The brunt of the storm that brought sometimes-heavy downpours to parts of the Southland was moving out of the area Friday, but the threat of showers continued to linger, prompting a flood watch across Los Angeles County and a temporary closure of beaches due to possible lightning strikes.
“Quite a bit less activity today but the storm is not quite done with southwest California just yet,” according to the National Weather Service. “The upper low continues to spin over the coastal waters, centered near San Nicolas Island. Showers and isolated thunderstorms continue to rotate around the low, even as far north as (San Luis Obispo) County. Models have the upper low moving onshore over northern Baja later this afternoon and as that happens showers will really start to taper off, especially west of L.A. County. Lingering showers are possible into the evening but most areas should be dry by then.”
Shortly after 10:30 a.m., Los Angeles County Lifeguards announced a closure of all beaches from Redondo Beach to Zuma Beach due to concerns about lightning. The closure was originally expected to end by 11:30 a.m., but it was extended as the storm concerns lingering into the afternoon. The beaches eventually reopened around 12:30 p.m.
A flood watch issued by the NWS had been expected to end at noon, but forecasters extended it through 4 p.m. for Los Angeles County, warning that “flooding caused by excessive rainfall continues to be possible.”
“Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms may still generate periods of heavy rain up to a half-inch per hour, resulting in local flooding,” according to the NWS.
Orange County will also remain under a flood watch until 10 p.m. Friday.
Conditions are expected to dry out by Friday evening, with temperatures warming for the holiday weekend. Forecasters said Christmas Eve and Christmas Day “will be dry and warmer with near to slightly above normal temperatures.”
“By this evening (Friday) most of this activity should be out of the area, leaving clearing skies overnight and a generally sunny day Saturday,” according to the NWS. “With the saturated ground from at least a few days of rain, and cooling overnight with few if any clouds providing insulation, some areas of dense fog will likely form, especially in the cooler valleys.”
The weather was active across the area Thursday, with isolated thunderstorms developing and dropping impressive amounts of rain in some areas.
The five-day rain total as of 5 p.m. Thursday in Beverly Hills was 2.66 inches. In Bel Air and Culver City, it was 2.64 inches.
In Northridge, it was 4 inches. In Woodland Hills, it was 3.49 inches. At Morris Dam, it was 2.18 inches.
The rain prompted a mudslide around midday Thursday in the Hollywood Hills. No injuries were reported, but mud and soil inundated a patio and backyard of a home on North Sunset Plaza Drive.
Around 3:45 a.m. Friday, a motorist was killed when a vehicle skidded into the Dominguez Channel near Avalon Boulevard and the San Diego (405) Freeway in the Carson area. Sheriff’s officials said it was too early to determine if the wet weather contributed to the crash. But a witness told investigators the vehicle appeared to be hydroplaning on the wet road before crashing into the channel.
Six Flags Magic Mountain theme park in Valencia was closed on Wednesday and Thursday due to the bad weather. But the park reopened as usual on Friday. Park officials said tickets purchased for the closure days can be redeemed any other day for the rest of the year.
County health officials issued their standard warning for people to avoid entering the ocean water in the days following rain, noting that runoff can carry bacteria and debris into the ocean, raising the risk of illness.
Los Angeles County officials said various agencies were coordinating to ensure public safety while also hoping to capture as much stormwater as possible for future use.
County Public Works officials said Thursday afternoon that roughly 717 million gallons of stormwater had been captured by the agency’s retention systems this week. Since Oct. 1, roughly 5 billion gallons of stormwater had been captured, enough to meet the needs of 121,600 people, public works officials said.
County officials urged residents to heed instructions from emergency responders and alert notifications; drive cautiously and slow down in wet conditions; and avoid trying to cross flooded roadways.