By JOSH CAIN | Los Angeles Daily News
A major storm is expected to hit much of Southern California on Monday, with forecasters again warning residents of massive waves and intense rip currents expected along the coast.
The region is likely to see heavy rain and snow, and powerful winds blowing in from the north, according to the National Weather Service. The latest storm is part of a “relentless parade of atmospheric rivers,” long, narrow plumes of moisture in the atmosphere – like rivers in the sky.
A winter storm warning will begin in the Los Angeles area at 4 a.m. on Monday and run through 10 p.m. on Tuesday. Authorities throughout the region are concerned about possible debris flows, especially in burn scar areas, along with urban flooding and trees toppling onto homes and cars.
The Los Angeles NWS office also warned of dangerous waters off the coast, signaling that surfers and boaters should stay out of the ocean on Monday and Tuesday.
“There is an increased risk of ocean drowning,” the NWS said. “Rip currents can pull swimmers and surfers out to sea. Waves can wash people off beaches and rocks, and capsize small boats near shore.”
In Orange County and the Inland Empire, a flood watch is in effect from late Monday through Tuesday evening.
The NWS predicts possible thunderstorms on Tuesday for downtown Riverside, Hemet and Temecula, where winds are expected to come in at 10 to 20 mph and some as high as 30 mph. In the mountains, gusts of 40 mph are expected Monday night, and 45 mph Tuesday evening.
The snow level is expected to get down to 5,500 by Tuesday evening.
The storm already battered much of Northern California and parts of the L.A. area last week and this weekend. Hundreds of thousands of people remained without power in the Sacramento area on Sunday, with widespread damage to roads, sidewalks, vehicles and homes reported.
Southern California escaped serious damage from last week’s storm, though shorelines were severely eroded and some piers were damaged.
City News Service contributed to this report.
Source: LA Daily News