Flood Warnings Issued For Orange County

ORANGE COUNTY, CA — Several flash flood warnings were in effect Thursday afternoon until 4 p.m. in Orange County, where intense downpours flooded streets and creeks. The National Weather Service issued Flash Flood Warnings for Mission Viejo, Lake Forest, Trabuco Canyon, Alberhill Ranch in burn scar areas.

Traffic crashes on rain-soaked freeways clogged the 22, 405 and 55 freeways Thursday morning. Residents in the Trabuco Canyon area where under mandatory evacuation due to the immediate risk of flooding and mudslides. River or stream flows were at elevated conditions and ponding of water in urban or other areas has made driving treacherous.

Anywhere from half an inch to one and a half inches of rain had fallen over the northern half of Orange County by 11:30 a.m., and the downpour showed little sign of slowing. Some communities that will likely experience flooding included Anaheim, Santa Ana, Irvine, Huntington Beach, and Garden Grove, according to the National Weather Service.

Authorities warned drivers to take precautions and watch out for flooding especially in areas vulnerable to flash floods. Most flood deaths occur in vehicles, according to fire department officials. If you see water flowing, you should "turn around, don't drown."

Remain alert for flooding even in locations not receiving rain. Arroyos, streams, and rivers can become raging killer currents in a matter of minutes, even from distant rainfall.

Move away from recently burned areas. Life threatening flooding of creeks, roads and normally dry arroyos is likely. The heavy rains will likely trigger rockslides, mudslides and debris flows in steep terrain, especially in and around these areas.

Please report flooding to your local law enforcement agency when you can do so safely.

City News Service, Patch Editor Ashley Ludwig contributed to this report. Photo: City of Costa Mesa