Stretch Of PCH Remains Closed Amid Flooding, Heavy Rains In OC

HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA — A roughly three-mile stretch of Pacific Coast Highway remained closed Tuesday in north Orange County due to heavy rains caused by a powerful winter storm, officials said Tuesday.

The area of Seapoint Street to Warner Avenue was first closed at 7:15 p.m. on Sunday, officials with Caltrans District 12 said.

Christine Knadler, Caltrans public information officer for District 12 — which is Orange County — told The Orange County Register that the PCH closure is the only major roadway closed as of Tuesday morning.

Smaller closures, she told the newspaper, were reported elsewhere and stemmed mostly from drainage issues.

"We're working on those pretty quickly," she told The OC Register.

The flooding was largely caused by the heavy downpour of rain that battered the region starting Sunday night. Over the last three days, Huntington Beach alone has seen nearly four inches of rain.

And it's not over yet, experts say.

The rain is expected to stick around through Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service, with a slight chance of thunderstorms Tuesday night.

On Wednesday, residents may get a brief break from the rain with a 50 percent chance of showers predicted. Wednesday night, the heavy rain will return for a stint with 30 mile per hour wind gusts possible.

Thursday, residents can expect the chance of rainfall to drop to 20 percent, with high temperatures around 59 degrees.