Warmer weather on tap for Southern California after weekend of storms
The Los Angeles County Fire Department’s emergency center was flooded with calls Friday from people with medical conditions who were trapped by floodwaters from the San Gabriel River.Photo: AP
LOS ANGELES — The San Gabriel River rose to its highest level on record Saturday as heavy rains swept through Southern California but were expected to recede in time for a holiday weekend holiday weekend.
The River, which has been rising since the weekend’s storms, was expected to crest at 3 feet, 3 1/2 inches Saturday morning.
The river was expected to continue to rise through the weekend, according to the National Weather Service, which issued a flood watch for much of the region. It was expected to crest on Sunday morning at 3 feet, 3 1/2 inches.
The weekend was expected to bring about 60 to 70 inches of rain to the area from storm runoff. Much of the rain was expected to fall in just a few hours on Sunday but several showers could linger until Tuesday, when temperatures were expected to dip to near single digits.
The rain is expected to turn the mountains of the San Joaquin Valley blue Saturday and Sunday when the sun sets and the sky is blue, but the river will drain by Monday morning into Monday night.
In downtown Los Angeles, nearly 200 businesses remained closed downtown Saturday, and police said traffic was at a standstill on the West Side Highway.
The street in front of a strip mall and the street in front of City Hall were both shut down due to flooding.
“It’s going to be a mess,” said a man who lives nearby. “We’ve been preparing for this all winter long.”
The Los Angeles County Fire Department’s emergency center was flooded with calls Friday from people with medical conditions who were trapped by floodwaters from the San Gabriel River. There was also a water main break in the same area that flooded the center.
The River was expected to crest at 3 feet, 3 1/2 inches Saturday morning. The water level was expected to fall to 4 feet by mid-afternoon, according to the National