LOS ANGELES (AP) — Torrential rains have inundated parts of Southern California, leading to flash flood warnings as the region experiences near-record levels of rainfall for November, according to the National Weather Service.
Residents faced warnings for potential flash flooding affecting streets, creeks, and streams across various locations, including Los Angeles and Orange counties. Coastal areas like Huntington Beach saw intense rainfall leading to streams of water flowing through the streets.
The most recent alerts cover a wide range of areas from downtown Los Angeles to Mission Viejo in Orange County, as floodwaters trapped vehicles near Culver City.
A series of storms that began on November 13 has unleashed over four times the typical amount of rain expected in November—3.5 inches compared to the usual 0.78 inches in downtown Los Angeles.
Santa Barbara County has been particularly affected, with regions of the Santa Ynez Mountains receiving more than 15 inches of rain this month.
This weather pattern is a symptom of a potent atmospheric river that has already contributed to multiple fatalities earlier this month, causing concerns for mudslides in areas recently ravaged by wildfires.
Atmospheric rivers are defined as long, narrow bands of water vapor that move from the tropics to northern latitudes, carrying significant quantities of moisture.
