An ‘abnormal,’ monsoon-like weather pattern hits Southern California, and the National Weather Service issues a flood warning for parts of Los Angeles and Ventura counties for Friday, March 10. Image: AP
Los Angeles County Fire Chief Daryl Osby said that an unusually strong jet stream Friday may have caused the rain-soaked roads, and that the rain may last two more days.
According to the National Weather Service, the jet stream, a narrow band of winds that flows over the eastern United States from the Rockies to the Carolinas, moved northeast at speeds of 35 to 45 miles per hour but that did not impact the heavy rainfall that hit Orange and Los Angeles counties on Friday.
Osby said that firefighters responded to 13 call-outs in Orange County on Friday, including one that resulted in the evacuation of two homes over parking lots.
The weather service said there is a slight chance of afternoon thunderstorms, but that the rain will move out before midnight.
“We continue to work closely with the State of California, our local agencies (Los Angeles, Orange and Ventura), the Federal Government and other stakeholders to assess the impact of these storms on our communities,” said Jonathan Smith, a spokesman for the National Weather Service’s Weather Prediction Center in National City, Arizona.
On the same day, the National Weather Service started issuing red-flag warnings for parts of Los Angeles and Ventura counties, as well as Orange County, north of Newport Beach, Calif.
Forecasters said that the stormy conditions “are expected to redevelop during the overnight hours” and that another day of rain could follow.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Department issued a tornado warning, which warned residents that debris flows were likely in areas of northern Orange County and that the department’s disaster response team is ready to assist homeowners and businesses that are in areas of intense rain.
The Department of Water and Power said that it does not expect power to be restored for several days in parts of Santa Clarita and West Mountain. The statement also said that downed trees blocked roads in both areas.
The National Weather Service issued a flood warning for parts of Los Angeles and Ventura counties, including the northern Orange County area, west of San Clemente.
Orange County
