Southern California is currently grappling with the looming threat of severe flooding as the National Weather Service (NWS) has issued both a Flood Watch and a Flood Advisory for several counties in the region. The affected areas include Santa Barbara, Ventura, and Los Angeles counties, as well as the offshore islands, with the potential for excessive rainfall leading to dangerous flooding conditions.
The Flood Watch, in effect until 10:00 PM PST, warns of the possibility of flooding caused by heavy rainfall, with road closures, rockslides, mudslides, and shallow flooding of buildings expected. Rivers and creeks are at risk of heavy and dangerous flows, potentially overflowing and necessitating swift water rescues. Recent burn scars, particularly in the Palisades, Eaton, and Bridge areas, face a moderate risk of significant and damaging debris flows.
On the other hand, the Flood Advisory, valid until 7:00 AM PST, highlights the ongoing threat of minor flooding in low-lying and poor drainage areas due to heavy rain. Doppler radar and rain gauges indicate rainfall rates between 0.25 and 0.50 inches per hour, with some locations already experiencing between 1.5 and 5.1 inches of rain. Areas such as Oxnard, Ventura, Santa Barbara, and Camarillo are particularly vulnerable to water over roadways and urban flooding.
The situation is exacerbated by the potential for thunderstorms, with rainfall rates of up to 1 inch per hour near thunderstorms and south-facing foothills and mountains. The risk of overflowing poor drainage areas causing minor flooding remains high, prompting residents to exercise caution and stay informed about the evolving weather conditions.
These weather events underscore the importance of preparedness and vigilance in the face of extreme weather phenomena. As climate change continues to influence weather patterns, communities must adapt and implement strategies to mitigate the impact of severe weather events like flooding.
#CaliforniaWeather #FloodWatch #ClimateChange #NexSouk #AIForGood
References:
– NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA. (n.d.). Flood Watch issued November 15 at 3:02AM PST. [https://api.weather.gov/alerts/urn:oid:2.49.0.1.840.0.f499f8f004c470f49cdc9d464fd69fcb2f288374.001.1.cap]
– NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA. (n.d.). Flood Advisory issued November 15 at 3:25AM PST. [https://api.weather.gov/alerts/urn:oid:2.49.0.1.840.0.5ab5642bdcb28bd14b81b254e04405cceec0679d.001.1.cap]
– National Weather Service. (n.d.). Flood Safety Tips and Resources. [http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood]
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