Los Angeles Weather: Rain forecast sparks flash flood concerns
LOS ANGELES - A cold storm system moves into Southern California this weekend, bringing with it the chance for rain and snow in some areas, also sparking concern for flash floods in recent burn scar areas.
Rain
According to the National Weather Service (NWS), light rain is expected to fall Saturday through Monday in parts of Ventura, Santa Barbara, and LA counties.
Rain fall totals are estimated to be under .1 to 0.5" and 0.5 to 1.5" in the San Gabriel Mountains.
Forecasters from NWS say rain could arrive as early as Saturday afternoon and last till Monday night. The highest chances for rain are expected on Sunday.
Thunderstorms
There is also a 10 to 20% chance of thunderstorms. With heavy rain, there is a risk for flash flooding and mudslides in the fire zone areas. NWS forecasters say the rain appears to be more beneficial to burn scar areas instead of being hazardous.
RELATED:
- Hughes Fire in Castaic prompts evacuations, school closures
- Trump threatens to withhold federal aid for Los Angeles over state's water policies – what to know
"If stronger storms pass over a burn scar they could cause debris flows. It's a fairly low chance, but we cannot completely rule it out," the NWS said in a post online.
Snow
Many mountain communities could receive snow through the weekend.
One to four inches of snow is expected in most mountain areas, while the San Gabriel Mountains could receive between four and eight inches. One to two inches of snow is also expected to fall over the Tejon Pass on the 5 freeway.
Officials urge drivers to check road conditions and any closures prior to entering the mountain region. The rain and snow could create slick roads and hazardous driving conditions.
"Slick roadways are expected above 3500 feet with winter driving conditions at the higher elevations, especially in the San Gabriels," NWS officials wrote in a statement.
Drivers in the area are urged to carry chains and winter driving supplies.
Fire weather conditions
Dangerous fire weather conditions will persist through Friday, with the current Red Flag warning expected to expire by 10 a.m.