As a bout of heavy rain drenches the Southern California region, the National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a Flood Watch for parts of Los Angeles and Ventura Counties, which is set to remain in effect from Wednesday evening until Thursday afternoon. The forecast predicts a 100% chance of rain today in Los Angeles, with temperatures peaking near 59 degrees and new precipitation amounts of up to half an inch possible, according to NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard.
The threat extends to areas below 5,000 to 6,000 feet and includes the Santa Barbara County South Coast and the Santa Ynez Range. The Weather Service cautions that with potential peak rainfall rates of 0.5 to 0.75 inch per hour, there's a 10 to 20 percent chance that rates could exceed 1.0 inch per hour, particularly if thunderstorms or heavy showers occur. As these conditions pose a risk to areas especially vulnerable due to recent burn scars, residents are advised to be prepared to take action should flooding develop. "Potential for heavy rain over the burn scars may trigger hazardous and damaging flooding and debris flows," warned the NWS in a public statement.
The flooding risk is compounded by the likelihood of debris flows which can result from excessive rainfall over recent burn scars within the watch area. Urban areas and locations with poor drainage are also at risk for flooding. The NWS announcement urges residents to "monitor later forecasts and be alert for possible Flood Warnings."
The extended forecast indicates that the inclement weather will continue beyond the Flood Watch period, with high chances of showers and thunderstorms lasting through Friday and lighter showers possible into the weekend. While conditions are expected to improve by Saturday, with a return to mostly sunny skies and a daytime high around 64 degrees, residents are warned to keep abreast of developments and ensure they are equipped to deal with the potential immediate impacts of the current weather situation. "Flooding may also occur in poor drainage and urban areas," the warning adds, emphasizing the broader reach of the flood risk.
