CA: L.A.'s latest storm brings heavy flooding ( Storm #3 Wed #4 arrives tomorrow )

Los Angeles Times ^ | January 21, 2010 | Ann M. Simmons, Rong-Gong Lin II and Jeff Gottlieb

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Traffic is a nightmare, with portions of the 710 and 405 freeways inundated by several feet of water and the Grapevine and Cajon Pass closed by snow. Evacuations are ordered for more than 1,000 homes.

The third day of an intense series of winter storms brought widespread flooding, huge waves and more evacuations throughout Southern California, with another powerful front expected to hit this morning.

Wednesday's storm lacked the dramatic tornado conditions of Tuesday's, but it dropped significantly more rain.

Streets from San Pedro to Sunland flooded. And the afternoon commute turned into a nightmare when portions of the 405 and 710 freeways were inundated by several feet of water, stranding several cars. The Grapevine was closed for much of the day because of snow, and officials Wednesday night shut down Interstate 15 at the Cajon Pass. A rock slide closed California 1 at Mugu Rock in Ventura County.

There were reports of hail and scattered power outages. At least one waterspout off the coast of Hermosa Beach prompted city officials to call residents, telling them to stay indoors. And a dozen children were rescued in separate swift-water rescues in La Habra and Yorba Linda.

[tubebender]

Is that Algebra 1 or Algebra 2... Dude, me alegro de su hacer de la lluvia para que no robar nuestra agua!

[bert]

......What’s this with flooding?.....

The flooding and mudslides and obliterated houses are the solution to the woes of those who have empty dwellings for sale. The excess inventory problem is no more

[NormsRevenge]

1 to go, Kimosabe?

Ya see next weeks forecast yet? ;-)

[tubebender]

You haven’t heard the news? nObama is ordering the banks to turn all repos over to the Haitians and the 40,000 prisoners being ordered out of jail...

[BurbankKarl]

Probably to reimburse the sheriff and fire overtime costs...that is the only thing I can think of.

[lainie]

I don’t doubt you in the reasoning.. it’s just incredible to me. ‘we want to free up state funds (that aren’t there) to pay for stuff, so let’s declare a disaster next Tuesday that might or might not actually be needed’ cha-ching!

and no one is up in arms. It boggles my mind the way CA works.

[happydogx2]

When a friend of mine in El Centro and I communicate we do so in Spanish as that is the native language in Southern California. :) I am subtlety encouraging you to learn Spanish at same time telling you that “Dude, I pray that you get plenty of rain because I don’t want you to steal our water”.

BTW, I took French in H.S. and my college transcripts show I had a “B” in advanced German. That’s another story though.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Haven’t looked out very far....when I read the forecast last night I thought there was a strong storm yet to come...today... and then something much weaker late tomorrow... then all clear for the weekend...

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

More:

Storms Continue Their Attack on Southern California, Southwest

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1/21/2010 11:27 AM

The last and strongest in the train of Pacific storms will unleash a new round of flooding rain, mudslides, feet of mountain snow, damaging winds and severe thunderstorms on C

By Alex Sosnowski
AccuWeather.com

The last and strongest in the train of Pacific storms will unleash a new round of flooding rain, mudslides, feet of mountain snow, damaging winds and severe thunderstorms on California and the Southwest into Friday.

Is is an all out weather war being waged by the atmosphere on the Southwest. The storm rolling through now is the caboose in the storm siege, but may bring the greatest risks to lives and property thus far this week.

The risk flooding rain and severe thunderstorm threat will last into this evening in California. However, it will take until Friday evening before the storm winds down over Arizona.

Click on this image for the latest expected rain and snowfall from the storm.

Downpours can quickly flood urban areas such as city streets and underpasses. The persistent rain will continue to make rivers, streams and normally dry washes raging torrents.

If you drive through flooded areas, not only to you run the risk of damaging your vehicle, but you could be swept away by the waters.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Continuing:

Updated West Rain, Snow Maps

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The end to the storm onslaught for the Southwest is just around the corner, but residents cannot breathe a sigh of relief yet. Yet another storm will slam onshore today into tonight. Evident by where the heaviest rain and snow is projected to fall during this time, Southern California and Arizona will bear the brunt of the storm's fury.

The rain alone on the above graphic would lead to flooding and mudslides in Southern California and Arizona, especially in the recently burned areas. Since rain from storms earlier this week has already saturated the ground, more of the region is susceptible to these dangers.

The storm today into tonight will dump 1 to 2 feet of snow on the southern Sierra and the mountains across Southern California and the Four Corners. Strong winds, whipping the hardest in Southern California and Arizona, will combine with the snow to make travel virtually impossible. The winds will severely blow and drift the snow around, creating dangerous blizzard conditions.

Periods of rain and mountain snow will persist across the Southwest on Friday, adding to these totals.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

One more:

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More Damaging Winds to Howl

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Yet another episode of strong winds will target Southern California and Arizona today into tonight. So far, damage caused by the winds has been the deadly aspect of this current storm onslaught.

One of the deaths occurred Tuesday afternoon northeast of San Diego when gusty winds knocked a large tree onto a mobile home. The woman inside was killed.

The strongest winds through tonight will blast the mountains and coast. Los Angeles and Phoenix could be subject to gusts of 60 mph or higher, especially in any thunderstorm. Winds of this magnitude could lead to more downed trees, power outages and property damage. As evident by Tuesday's death, falling trees could cause death or bodily harm.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Video:

Soaking So-Cal!

[lainie]

(KFI)

Debris basins full. Mud in home at base of La Canada hills. LA Cty officials call on Gov to declare state of emergency.

[tubebender]

Are you getting any reports for south of the border? Northern Baja looks like it is getting hammered...

[NormsRevenge]

Is there such a thing as mudslide insurance? I guess it would be covered under a standard policy or would it?

[NormsRevenge]

That’s a pretty big glob too..

[NormsRevenge]

San Diego weather.. looks like after Friday, some drying out..

http://www.wunderground.com/cgi-bin/findweather/getForecast?query=92101

[NormsRevenge]

Ouch

spin-offs of El Neenjaaa?

A Night of Tornadoes in East Texas, Louisiana
http://www.accuweather.com/mt-news-blogs.asp?blog=Weathermatrix

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Late Wednesday piece posted this morn.

Drought-busting El Niño has come to town
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2434096/posts

[lainie]

I’m not sure. Is it considered to fall under ‘flood’ insurance? People either have that or they don’t..kinda like specific earthquake insurance.