Rain Heads Into Desert For Third Day

PALM SPRINGS -A flash flood advisory is now in effect for portions of San Bernardino County until 6:45pm and a winter storm warning is in effect for the San Bernardino Mountains until Thursday evening.

The National Weather Service radar indicated a band of moderate to heavy rainfall moving into southwest San Bernardino.

This will likely produce minor flooding, ponding of water on roadways and rapidly running washes. Those traveling along Interstate 40 and Interstate 15 across San Bernardino County will need to use extra caution and expect reduced visibilities.

Locations impacted include Amboy, Barstow, Daggett, Joshua Tree, Lenwood, Ludlow, Nebo Center, Searles Valley, Trona, Twentynine Palms, Morongo Valley and Yucca Valley.

Up to an inch of rain is expected today in the Coachella Valley, as the third in a series of powerful winter storms sweeps the region.

In the mountains, the snow level will fall to 4,000-5,500 feet, and accumulations could reach somewhere between 2-to-4 feet. Winds will also be brisk in the mountains, gusting to 45 mph.

Another salvo of rain blasted the Southland today, causing sporadic flooding and giving urgency to pleas from city and county officials for residents to evacuate hundreds of homes in danger of mudslides from fire-denuded hillsides.

The leading edge of the storm — the third this week — hit the Greater Los Angeles Area overnight, but the heaviest rainfall began dousing the region by mid-afternoon. The downpour sent runoff and debris coursing down bare hillsides and filled catch basins in some foothill areas nearly to capacity, further increasing the flood danger.

A particularly strong wave of the storm rolled into the Manhattan Beach area around 3 p.m., prompting the National Weather Service to warn of possible water spouts and small-but-damaging tornadoes.

Forecasters said they expect between 2 and 5 inches of rain across coastal and valley areas between today and Thursday night, 5 to 10 inches in the foothills and mountains, with some torrential downpours expected.

They said the storm could produce rainfall rates of up to an inch per hour, increasing to 1.5 inches in areas hit by thunderstorms and over south-facing slopes, which includes the sites of the Station and Morris fires.

A flash flood warning was issued for those fire areas and will remain in effect until 6:30 p.m., although forecasters said the rain itself would likely weaken in the area by 5 p.m.

By mid-afternoon, a handful debris basins in the Station Fire area above La Canada Flintridge and La Crescenta were nearing capacity, officials said.

Evacuation orders went into effect this morning for 262 homes in the Southern Tujunga communities of Alpine Village, Seven Hills, Blanchard Canyon Road, Tujunga and Riverwood due to the possibility of flooding and mudslides.

Los Angeles County officials issued evacuation orders that apply to 489 homes in La Canada Flintridge, La Crescenta, Acton and Glendale, and 23 more homes were added to that list around midday.

Sierra Madre city officials also issued evacuation orders for residents in its canyon areas.

But despite the obvious threat of mudslides and flooding, dozens of residents refused to leave their homes, opting instead to ride out the storm.