Scattered storms, lightning hit Southern California and prompt beach closures
A big storm in Southern California will put a crimp in plans to host the annual Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, canceling the annual car show and sending thousands of people home to check on their homes.
A big storm in Southern California will put a crimp in plans to host the annual Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, canceling the annual car show and sending thousands of people home to check on their homes. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
It is a perfect storm: An all-out deluge that floods streets, shuts down all the freeways from Los Angeles to San Diego. The California State University, Fullerton canceled classes Tuesday.
And, as the evening rush hour was approaching, a storm was forming in the mountains above San Diego, the first significant storm of the year over the Central Valley.
And, as the evening rush hour was approaching, a storm was forming in the mountains above San Diego, the first significant storm of the year over the Central Valley. (Matt York/AP)
Forecasters said it was a strong storm, with winds of up to 50 miles an hour, that would bring heavy rain, potentially flooding and flash rain in Southern California.
“It’s a nightmare for the coast,” said Robert Breen, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard. “Storms like this usually come from big storms off the Pacific coast, but this one is from the mountains, and that’s a big difference.”
Southern California was warned of storms through the afternoon, and officials began evacuating homes. Several highways leading into the region were shut down as heavy rains and flooding became a possibility.
“We are concerned for our residents, our visitors and our beachgoers,” Mayor Bob Filner said early Tuesday. “Please stay off the beaches and protect yourselves if you are heading to the beach.”
An evacuation center was
