Fire-Affected Areas Under Flood Watch, Snow Chance Extends to High Deserts
A system delivering cold temperatures, mountain snow, and the possibility of thunderstorms will become widespread on Sunday, following its introduction with scattered showers on Saturday. This marks the first significant system of the season, bringing with it a flurry of weather advisories, including flood watches in fire-charred areas and winter weather advisories for the mountains.
Rain
Sunday’s rainfall will be accompanied by a chance of thunderstorms across the Southland, with the chance increasing later in the day through Monday. This prompted the National Weather Service to issue a flood watch for areas affected by the Palisades, Eaton, and Hughes Fire.
"This is when we expect those thunderstorms to develop, and we will be watching those recent burn scars," said NBC4 Meteorologist Shanna Mendiola. "This is mainly for those areas with a possibility of thunderstorms later this afternoon. We could be seeing heavier rain rates in those areas, and that’s when the risk of mud and debris flow happens for us here."
A flood watch is in effect from 4 p.m. Sunday to 4 p.m. Monday, with the threat of mudslides and local street flooding possible if the rain falls quickly. "It’s not going to be anything that’s too bad, but we will see occasional showers that may pick up, and that’s when you’re going to find those issues. So, drive slowly and safely today," Mendiola advised.
Snow
With the widespread rain, the snow chance in Southern California has extended from mountain communities to the high deserts, too. The Grapevine may see a dusting of snow, but if so, that will most likely occur overnight into Monday. Areas such as Gorman, Lancaster, and Victorville may also get a blanket of snow.
"We typically don’t see snow there, but that’s what’s going to happen with this system as it’s a very cold winter storm," Mendiola said. Elevations from 4,000 feet and up may see 3 to 6 inches of snow, while higher elevations of 5,000 and up may get 6 to 12 inches.
Conclusion
The National Weather Service has issued a flood watch for areas affected by the Palisades, Eaton, and Hughes Fire, and a winter weather advisory for the mountains. Residents are advised to prepare for the worst-case scenario and to drive slowly and safely.
FAQs
- What is the risk of mudslides and debris flow?
- The risk is high, especially in areas with recent burn scars.
- What is the chance of snow in high deserts?
- The chance of snow has extended to high deserts, including areas such as Gorman, Lancaster, and Victorville.
- What is the expected snowfall in the mountains?
- Elevations from 4,000 feet and up may see 3 to 6 inches of snow, while higher elevations of 5,000 and up may get 6 to 12 inches.
