Tornadoes, Hail, And Powerful Thunderstorms Possible Across LA County

LOS ANGELES, CA — A cold storm from the Gulf of Alaska is moving over the region, bringing with it potential for dramatic weather conditions including powerful thunderstorms, hail, tornadoes, and water spouts the National Weather warned Wednesday.

The National Weather Service issued a "special weather statement" Wednesday across the Southland warning of the potential for powerful thunderstorms and strong showers.

The warning will last into the evening on Wednesday. The "most intense activity" was expected to occur across Los Angeles County coastal areas between 3 and 8 p.m., forecasters said.

The weather service warned of the possibly hazardous cells that could cause dangerous flooding in some locations. The storm is not expected to bring a lot of precipitation to the area, but isolating downpours could deluge some neighborhoods.

"Overall, most areas can expect rain totals less than one inch," the National Weather Service stated. "However, there is definitely a threat of strong thunderstorms today. The main threats today will be heavy rain, flooding, gusty winds and small hail. Also, there will be the threat of waterspouts or brief, weak, tornadoes."

"Individual showers and thunderstorms will track inland toward the foothills after moving ashore, and will likely maintain moderate to strong intensity 20 to 40 miles inland from the coast," according to the NWS. "The most intense activity will be capable of producing wind gusts to 55 mph, small hail, dangerous lightning, and heavy downpours. While highly uncertain, there is a small possibility for one or two tornadoes to occur with this activity, along with damaging straight-line winds."

A winter weather advisory will be in effect through 9 p.m. Thursday in the San Gabriel Mountains and the Golden State (5) and Antelope Valley (14) freeway corridors. According to the National Weather Service, as much as 8 inches of snow could fall at elevations over 6,500 feet, up to 5 inches as low as 5,500 feet and up to 2 inches at 4,500 feet.

The heaviest snowfall is expected Wednesday and Wednesday night, with lingering snow showers and gusty winds anticipated on Thursday, according to the NWS.

Forecasters had anticipated a total of about a quarter to three- quarters of an inch of rain, although if thunderstorms develop, some areas could see totals topping an inch. In fact, if heavy cells do develop, some areas might see rain falling at a rate of up to an inch per hour.

"Dry weather will return Thursday except for some lingering showers in the mountains," according to the NWS.

City News Service and Patch staffer contributed to this report.