LOS ANGELES (AP) — Parts of Southern California are facing flash flood warnings as heavy rains continue to fall, with the National Weather Service reporting near-record rainfall for this time of year.
As dawn broke on Friday, residents were alerted to the risk of flash flooding in streets, creeks, and streams across several areas of Los Angeles and Orange Counties. In places like Huntington Beach, rainwater transformed streets into rushing streams.
The National Weather Service’s latest warnings encompass a broad area from downtown Los Angeles to parts of Orange County, including Santa Monica and Mission Viejo. Reports indicated that several vehicles ended up stranded in floodwaters near Culver City.
A persistent series of storms that have been affecting the region since November 13 has led to exceptional rainfall amounts, reported at over four times the normal precipitation expected for November in downtown Los Angeles, which typically sees only 0.78 inches. This month alone has already exceeded 3.5 inches of rain.
Santa Barbara County has been a focal point for substantial moisture, particularly in the Santa Ynez Mountains, which experienced more than 15 inches of rain this month, according to weather service reports.
The recent atmospheric river events, which caused significant fatalities earlier this month, raise grave concerns of mudslides in areas previously devastated by wildfires. These atmospheric rivers are narrow bands of moisture that transport tropical water vapor across the sky, greatly influencing weather patterns along the coast.
