Flash flooding wreaks havoc on Los Angeles area as powerful storm slams into Southern California
More than 20 million people from Southern California through central Arizona are under a Flood Watch. For many communities, the precipitation is the heaviest rainfall event since the remnants of Hurricane Hilary impacted the region in August.
Southern California faces significant flood threat
The threat for flooding is expected to continue through Friday in Southern California.
OXNARD, Calif. – Southern California continues to face a dangerous flood threat through Friday as heavy rain targets the Los Angeles and San Diego areas, before moving eastward.
More than 20 million people from Southern California through central Arizona remain under a Flood Watch as rainfall totals surpassed 10 inches in several mountain areas, while bringing a month's worth of rain in an hour in Ventura County.
The overall rainfall amounts combined with the potential for bursts of thunderstorm-triggered heavier rain, especially over recent wildfire burn-scar areas, prompted NOAA's Weather Prediction Center (WPC) to put a swath of Southern California in a Level 3 out of 4 risk zone for flash flooding.
(FOX Weather)
For many communities, the precipitation is the heaviest rainfall event since the remnants of Hurricane Hilary impacted the region in August.
Some of the hardest hit areas included Oxnard and Santa Barbara, where water rescues were needed.
A good Samaritan driver pulled two people from a vehicle before it was swept away and the American Red Cross opened at least one shelter.
WATCH: GOOD SAMARITAN RESCUES PEOPLE TRAPPED BY RISING FLOODWATER IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
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Oxnard, Port Hueneme residents wake up to flooded homes
Significant flash flooding occurred in the Oxnard area, the largest city in Ventura County, after 3.18 inches of rain fell in one hour – of which 2.25 inches fell in just 30 minutes. The city averages about 2.5 inches of rain for the entire month. Overall storm totals were just over 6 inches at the city's civic center by Friday morning. Photos shared on social media from Oxnard showed upwards of 2 feet of water on roads.
Larry Emerson, a resident of Port Hueneme in Ventura County, says he awoke to a frustrating sight Thursday morning when he found about a foot of water had seeped into his garage.
"Everything is wet and about a foot up on everything," he said. "The deluge must have gone through the entire garage. I got boxes destroyed… (The floodwaters) tipped over a commercial vacuum cleaner and got water on the inside. It was so forceful."
![Ventura County flooding]()
Image 1 of 12OXNARD, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 21: A street flooded after a heavy rain on December 21, 2023 in Oxnard, California. Southern California saw heavy rain storms that caused flooding and led to evacuations in Ventura County. (Photo by Apu Gomes/Getty Images)
![Ventura County flooding]()
Image 2 of 12PORT HUENEME, CA - DECEMBER 21: El Mirage barbershop owner Michael Ramirez sweeps away water on Thursday, Dec. 21, 2023 in Port Hueneme, CA. He got the phone flash flooding alert in the morning and came by at 4 a.m. but the streets were closed. He was able to get into his shop a little bit after 9 a.m. His neighboring businesses at the Mercado via Mar shopping center also suffered flood damage. (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
![Massive Storm Brings Flooding To Ventura County]()
Image 3 of 12OXNARD, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 21: City workers close a road after a creek overflows during heavy rains in Zuma Beach during heavy rains on December 21, 2023 in Malibu, California. Southern California saw heavy rain storms that caused flooding and led to evacuations in Ventura County. (Photo by Apu Gomes/Getty Images)
![The US 101 southbound off-ramp was closed at Garden Street in Santa Barbara, California, on Thursday. This photo shows conditions at Mission Street.]()
Image 4 of 12The US 101 southbound off-ramp was closed at Garden Street in Santa Barbara, California, on Thursday. This photo shows conditions at Mission Street. (Caltrans District 5)
![Garage doors are buckled from the force of floodwaters here in Port Hueneme, CA. Heavy rain caused nearby drainages to overflow, forcing evacuations. Luckily the waters have largely gone down here.]()
Image 5 of 12Garage doors are buckled from the force of floodwaters here in Port Hueneme, CA. Heavy rain caused nearby drainages to overflow, forcing evacuations. Luckily the waters have largely gone down here. (Max Gorden)
![Heavy rainfall caused significant flooding in the Port Hueneme, California, area Thursday morning.]()
Image 6 of 12Heavy rainfall caused significant flooding in the Port Hueneme, California, area Thursday morning. (Jacob Fonseca)
![Heavy rainfall caused significant flooding in the Port Hueneme, California, area Thursday morning.]()
Image 7 of 12Heavy rainfall caused significant flooding in the Port Hueneme, California, area Thursday morning. (Jacob Fonseca)
![The California Highway Patrol Ventura Communications Center issued a warning for drivers Thursday morning. They advised that if residents must drive in inclement weather, to please leave early, slow down and use their headlights.]()
Image 8 of 12The California Highway Patrol Ventura Communications Center issued a warning for drivers Thursday morning. They advised that if residents must drive in inclement weather, to please leave early, slow down and use their headlights. ( )
![Massive street flooding could be seen in Oxnard, California, early Thursday morning, Dec. 21, 2023, along West Channel Islands Boulevard and South J Street.]()
Image 9 of 12Massive street flooding could be seen in Oxnard, California, early Thursday morning, Dec. 21, 2023, along West Channel Islands Boulevard and South J Street. (@vvdreaa / X)
![Severe storm clouds move through Ventura County, California, overnight.]()
Image 10 of 12Severe storm clouds move through Ventura County, California, overnight. (@monicamonroe/X)
![Left lane is closed as cars commute on Highway 101 near the San Francisco International Airport (SFO) as heavy rain hits in South San Francisco, California, United States on December 20, 2023.]()
Image 11 of 12Left lane is closed as cars commute on Highway 101 near the San Francisco International Airport (SFO) as heavy rain hits in South San Francisco, California, United States on December 20, 2023. (Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu)
![People make their way across Broadway during a morning downpour in Santa Monica on December 20, 2023.]()
Image 12 of 12People make their way across Broadway during a morning downpour in Santa Monica on December 20, 2023. (Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times)
Luz Rodriguez told FOX 11 Los Angeles she opened her door and water rushed in like a river. The water was so high firefighters had to use a battering ram to get her out.
"My Yorki was swimming behind me. My nightstands were floating around, the furniture was everywhere," Rodriguez told FOX 11.
About 60 homes were flooded, and even a senior living center had to be evacuated. First responders had to use high-wheeled vehicles to evacuate about 20 people.
During the peak of the flooding, Ventura County Fire reported that they received approximately 275 calls within a span of five hours, according to public information officer Andy VanSciver. That is significantly higher than their usual call volume of less than 200 calls per day.
"This storm was a little bit unique to the Port Hueneme, Oxnard area. This is a coastal community, so it's rather flat to begin with here by the ocean," VanSciver said. "And so the flood control channels were overwhelmed. I did hear on my response in as I was gathering information both on the police radio and the FM radio that the National Weather Service was reporting that it had received an enormous amount of rain. Sometimes they were saying maybe more than we've ever received in the last 30 to 40 years in such a short period of time."
More than 10 inches of rain fell in some areas
By the end of the week, between 5 and 8 inches of rain is forecast to fall in several areas, with some places experiencing even higher amounts, keeping an ongoing risk of flash and urban flooding.
(FOX Weather)
Some mountainous areas in Southern California reported rainfall totals over 10 inches through the week as of Friday morning.
Rocky Butte in San Luis Obispo County reported just over 16 inches through Friday, while Ventura County's Old Man Mountain had 13.90 inches, according to the National Weather Service.
(FOX Weather)
Closer to the metro area, Beverly Hills had 3.25 inches of rain while Los Angeles's LAX airport reported just under 3 inches Friday morning.
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Severe weather jolts residents as Tornado Warnings issued in Ventura County
For some, the storms didn't just bring heavy rain and flooding, but a threat of severe weather.
Severe storms, flash flooding hit California
Southern California is being hammered by a powerful storm that has slammed into the West Coast, bringing with it heavy rain that could lead to flash flooding.
Early Thursday morning, two Tornado Warnings were issued for the Oxnard area after Doppler Radar indicated possible rotation inside passing thunderstorms. The Tornado Warnings were the first issued by the National Weather Service's Los Angeles office during the month of December since 2008.
Here's a look at the latest storm reports in Southern California.
(FOX Weather)
"At one point, we had over 350,000 people under a Tornado Warning and also a Flash Flood Warning," FOX Weather Meteorologist Britta Merwin said.
Snow blankets the Sierra Nevada
The same system is also dropping heavy snow over the highest elevations of California's Sierra Nevada Mountains, with lower snow amounts over the highest elevations of the Washington and Oregon Cascades and parts of Idaho and Nevada.
(FOX Weather)
Rain was forecast to slowly head east through the day Friday, drying out Southern California from west to east and shifting heavy rains and the flooding threat into parts of Arizona.