Los Angeles, San Diego under State of Emergency as atmospheric river lashes Southern California
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LOS ANGELES – Forecasters have highlighted Southern California, including downtown Los Angeles, for a rare “high risk” of flash flooding on Sunday and Monday due to a potent atmospheric river that promises to dump several inches of rain across the region.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom even declared a State of Emergency for several counties in Southern California to support storm response and recovery efforts.
The “high risk” is the highest rung on NOAA’s flash flood threat scale and is only issued under the most dire of flooding forecasts.
The storm has already lashed northern and central sections of the state, and snow is already accumulating along the Sierra Nevada.
“The high risk was also expanded south to cover all of Los Angeles County to the south of the Transverse Range as per coordination with (the National Weather Service office in Los Angeles),” NOAA’s Weather Prediction Center (WPC) said. “Life-threatening flash and urban flash flooding possible in the high risk area.”
The WPC warned that this is a Category 5 atmospheric river, the top category.
The Golden State mobilized and prepositioned a record 8,500 emergency responders ready for flooding, landslide and travel emergencies, according to the Governor’s office.
The State of Emergency included Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Luis Obispo and Ventura Counties.
The National Weather Service office in Los Angeles continues to use strong language in its forecasts, indicating a significant threat of widespread and dangerous flash flooding through Monday.
Forecasters warned that flooding issues would not be confined to the usually prone areas in the foothills, mountains and burn areas and that numerous mudslides and debris flows are expected.
Additionally, moist, unstable air will likely trigger scattered strong to even a few severe thunderstorms along and just off the Central California coast.
Some storms could spawn waterspouts Sunday across the central and southern coastal waters from the Santa Barbara channel north past Santa Cruz.
A brief tornado or two is also possible where any waterspouts blow ashore, the NWS said.
The NWS in Los Angeles stated that rainfall rates could be up to 1.5 inches per hour in a thunderstorm. Los Angeles usually only sees 2.89 inches of rain for the entire month of January.
Evacuation warnings were in place due to the multiple days of excessive rain expected in Southern California.
‘Extreme’ rainfall totals possible across Southern California
An area of low pressure aims another atmospheric river at the California coast through Monday and bring a slug of moisture straight from the tropics, according to the FOX Forecast Center.
Unlike the last system, this storm won’t be in a hurry to leave. That will keep the atmospheric river of moisture pointed at California for about three days as the rain lingers into Tuesday.
Several televised and sporting events that were supposed to be held in Southern California on Sunday have been postponed due to the extreme threat.
While all of California will get in on the rain, areas of most concern will be along the southern coastal ranges down through the Los Angeles Basin.
The heaviest rain will fall between Sunday and Monday, with the peak rainfall rates expected Sunday night.
On Monday, the Level 4 risk of flooding remains centered right over the Los Angeles metro area, while the Level 3 risk extends from just north of Los Angeles southward to the San Diego area.
“It shows you the confidence that we know this is going to be a bigger storm,” Merwin said. “It has a lot more moisture to it. There’s a much larger flood threat for Southern California.
The Los Angeles metro area may see 5 inches or more by the middle of the week.
Los Angeles only averages just over 14 inches of rain per year.
As mentioned earlier, the surrounding mountains and their foothills could see 10-12 inches of rain. Favored mountains and foothills could see 8-15 inches of rain.
Several feet of snow likely in Sierra Nevada
The plume of moisture will generate a significant winter storm for the Sierra Nevada, with 4-6 feet of snow likely above 5,000-6,000 feet, the FOX Forecast Center said.
Disruptions to daily life, including difficult to impossible travel conditions, are expected.
In the mountains of Southern California, snow levels are expected to be around 7,000 feet, but 2–4 feet of snow is possible above that level.
Damaging winds for San Francisco, Central and Northern California coast
In addition to the heavy rain threat, damaging winds have been punishing the Central California coast southward toward Santa Barbara. This includes parts of the San Francisco Bay Area.
High Wind Warnings for gusts to 70 mph will work their way down the coast through the evening and overnight hours.
Already, Funt Ranch saw an 88 mph gust, Pebble Beach saw a 65 mph gust and Oakland a 62 mph gust.
Some 50 miles north of San Francisco in Santa Rosa, a driver was injured after a tree fell onto their vehicle on Highway 101 northbound on Sunday morning, according to the Sonoma County Fire District.
Elsewhere in Sonoma County, homes were damaged in Bodega Bay after a falling tree struck them on Sunday morning. Officials said no injuries were reported in this incident.
Even stronger winds are likely in the mountains around Southern California, with gusts reaching as high as 70-80 mph.
In southern Santa Barbara County, the strong winds toppled a massive 70-foot tree onto a condominium complex in Goleta early Sunday morning, according to Santa Barbara County Fire Department Public Information Officer Scott Safechuck.
At least four adults and one dog were displaced from the complex.
At the coast, these winds will also whip up the Pacific Ocean into a frenzy with 10-20 foot waves likely to slam into beaches up and down the state.
Moisture streaming in behind the storm will keep periods of rain in the forecast through much of this week, though there will be longer dry periods between the showers to wring out.
First-ever Hurricane-Force Wind Warning issued off Central California coast
The NWS office in the Bay Area issued its first-ever Hurricane-Force Wind Warning for the waters off parts of the Central California coast, where mariners could encounter wind gusts over hurricane force (74-plus mph).
“Extremely strong winds will cause hazardous seas which will likely capsize or damage vessels and severely reduce visibility,” forecasters wrote in the warning.
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