By Karla Rendon and Jonathan Lloyd —
NBC Los Angeles
Ventura and Los Angeles counties, California, issued warnings and evacuation orders for parts of their territories ahead of a powerful winter storm that will bring hours of widespread rain and snow to the mountains in the state's south.
Driven by moisture from an atmospheric river as it moved over the Pacific, the storm will deliver hours of rain into Monday morning and will surpass the system's rainfall totals from last week.
Parts of Los Angeles County face a high risk of flooding with a flash flood warning in effect until midnight for a wide area from Castaic to Inglewood, east to the San Gabriel Valley and along the coast of Los Angeles County .
Gov. Gavin Newsom's office
issued a state of emergency
for Southern California counties
in the storm's path.
February is typically the wettest month of the year in Los Angeles and the city center averages 3.64 inches of rain for the month.
This multi-day storm is expected to bring that amount and possibly more in a 24- to 48-hour period and will rival some of last year's highest rainfall totals, including nearly 3 inches of rain produced on two days in August by Tropical Storm Hillary.
A couple walks along the bank of the Los Angeles River in the rain on Sunday, February 4, 2024 in Los Angeles. Damian Dovarganes / AP
“If you are not home yet, please come back and stay home
,” Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass told city residents Sunday afternoon.
The significant threat of rain prompted evacuation warnings to be issued in some areas prone to flooding and landslides.
These included the La Tuna Canyon area in the San Fernando Valley, north of Los Angeles.
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Light rain began to fall in areas north of Los Angeles on Saturday afternoon and will continue overnight.
The rains were expected to become widespread starting Sunday at noon.
“Because it's moving slowly, that's the cause of the potential for flooding that we'll see here in Southern California,” said NBC Los Angeles meteorologist Shanna Mendiola.
Significant rain is possible in the mountains and that rain is likely to reach the basin.
A man with an umbrella stands on a flooded street in Ventura, California, on Sunday, February 4, 2024. Eugene Garcia / AP
“Some of the rainfall rates in the mountain areas could actually be half an inch to an inch per hour,” said NBC Los Angeles meteorologist David Biggar.
“All that water has to go somewhere, so we have a high risk of flooding,” he explained.
Most areas of Southern California can expect between 3 and 6 inches of rain, while the foothills and low-elevation mountains may face between 6 and 12 inches.
Mountain elevations above 6,500 feet can receive several feet of snow.
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Despite heavy rain, schools in the Los Angeles school district will remain open, Superintendent Alberto Carvalho announced Sunday.
However, Vinedale College Preparatory Academy in Sun Valley, which was under an evacuation warning, would close Monday.
Its students and staff will be moved to Glenwood Elementary School.
California State University (CSU) announced that its campuses in Los Angeles, Long Beach and Fullerton will operate remotely on Monday.
The CSU Dominguez Hills campus canceled all in-person classes and activities for Monday, it was announced in a text message sent to students and staff.
Flood Warnings and Advisories in Southern California
Here's what is known so far about specific advisories:
Most of Los Angeles County was under a flash flood warning Sunday night.
A flash flood warning was issued for the Ventura River at Foster Park through Monday morning.
Residents can expect flooding in Terro Ranch upstream of the Main Street Bridge in Ventura.
A flood watch goes into effect Sunday for inland Orange County and parts of Riverside and San Bernardino counties.
High wind warnings and coastal flood advisories were in effect for the coasts of Los Angeles and Ventura counties.
A less severe wind advisory was in effect for the interior of the county and central Los Angeles.
Here are some tips on how to prepare for the storm
, according to NBC4 meteorologist Belén de León:
Change travel plans to avoid dangerous roads.
Fill and place sandbags in vulnerable areas.
Move parked cars out of low-lying, flood-prone areas.
Charge batteries and phones in case of power outages.
Secure any loose objects outside.
Change plans that involve open water navigation.
Get extra supplies and gas in the mountains;
Residents could be stranded for days.
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Rain Timeline in Los Angeles
According to Stephanie Olmo of the local NBC channel, the schedule for inclement weather in Los Angeles is as follows:
From 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm Sunday: The rain intensifies, so it will require more time to travel if you have to.
From 6:00 pm Sunday to 12:00 am Monday: Heavy rain, stay indoors and avoid traveling if possible.
On Monday between 12:00 am and 6:00 am: Heavy rain overnight, stay indoors and avoid traveling if possible.
Monday from 6:00 am to 12:00 pm: rainy, possibility of flooding areas.
Leave early if you have to.
Monday 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm: Light to moderate rain, use caution.