By Brian Hews
A flash flood watch is in effect for the mountains of Los Angeles County (excluding the Santa Monica range), the mountains of Ventura County and the Antelope Valley from noon through 9 pm PDT today.
According to the National Weather Service, “conditions are favorable for slow moving thunderstorms to develop today.”
In the warning, officials said “any thunderstorm that does develop may bring heavy rainfall which could cause flash flooding, especially around the Wrightwood area in the San Gabriel mountain range as well as the dry washes and arroyos in the Antelope Valley.”
Officials warn “do not attempt to cross a road if it is flooded or if water is swiftly flowing across it. There is also a slight chance that a thunderstorm could drift off the mountains to the foothills of the San Gabriel and San Fernando Valleys late this afternoon.”
* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR…
EAST CENTRAL LOS ANGELES COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST CALIFORNIA…
* UNTIL 545 PM PDT
* AT 439 PM PDT…NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING NICKEL SIZE HAIL…AND
DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH. THIS STORM WAS LOCATED 7 MILES
NORTH OF FALLING SPRINGS…OR 21 MILES NORTHEAST OF SIERRA MADRE…
AND MOVING SOUTHWEST AT 5 MPH.
* THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WILL CROSS OVER THE ANGELES CREST HIGHWAY
IN THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY MOUNTAINS WITHIN THE NEXT 10 MINUTES.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
THIS IS A DANGEROUS STORM. IF YOU ARE IN ITS PATH…PREPARE
IMMEDIATELY FOR DAMAGING WINDS…DESTRUCTIVE HAIL…AND DEADLY CLOUD
TO GROUND LIGHTNING. PEOPLE OUTSIDE SHOULD MOVE TO A SHELTER…
PREFERABLY INSIDE A STRONG BUILDING BUT AWAY FROM WINDOWS.
