The second of back-to-back storms kept the Southland wet for a second day today, producing snow in local mountains and high surf along the coast while raising more fears of flash flooding in areas below slopes denuded by wildfires, particularly in the San Gabriel Valley.
The storm arrived last night and has been generating light rain in the Greater Los Angeles area, although much heavier rain was expected. Rain fall totals resulting from this system are expected to range between a quarter-inch and an inch according to the National Weather Service.
In the mountains, the snow level fell to around 5,000 feet Tuesday night and was expected to dip lower this morning, NWS forecasters said, adding that between three and six inches of accumulation is likely.
In Los Angeles County, a flash flood watch was expected to be in effect until 6 this morning in the San Gabriel Mountains and the San Gabriel and Antelope valleys.
“If a heavy shower or thunderstorm impacts a recent burn area, there is the potential for flash flooding with mud and debris flows,” said a National Weather Service statement.
Along the coast, where big waves and perilous rip currents were expected a high surf advisory was in effect until 7 a.m. in Los Angeles County and until 3 p.m. in Orange County.
The latest bout of rain began Tuesday. The rainfall was generally light until late afternoon when a strong storm cell swept through the South Bay, flooding streets and inundating some vehicles.
The National Weather Service issued a flash flood warning around 5 p.m. Tuesday for the southwestern portion of the county, with a nearly stationary front dumping rain on Torrance and western Carson at a rate in excess of 2 inches per hour.
Torrance police reported flooding in an area between 190th and Carson streets, from Western Avenue to Van Ness Avenue.
Several vehicles were inundated by the sudden flooding near Torrance Boulevard and Western Avenue, with tow trucks being brought in to pull cars from the swamped streets. Some streets were blocked off during the evening rush hour, snarling traffic.
There were no reports of any injuries.
In Glendora, where mandatory evacuations were temporarily imposed last week for residents near the Colby Fire burn area, city officials were again bracing for the possibility of debris flows. The city Monday issued a yellow alert, imposing parking restrictions and directing residents to remove vehicles and other obstacles from streets.
