Studio City 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.

According to the Los Angeles County Fire Department, the increase in staffing will start at 8 p.m. and continue for 24 hours as the agency prepares for possible mudslides, flooding or other storm-related problems.

The department will have a search-and-rescue team on duty, along with crews manning three dump trucks and six bulldozers, a canine search team and eight additional engine crews.

Five swift-water rescue teams will be on duty, including one with lifeguards staged in Malibu. A helicopter rescue team will also be on standby, according to the department. Sandbags are also available to residents at stations throughout the county.

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

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

The county also plans to close a 4.6-mile stretch of Lake Hughes Road south of Elizabeth Lake Road at 12:30 a.m. Friday due to the possibility of flooding from the Powerhouse Fire burn area in the Angeles National Forest. The road will remain closed until the storm passes and the street can be inspected.

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 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.

Also expected is pounding surf along the coast, with the second of two westerly swells reaching the outer waters this afternoon and spreading. A high surf advisory will take effect tonight and remain in force through Saturday. NWS forecasters said

The Central Coast will be especially vulnerable since it will experience “large and dangerous surf” from this afternoon through Saturday, according to the NWS.

Forecasters said the high surf is likely to cause significant beach erosion and flood piers and jetties, low-lying areas and beachside parking lots. They said waves of between 7 and 10 feet are expected, with local sets of up to 13 feet along some west-facing beaches.

“Avoid standing on jetties, piers and rocks near the edge of the water,” warned an NWS statement. “Remember to never turn your back to the ocean during large surf events.

Forecasters warned swimmers who may get caught up in strong rip currents to swim parallel to shore until they can free themselves.

“Always swim near a lifeguard,” the high surf advisory statement said.

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said the city’s Emergency Operations Center will be activated at midnight. He also said crews have been working to clear storm drains throughout the city, particularly in the area near a massive fire that destroyed an under-construction apartment building downtown on Monday morning.

“The Fire Department has activated its swift-water rescue teams, additional flight crews and its Community Emergency Response Team members in anticipation of the storm,” he said. “The Fire Department is also providing sandbags to residents at fire stations citywide.”

• City News Service
• Photo Credit: Shutterstock