The first of two atmospheric rivers descended on Southern California on Thursday, bringing with it flooding and road closures.
Long Beach and the Palos Verdes Peninsula were the hardest hit spots. Palos Verdes Drive South was shut down by mud that's since been cleared.
In the evening, hail was reported in spots, with lingering showers. You can listen (and see) what that sounded like below:
A flood watch remained in place through Friday morning for Orange, San Bernardino and Riverside counties, even as sustained rain turned to intermittent showers and occasional thunderstorms.
Friday, however, should be decently clear and sunny, creating the perfect opportunity to get sandbags ready for the next storm, which arrives Saturday night. And experts saying it's expected to be a big one, with the National Weather Service warning of potentially "life-threatening impacts."
If you live in SoCal, especially from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara counties, you need to prepare now for potentially damaging and life-threatening flooding Sun-Monday.
— Colin McCarthy (@US_Stormwatch) February 2, 2024
3-7 inches of rain is forecast for coasts and valleys, with up to 6-15 inches possible in the mountains.… pic.twitter.com/tktH2GTCMw
While storms are normal for this time of year, a warm patch of water off the coast, likely associated with El Niño, is fueling their potency.
Rainfall totals
Widespread rain began to fall on Southern California overnight, with especially heavy rain between Santa Barbara and Los Angeles Counties. By evening, the National Weather Service was reporting at least five records had been broken for this date in recorded history:
- LAX: 2.37 inches (previous record 1.55 inches in 1960)
- Long Beach Airport: 2.43 inches (previous record 1.45 inches in 1960)
- Lancaster: .52 inches (previous record .32 inches in 1945)
- Sandberg: 1.80 inches (previous record 1.61 inches in 1940)
- Santa Barbara Airport: 2.93 inches (previous record 2.02 inches in 1940)
Snow levels were above 6,000 feet middat, but were forecast fall to lower altitudes over the next 24 hours.
Traffic conditions
Traffic interruptions also started to clear as the rain abated earlier Thursday.
A stretch of PCH in front of the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve remained closed as of Thursday afternoon with no set reopening time.
Lanes on the southbound Pacific Coast Highway at the McClure Tunnel in Santa Monica reopened later in the day.
Long Beach had a number of closures due to local flooding.
⚠️UPDATE:
— Long Beach PD (CA) (@LBPD) February 1, 2024
The following major roadways are affected due to flooding, please plan your travel accordingly:
· Willow St & TI-103 Freeway
· Pacific Coast Highway & the 710 Freeway
· Del Amo Blvd. & the 710 Freeway
· Clark Ave. & Stearns St.
Forecast
Buckle up. The next atmospheric river is expected to be much stronger than this one. And we should take it very seriously.
The National Weather Service says: "We are expecting a major storm with dangerous, even life-threatening impacts!"
- Precipitation is expected to begin late Saturday night and pick up through Sunday night. Strong, sustained rainfall could lead to life threatening debris flows and flooding. More than eight inches of rain could fall on South facing slopes before the storm wraps on Tuesday. The storm could rival some of the strongest that we saw last year.
- Snow levels will drop to between 3,000 and 4,000 feet by Thursday night, meaning there’s about a 20% chance that an inch or two of snow will fall on the Grapevine and Cajon Pass.
- Things should start to dry out by Friday, but then quickly pick right back up with the second storm on Saturday night. That atmospheric river will stick around until at least Tuesday (though possibly longer), bringing as much as 8 plus inches of rain to the region.
Take this upcoming storm seriously
Residents in mountain, canyon and coastal areas should prepare for debris flows and flooding over the next week.
Those in landslide prone areas like the Palos Verdes Peninsula should be on the lookout for indications of land movement, including the formation of new cracks, the fracturing of underground utilities, doors and windows falling out of plumb and sounds of creaks and groans coming from the ground.
Sandbags are available at all Los Angeles Fire Department locations. Sand is also available at select other locations, and updates on availability can be checked here.
Los Angeles County Fire Department locations also have sandbags and sand.
Sand and sandbags are available at these locations in Orange County.
Understanding National Weather Service warnings
Here’s an excerpt from our guide to understanding flood warnings, if any are issued:
- Flood advisories are how the NWS begins to raise the alarm. The goal is to give people enough time to take action.
- Flood watches are your indicators to get prepared to move.
- A flood warning is issued when a hazardous weather event is imminent or already happening. When one is issued for your area, you need to get to higher ground immediately.
- A flash flood warning is issued when a flash flood is coming or in progress. Flash floods are sudden and violent floods that can start within minutes.
Read more: Flash Flood Warnings? Watches? Here’s What You Need To Know
Tips for driving in the rain
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Advice on driving in the rain:
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- Check weather and road conditions all along your planned route
- Slow down
- Keep a wider-than-usual distance between your vehicle and the one in front
- Don't drive through standing water — as little as 12 inches of rushing water can carry away most cars, and two feet can carry away SUVs and trucks.
- Make sure tires are fully inflated
- Check windshield wiper blades and replace if necessary
Downed tree, power line or flooded road?
Dial 911 if it's an emergency.
However, if you need to report a flooded road or a downed tree, you can call the following non-emergency numbers:
- L.A. City: Dial 311 for a flooded road or downed tree. Call (800) DIAL-DWP if you see a downed power line.
- L.A. County: (800) 675-HELP
- Ventura County: (805) 384-1500
- Orange County: (714) 955-0200 or visit here.
If you're in L.A. County and need sand bags you can find some at local fire houses.
Sign up for emergency alerts
- L.A. City: Notify L.A.
- L.A. County: Ready L.A. County
- Ventura County: Ready Ventura County
- Orange County: AlertOC
- Riverside County: AlertRivCo
How we're reporting on this
Science and environment reporter Jacob Margolis is tracking the storm and adding updates, as is our general assignment reporter Yusra Farzan and associate producer Gillian Morán Pérez. Other LAist staff members will be keeping a close on how the storms affect various parts of the region.
This is a developing story. We fact check everything and rely only on information from credible sources (think fire, police, government officials and reporters on the ground). Sometimes, however, we make mistakes and/or initial reports turn out to be wrong. In all cases, we strive to bring you the most accurate information in real time and will update this story as new information becomes available.
