A storm expected to arrive overnight Thursday and peak late Friday has the potential to be the strongest to hit Southern California in the past five years, forecasters say.
It will not only bring heavy rain but also strong, damaging winds, according to a National Weather Service report issued Wednesday afternoon. The menacing forecast has prompted fire departments throughout Southern California to prepare for possible flooding and property damage.
San Bernardino and Riverside counties should expect 2 to 3 inches of rain, while coastal and valley areas, Los Angeles and Orange counties are expected to get 2 to 4 inches between Thursday and Sunday. As with other storms this season, areas farther north are expected to get more rain, said National Weather Service meteorologist Derek Schroeter.
The heaviest rain is expected to fall on mountain slopes facing south and west — up to 5 inches in the Santa Ana Mountains and potentially even more in the San Bernardino and San Gabriel mountains.
The snow line will start high — 8,000 to 8,500 feet Friday morning — then fall to 6,000 feet by late Friday. Snow accumulation could total 1 to 2 feet at elevations above 7,000 feet.
Temperatures, which peaked on Wednesday well above average, will drop along with the rain.
By Saturday, showers should be scattered, Schroeter said. Dry and warmer conditions are expected Sunday and Monday, but another round of light precipitation is possible next week.
FLOODING CONCERNS
A flash flood watch will be in effect Friday afternoon through Saturday afternoon, when rain could be heaviest, for all of Southern California. Fire departments are preparing by increasing staffing and having sandbags on hand.
Sand and sand bags are available at various San Bernardino County fire stations and parks.
Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department spokeswoman April Newman said the department’s swift-water rescue team will be available during the storm. This week, fire stations have been stocked with sandbags both for firefighters’ use and for residents to pick up.
WINDS AND SNOW
Schroeter said strong winds coming from the south could also cause damage. A high-wind watch will be in effect Friday morning through Saturday morning for most of San Bernardino, Riverside and Orange counties.
Gusts of 50 to 60 mph are possible region-wide, especially during the peak period of Friday afternoon and evening.
The winds have the potential to down trees and power lines, send debris into and cause issues for high-profile vehicles.
In the mountains, the winds could be even stronger with gusts of 60 to 80 mph at all elevations, according to a winter storm watch.
Between the blowing snow and dense fog, visibility could be reduced to a quarter-mile or less.
Since the soil will be rain-soaked when the winds are the strongest, and some root structures are already weakened, the possibility of trees falling has mountain residents worried that they may lose power, said San Bernardino National Forest spokesman John Miller.
He urged anyone planning to travel in or to the mountains to check conditions before they leave home.
“If the Weather Service says, ‘Hey, this is a significant storm,’ it’s not the time to go out and venture into the woods,” Miller said.
Staff writer Suzanne Hurt contributed to this report.
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