Some resources to make sure you have the most up-to-date information:
Shortly before 8 p.m. the National Weather Service said a flood watch was no longer in effect of L.A., Ventura and Santa Barbara counties but cautioned that "brief heavy showers and small hail remain possible through this evening."
Here's a radar loop (current at 454 PM), showing the storm which resulted in the SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT.
— NWS Los Angeles (@NWSLosAngeles) February 26, 2023
Small hail, gusty outflow winds and landspouts are possible with the storm. #CAwx pic.twitter.com/osgGRDuEEF
Earlier, just before 5 p.m., the weather service issued a "special weather statement" warning that "small hail, gusty outflow winds and landspouts were possible with the storm." That specific warning was for the Norwalk, Compton, Downey area and lasted until 5:45 p.m.
L.A. County lifeguards closed all county beaches for several hours after lightning strikes in the area, the first of hit about 12:20 p.m. The concern was that and additional strikes may take place through early afternoon. They were reopened about 3:30 p.m. Saturday.
Conditions remain treacherous, so please be careful out there.
The #LARiver is flowing strong. Please stay away from streams, rivers and storm drains during, and immediately after, the rain. The water can rise quickly and without warning, sweeping you away in its path.
— Los Angeles County (@CountyofLA) February 26, 2023
Video credit: @LACoPublicWorks #LArain pic.twitter.com/hSBXNbQuXj
L.A. Fire Department officials said two men stranded on different dry land areas surrounded by rising water at Hansen Dam were hoisted to safety by helicopter Saturday morning.
Another man was also pulled to safety in Sunland in the Tujunga Wash. Fire officials said the man, 61, told them he'd left his van after becoming stranded by water about midnight. He was spotted Saturday morning by a passerby. Officials said he is being treated for hypothermia.
Latest rain details and timing for the next 5 days. Heavy rain still developing. Expecting lots of road issues for the evening commute. #cawx #larain pic.twitter.com/JROEc2XoAj
— NWS Los Angeles (@NWSLosAngeles) February 24, 2023
As of 10 a.m. Saturday — the most recent update of overall outages from the L.A. Dept. of Water and Power — more than 66,000 L.A. customers remained without power.
LADWP officials said the peak of outages for the city came overnight, when as many as 78,000 customers were without electricity.
Our crews worked through pouring rain & wind overnight to restore power. At 10AM this morning, 52,000 customers had been restored, while 66,500 remained without power out of LADWP’s 1.5 million customers. Read more at https: https://t.co/APMQ7h1KAS pic.twitter.com/jdjRC8TdPh
— LADWP (@LADWP) February 25, 2023
As of 8 p.m. Saturday an additional 13,000 Southern California Edison customers were without power, nearly 8,000 in L.A. County.
Downed power lines due to the high winds and rain remain a serious danger. Authorities say you should call 911 and avoid the area if you see power lines on the ground.
“Our crews are the best at what they do and will work around the clock until every customer has power restored," said Brian Wilbur, a senior manager with LADWP, in a statement released Saturday. At the same time, they're cautioning restoring power could take as long as 24 to 48 hours as crews deal with clearing trees.
Caltrans said the Grapevine will be closed overnight Saturday in to Sunday, with multiple other freeways also shut down due to snow and flooding.
❄️WEATHER-RELATED CLOSURES🌧
— Caltrans District 7 (@CaltransDist7) February 26, 2023
6:15 p.m. (2/25): Multiple highways remain fully closed due to snow or flooding. As storms continue to move through the area, please avoid travel if possible. Conditions can change very quickly. Closure info below 👇 pic.twitter.com/96Y4G2dRvp
Earlier, a small mudslide had Topanga Canyon Boulevard (SR-27) shut down from PCH to Grand View Drive.
🚧TRAVEL ADVISORY🚧 NB+SB lanes of Topanga Canyon Blvd (Route 27) from PCH (Route 1) to Grand View Dr in @CountyofLA CLOSED due to mudslide. Unknown duration. Seek alternate routes. pic.twitter.com/RjkF8RfhIp
— Caltrans District 7 (@CaltransDist7) February 25, 2023
In the Antelope Valley, Caltrans closed a 20-mile stretch of SR-14 for much of the day between Sand Canyon Road and Avenue S. They reopened the road to escort vehicles through the area shortly before 2 p.m.
NOW OPEN: SR 14 in both directions between #Palmdale and #SantaClarita has reopened to traffic, with @CHPsouthern escorting motorists. Please drive cautiously if you must travel, and pay attention for wet or icy patches. Slow down for maintenance and emergency crews! pic.twitter.com/yQBhyzb4X2
— Caltrans District 7 (@CaltransDist7) February 25, 2023
In Orange County, Pacific Coast Highway was closed in Huntington Beach in both directions from Seapoint Street to Warner Avenue because of flooding. Angela Davis, a spokesperson for CalTrans District 12, said there's no estimate on when it'll open back up.
There have also been warnings about poor driving conditions in areas that don't typically see snow.
If you are heading out this morning, be alert of roadway closures due to flooding or snow. Several hwys normally not affected by snow in #SLOCounty and #LACounty. Take a little to extra time. Hwys 14, 41, 46, 58, and 138 have all seen snow overnight. #CAwx pic.twitter.com/QdYyT1ltjs
— NWS Los Angeles (@NWSLosAngeles) February 25, 2023
Conditions are concerning enough that Saturday's season opener between the L.A. Galaxy and LAFC has been postponed due to the weather. That highly anticipated game was rescheduled to July 4 at the Rose Bowl.
For those looking to go outside, you may have to wait until Sunday. L.A. County has closed parks and trails across the region.
*UPDATED* Due to inclement weather conditions throughout LA County, the following listed parks will be closed on Friday, February 24 and Saturday, February 25. Stay safe out there, LA! pic.twitter.com/eBOvUff5Lr
— Los Angeles County Parks & Recreation (@lacountyparks) February 24, 2023
Stay away from the beaches, too. The LA County Department of Public Health has issued an advisory through Sunday at 10:30 a.m. to stay out of the ocean, creeks and rivers.
A statement from Dr. Muntu Davis, the L.A. County Health Officer, says "bacteria, chemicals, debris, trash, and other public health hazards from city streets and mountain areas are likely to contaminate ocean waters at and around discharging storm drains, creeks, and rivers after a rainfall. Individuals who enter the water in these areas could become ill."
In the mountains, Mount Baldy Resort expects to be open for skiing, but only for season pass and reserved ticket holders.
Snow is accumulating rapidly, 12" to 16". Crew is in position prepping for a hopeful but likely delayed opening tomorrow. Mt Baldy Rd. will be open to Season Pass Holders & Reserved Ticket Holders Only through the storm cycle. CHAINS AND/OR 4WD REQUIRED
— Mt Baldy Resort (@MtBaldyResort) February 24, 2023
Think twice before you hit the road, though — conditions in the mountains will be treacherous.
Read more: Why Skiiers And Snowboarders Itching To Get A Taste Of All That Fresh Powder May Want To Stay Home
Keep in mind:
Both Caltrans and the L.A. County Department of Public Works have road closures and conditions listed on their sites. Please check these links for the most up-to-date information.
We have more detailed guidance: Your Guide To Driving Safely In The Rain In LA (And Really Anywhere).
A flash flood watch is in effect for the mountains above Los Angeles, Ventura, and Santa Barbara through Saturday afternoon.
Here's an excerpt from our guide to understanding flood warnings:
Read more: Flash Flood Warnings? Watches? Here’s What You Need To Know
Around 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, the historic storm spun up a small, short-lived tornado in La Mirada, according to the NWS. There, it took down a handful of trees. No injuries were reported.
Latest radar thru 10am PST shows continuing heavy showers & isolated thunderstorms across western SBA and SLO Counties. Weak tornadoes are possible. Rain will continue over all areas with rain rates increasing at times to 0.25 to 0.50" per hour this morning. #CAwx #rain #flood pic.twitter.com/iBJH6f2flW
— NWS Los Angeles (@NWSLosAngeles) February 24, 2023
During strong winter storms it's not uncommon for waterspouts to form off the coast. It's hard to catch a gander of the strong funnels of gusty air that stretch from the cloud base to the water because they don't usually last very long. But when they do they can make their way inland, where they're immediately classified as landspouts or tornadoes.
The ones we get here usually produce gusts of 50 to 60 mph and are concentrated to areas of 50 feet or less, according to the NWS. They can cause localized damage.
With risks of mudslides as the rain intensifies, evacuation warnings have been issued in part of Los Angeles and Ventura counties.
In L.A. County, evacuation warnings have been issued for unincorporated areas near the Lake Fire and north end of the Bobcat Fire burn scars due to the potential for mud or debris flows. Those warnings are effective from Thursday at 6 p.m. through Sunday, Feb. 26 at 6 a.m.
Ventura County has put evacuation warnings in place from 3 p.m. Thursday through 10 a.m. Saturday. Debris flows are often of concern in the area during heavy rain events, especially in recently burned areas.
A cutoff low and an #AtmosphericRiver will produce heavy rain and snow across California tonight through Saturday. The heaviest precipitation is expected to occur in the Transverse Ranges as the AR makes landfall.
— CW3E Scripps (@CW3E_Scripps) February 23, 2023
For a quick look at the forecast, visit: https://t.co/ffDBre4JxR pic.twitter.com/U59a8IdX2d
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Works is anticipating debris flows in some recently burned areas through Sunday, including near the:
The L.A. Fire Department shared tips with us on everything from good weather alert apps to download to what you can do to get your house ready — and where you can pick up sandbags.
Read more: A Storm Is Coming. LA Fire Officials Have These Tips On Getting Ready Now
There’s another storm anticipated this coming week after a short break in the weather Sunday.
The Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority is offering over 500 motel vouchers for the unhoused population due to the severe weather. For a referral to the site closest to you, call 211.
"Not only will 211 tell you where to go, but they can arrange transportation either through a LAHSA outreach team or other means to ensure that that person gets to a safe bed tonight," said Ahmad Chapman, LAHSA's communications director.
Outreach workers have been visiting encampments near rivers and creeks, offering sleeping bags and tents, and showing people where to seek higher ground if they don't want access to the winter shelter programs, as well.
Here are the other shelter sites throughout Los Angeles County:
[View the document here if it doesn't load above for you: L.A. County winter shelters]
Shelters have been in demand.
On Wednesday night in Orange County, the Cold Weather Emergency Shelter reached full occupancy for the first time, with 90 individuals experiencing homelessness staying the night. The shelter provides meals and showers, and transportation to the shelter is available.
It's a fairly recent addition to the area. OC officials didn't open the shelter until Feb. 1, even though storms have been battering California residents for months.
The California Office of Emergency Services has posted a list of warming centers throughout the state.
State law requires residential units to have heating systems that can keep indoor temperatures at a minimum of 70 degrees. That means every dwelling unit and guest room offered for rent or lease should offer heating equipment, usually central air conditioning (A/C) or a wall heater. — Caitlin Hernández
Use heat smartly to save money: Cranking things like the A/C and wall heaters can be expensive. If money is tight, be judicious about how and when you use your utilities. For example, only use heaters at night or only set the thermostat to around 70 degrees.
Open and close those vents: If you have central A/C, look at where the vents are around your home. Are any open in places where you don’t stay long? Practice opening and closing those so warm air only goes where you need it (most vents should have a small toggle lever). Humidifiers can also help you warm things up — and it’s useful to add moisture into our dry air.
Adjust your wall heaters: If you have a wall heater, you can change the output by adjusting the knob (usually at the bottom). Since wall heaters can only warm the areas where they’re placed, it’s essential to close doors to rooms you won’t be in so hot air doesn’t get wasted.
Turn on your ceiling fan (really): If you have a ceiling fan, try turning it on. This sounds counterintuitive, but there’s science behind it. The direction a fan turns can push air in different directions, and since hot air floats up, you’ll want to move that around. Your fan should spin clockwise to create an updraft to circulate. Not all fans will have this option, though.
Here's what you need to know when storms hit Southern California:
About 30% of California's water comes from the snow up in the Sierra, and as of Friday, the snow levels are at 144% of our April 1 average. With more snow in the forecast, it’s time to take a breath and feel good for a moment, because at least drought conditions aren’t getting worse.
“Moving forward, between our reservoirs, the snowpack we have on the hill, as well as the snowpack throughout the entire southwestern U.S., we’re looking pretty favorable for an upcoming year that’ll help bring us out of drought instead of sending us further into it,” Andrew Schwartz, lead scientist and manager at the UC Berkeley Central Sierra Snow Lab, told LAist 89.3's AirTalk. “It’s just really helping us start to resolve our drought issues in the long term.”
Groundwater stores are still in a deficit and will take quite more than just one good year of precipitation to replenish. As for the current load of snow, ideally it will melt slowly over the coming months (usually starting in May), so that the water has an opportunity to percolate deep into the ground, and feed plants, trees, rivers, and reservoirs long into our dry season.
Whether that happens depends on the type of weather we see. Higher temperatures could hit us at any time, get to work melting the snow and increasing evaporative demand. In that case, things will start to dry faster than is ideal and greater stress will be put on our landscapes. Rising temperatures as a result of climate change are taking a toll, and it’s important to remember that the next big drought year could be right around the corner.
Rebecca Gutierrez has been talking to the NWS. Jacob Margolis, who covers science, reported during the week on overall weather conditions. Additional LAist staff are contributing photos and more information.
