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.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

One more to go....

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Another less powerful storm will arrive Friday.

That makes 5 storms....

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

#2...should have said 2 more to go.

[Hetty_Fauxvert]

We’re getting plenty of water up here in NoCal also (we’re about an hour north of SF). We’re out in the county and our roadside ditches are about 3.5 ft deep. Normally they’re dry. Since yesterday, they are completely full and slopping over onto the roadside. Tomorrow, I’m sure there will be roadblocks on some of the flooded roads around here.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Officials Urge Evacuated Residents To Leave Homes

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Jan 20, 2010 7:47 pm US/Pacific

LOS ANGELES (CBS) A third powerful Pacific storm pounded California with heavy rain and snow Wednesday, prompting mandatory evacuation orders for 23 additional homes in La Canada Flintridge.

A flash flood warning for Los Angeles County expired at 6:30 p.m. However, mud and debris flows are still possible as they can occur even after the heaviest rain has ended.

Additional heavy rain is possible later tonight through Thursday night and the flash flood watch remains in effect for the burn areas.

County officials said the latest evacuation orders included homes on Ridge Cliff Lane, De Valle Road and Haskell Street.

By early Wednesday, authorities had issued mandatory evacuation orders for residents of 489 homes in La Canada Flintridge, La Crescenta and Acton, just ahead of the storm's expected midday arrival, along with nearly 200 homes in parts of Glendale.

About 262 homes within the communities of Alpine Way, Zachau Canyon, Haines Canyon, Riverwood and Blanchard Canyon in the Southern Tujunga area were also ordered to leave their homes.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

This whole system seems to be blasted all of California....we had tornadoes down here yesterday in Orange County not that far from where I am...at Sunset Beach and Costa Mesa...

[Diver Dave]

Again up here in Modesto, the ground is so saturated the rains won’t percolate into the ground. Almond and Walnut trees toppled by the saturation and high winds.

City crews can’t keep up with the demand to pump out storm drains etc. Partly cloudy at the moment, but that’s due to change.

Wonder where I put my wet suit?!?

[oneolcop]

Typical “news” reporting. The folks in SoCal have been through this many times. My daughter lives in a canyon North of LA and says the roads are flooded but that’s really just about normal for el nino weather. 1000 homes out of a million isn’t much.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

I hope we are getting lots of snow in the Sierra’s....

[television is just wrong]

I have many friends who live in the burn areas. Praying they are kept safe. I am so very concerned for them.

[ChocChipCookie]

Believe it or not, people in Phoenix are buying sandbags!

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

[BookmanTheJanitor]

http://www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/snotel/California/california.html

Here’s a website you might like. Click on a blue dot (on the map) to bring up a monitoring station. These stations have daily readings.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

[Hetty_Fauxvert]

Oh, it could be worse here! I remember one New Year’s Eve a few years ago — we got something like 1.5” overnight. Our sump pump under our house usually shoots out water for about five seconds, then the bucket fills up (taking anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours) and then the process repeats. That New Year’s Eve when we had all the rain, our pump ran *continuously* for five hours! That was a heck of a storm.

[GOP Poet]

up here in Santa Barbara thus far the burn areas have held. may this be true for us and your friends tomorrow as well. i am still unsure what is suppose to make tomorrow’s storm the worse one. that specific or specifics is/are allusive on the weather documentation as well as any reports i have read.

anyone know of more specific resources?

[NVDave]

Waitaminnut...

I thought you were all going to die of thirst due to global warming?

What’s this with flooding? I mean, Al wouldn’t lie about that drought thing, would he?

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Thanks...checked at a few spots ...50 inches of snow depth at 9000 ft elevation ...was hoping for more...maybe higher up they got more.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

We have been soaked pretty good...may be our one chance this year.