Another wave of heavy rain is expected to pound Southern California later on Christmas Day – Press Enterprise

Many Southern California residents woke up to a reprieve from the rain on Christmas morning, but another storm surge is expected to pound the region later in the day, forecasters said, with more flooding, mudslides and downed trees expected.

“Locally heavy rain is expected during the day (Thursday afternoon) and into early Friday morning, especially in the mountains, with rain rates up to a 0.50-0.75 inches per hour possible,” the National Weather Service said. “Given the amount of water that fell (Wednesday) it won’t take much additional rain to generate significant impacts, including additional mud and rock slides through the canyons and dangerous flooding on area roads and highways.”

A wind advisory will remain in effect until at least 3 p.m. Thursday.

Forecasters said another 2 to 5 inches of rain are likely to fall in the mountains during the second wave, but some other areas should receive less than 2 inches, unless isolated thunderstorms develop with heavy rains.

“Showers are expected to become more scattered Friday but most areas should get at least some additional rain through Friday and possible into early Saturday morning,” forecasters said.

The first wave of a dangerous atmospheric river storm dumped torrential rain on Southern California on Wednesday, with double-digit precipitation falling in some mountain areas, widespread debris flows and freeway flooding in urban areas. Cars got stuck on washed-out roads. Evacuation warnings and orders were in effect in vulnerable areas, including those near wildfire burn scars, across the region.

Gov. Gavin Newsom issued a state of emergency for LA, Orange, Riverside, and San Bernardino counties and elsewhere in anticipation of the storm’s impacts. The declaration allows state agencies to pre-deploy emergency resources, including additional emergency responders.

This is a developing story. Please check back for more.

City News Service contributed to this report.

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