Booming thunderstorms, lightning strikes, bursts of heavy rain and even pea-sized hail hit parts of Southern California on Tuesday afternoon, prompting flash flood warnings around the region and temporarily closing beaches.
The National Weather Service warned of life-threatening flooding, dangerous driving conditions, and the risk of lightning near the coastline.
Most areas in Los Angeles, Orange, and southern Riverside counties recorded about a quarter inch of rain, though heavier downpours hit parts of the Inland Empire, where radar showed 0.5 to 1.75 inches in areas under advisories and up to 2 inches in isolated spots under flash flood warnings.
Los Angeles County
A flash flood warning was in effect until 7 p.m. for Santa Clarita, Granada Hills, and Sylmar, where isolated thunderstorms brought heavy rain, gusty winds, and possible hail. Most of the county saw around a quarter inch of rain, but some areas experienced only trace amounts.
Eastern Los Angeles County saw pea-sized hail, NWS meteorologist Todd Hall said.
“We actually have a broad area of central and southern Los Angeles County in the flood advisories,” said NWS meteorologist Ariel Cohen. “That’s because we have numerous areas that have experienced moderate to heavy rainfall in isolated spots of heavy rain.”
Cohen said light to moderate showers and thunderstorms were expected to taper off between 7 and 8 p.m.
Orange County
Rainfall totals along the Orange County coast hovered around a quarter inch, with lingering thunderstorms continuing into the evening. A flash flood warning was issued for northern Orange County, and a flood advisory would remain in place through 8 p.m., warning of minor flooding in low-lying and poorly drained areas.
Cities affected by the advisory included Anaheim, Santa Ana, Huntington Beach, and Fullerton, where some areas saw 0.5 to 1 inch of rain. Other parts of the region saw less than a tenth of an inch of rain, according to NWS radars.
A beach hazards…
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