Heavy rain will continue to pummel Southern California through Friday, with flash flooding expected in the Los Angeles and San Diego metro areas, according to the National Weather Service. Rain will move into Arizona throughout the day, and could also cause flooding in the Phoenix area, forecasters said.
“This storm will dump a month's worth of rain in about 24 hours for parts of Southern California and Arizona,” AccuWeather Meteorologist Bernie Rhino said. Some mountainous areas near Los Angeles could pick up as much as 20 inches of rain by the time the storm is over, AccuWeather said.
In all, 26 million people live in California and the Desert Southwest where a flood watch is in effect as of Friday morning.
The weather service said that the rain would cause delays in passenger traffic by land and air. “Impacts to air travel can be expected across much of the western United States, with significant delays possible.”
SoCal storms can lead to mudslides and debris flows
In Southern California, rain is expected to fall across the region's coastal ranges on Friday, with flash flooding possible in urban areas, including the Los Angeles Basin. Mudslides and debris flows are possible in areas burned by wildfires, as well as areas with steep terrain, the weather service said.
The area witnessed scattered thunderstorms with some lightning strikes on Thursday night due to the storm affected by the El Niño phenomenon. The Ventura County cities of Oxnard and Port Hueneme issued evacuation orders for some coastal areas with at least one shelter open for fleeing residents.
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Arizona to see floods
The National Weather Service expects heavy to excessive rainfall affecting Southern California to move toward central and southern Arizona from Friday into early Saturday. These areas could also experience isolated and scattered areas of flash flooding.
“Some local gullies and burn scars closer to areas of steep terrain, as well as dry washes/arroyos over deserts, will be susceptible to seeing these runoff effects. However, in general, plenty of precipitation across these areas should be beneficial,” it said. Meteorological Service.
California weather map and warnings
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Rain and snow will hit the Pacific Northwest
To the north, a cold front will move across the Pacific Northwest and the Intermountain West during Friday and Saturday, according to the weather service. The areas will see rain at lower elevations but snowfall at higher elevations.
The Washington Range should see heavy snowfall, but snow will also fall over the northern and central Rockies.
Colorado's San Juan Mountains will see 1 to 2 feet of snow through Saturday due to a related storm system.
Washington weather map and warnings
Weather watches and warnings in the United States
National weather radar
