Blizzard conditions, wet and freezing weather set in across Southern California

Friday, February 24, a "serious" flash flood warning was issued in Los Angeles County, the Grapevine was closed for several hours, and cars bobbled like boats down flooded streets as a major storm with blizzard-like conditions barreled towards Southern California.

Whiteouts and possibly even avalanches are predicted for the Los Angeles and San Bernardino mountains on Saturday.

 

The most of the rain was predicted to fall just after midnight and into Saturday morning, although the flash flood warning was only supposed to last until 10 p.m. on Friday.

National Weather Service meteorologist Ryan Kittell stated Friday afternoon that the storm's peak had not yet happened. The rain is already falling fairly heavily, and it will be the strongest between the hours of 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.

Whiteouts with heavy snow and drifts of 3,500 to 4,500 feet are anticipated during Saturday's blizzard, which has been predicted for days. This will make driving challenging to impossible, even for rescue teams. According to the National Weather Service, "the extraordinary amount of snow mixed with the high wind may result in extreme avalanche conditions throughout steeper terrain and at lower elevations than we generally observe in southern California."

The significant amounts of snowfall might harm roofs with shallow slopes and raise the risks of massive power outages and downed trees.

By Friday night, rainfall rates in some areas of Los Angeles County, mostly in the foothills and mountains, could reach one inch per hour. However areas near valleys and coasts were also likely to get significant rain.

Additionally, forecasters warned that thunderstorms might produce hazardous lightning, strong winds, and hail.

Residents of Southern California awakened on Friday to some erratic weather as the storm moved in. The uncommon blizzard warning was issued for the mountains in the counties of Los Angeles, San Bernardino, and Ventura. At least eight inches of snow fell in Wrightwood, while up to five inches fell in certain places in Riverside. Even the Hollywood sign and a few locations in the San Fernando Valley experienced moderate snowfall on Thursday.