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A thunderstorm is wreaking havoc in the Antelope Valley as torrential rain is causing flash floods, trapping drivers and their cars in massive mudflows.
The Lake Hughes area has been especially hit hard from a thunderstorm that is dumping up to an inch of rain and hail reported to be the size of golf balls. The National Weather Service has issued a flash flood warning expected to be in effect until 6:45 p.m. Footage from news helicopters overhead shows drivers and passengers escaping from cars caught in mudflows and flooded roadways, though so far there are no reports of injuries. "The conditions of the roads are very tough to get through, so we are having our helicopters overhead trying to get a better vantage point," L.A. County Fire Department inspector David Dantic told KTLA.
HAPPENING NOW: Rain causes out-of-control debris flow along Lake Hughes Rd north of Castaic http://t.co/3PMVh4xjUZ https://t.co/8VR32aWBcx
— ABC7 Eyewitness News (@ABC7) October 15, 2015
@tarawallis @NWSLosAngeles #leonavalleyhail pic.twitter.com/2Nj2Clvdd2
— Peter Husker (@Huskerfan661) October 15, 2015
The flooding has also closed all northbound lanes of the 5 Freeway in the Grapevine, north of Fort Tejon:
^TRAFFIC ADVISORY FOR NB I-5 JUST NORTH OF FORT TEJON, ALL LANES CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE, DUE TO FLOODING.
— CHP PIO - LA County (@CHPsouthern) October 15, 2015
The flash flood warning is in effect until 6:45 p.m.:
Flash flood warning in effect until 645 pm PDT for NW Los Angeles County. #CAwx pic.twitter.com/k3TD80h94n
— NWS Los Angeles (@NWSLosAngeles) October 15, 2015
Here are more photos and videos of the damage the flash floods and mudflows have caused:
Video of flash flooding along Lake Hughes Rd in Lake Hughes. #CAwx pic.twitter.com/dtguuciqXT
— ValleyFireScan (@ValleyFireScan) October 15, 2015
UPDATE: Mudflow in Lake Hughes area traps cars. LIVE coverage continues on KCAL9: http://t.co/d0126ZB5CX pic.twitter.com/UEKUT6Pl8k
— CBS Los Angeles (@CBSLA) October 15, 2015
Green Valley mud flow traps vehicles, damages property http://t.co/4ldlwr7Gin pic.twitter.com/KTWB3o0yAu
— ABC7 Eyewitness News (@ABC7) October 15, 2015