

The weather service issued a flash flood advisory in Los Angeles County where up to an inch of rain per hour is falling in San Gabriel Mountains. According to the National Weather Service, Doppler radar was detecting heaving downpours and lightning and thunder in the Los Angeles County mountain areas Sunday afternoon.

The advisory was in effect until 4:30 p.m. Sunday.

"Strong thunderstorms are developing, producing hourly rain rates of 1 inch. These rates will generate flooding of mountain roadways and low-lying areas," the National Weather Service's Los Angeles office tweeted.

Residents in the area were advised to move away from recently burned areas.

"The rain will likely trigger shallow mud and debris flows, minor rock falls, and flooding capable of localized damage, especially in steep terrain in and near burn scars," forecasters warned.

At 1 p.m., the NWS also reported nearly stationary thunderstorms southeast of Acton in Los Angeles County and over Lockwood Valley in Ventura County. The NWS said storms would likely contain heavy downpours with localized flash flooding, strong wind gusts, small hail and dangerous lightning that could trigger grass fires.

City News Service contributed to this report.