A flood watch is in effect for Malibu, Pacific Palisades, and the Santa Monica Mountains as a Pacific storm touches down in Southern California today. According to the National Weather Service, the flood watch will start Wednesday afternoon and will end Thursday afternoon.
As early as 4:00 p.m., rain is expected over parts of Ventura County and the L.A. area. The storm will bring between 1 and 1.5 inches of rainfall, with coastal foothills and slopes getting 2 to 3 inches. The Santa Monica Mountains will get the most rainfall in L.A. County, with a max of three inches. In L.A. County, the heaviest showers are expected to happen Wednesday night into early Thursday morning. Scattered rainfall might happen throughout the day, evening, and night.
Significant rain bands are predicted due to low pressure moving into Southern California, bringing the possibility of thunderstorms as well. There is a 20% to 30% chance of thunderstorms occurring across the region, and they are more likely to happen overnight according to the National Weather Service.
Orange County cities are taking extra precautions after the Norte Fire left a 570-acre burn scar in San Juan Capistrano and San Clemente last week. The burnt hillsides make the area at risk for mudslides, erosion, and debris flows with the incoming rainfall. San Juan Capistrano city crew is clearing catch basins and setting up fencing and sandbags. San Clemente is also checking their catch basins and storm drains ahead of the weather.
A beach hazard statement has been issued by the National Weather Service for coastal areas in Los Angeles and Ventura County with potential beach erosion and tidal overflows. Right now, Long Beach officials are rushing to sand back on the city’s eroded beach in order to save coastal homes. For the past couple of weeks, the Long Beach Peninsula has taken hits, with high surf destroying parts of the boardwalk, leaving homes on the brink of caving in. At least seven residential homes have been flagged as unsafe to enter. The beach hazard statement will remain in effect until Thursday evening.
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