Flash floods, thunderstorms expected in Los Angeles County

With heavy rain drenching eastern parts of Los Angeles County, the National Weather Service issued a flash flood warning late Thursday afternoon.

Officials recorded rain falling at a rate of up to 1.25 inches an hour, with flooding expected on roadways in the Antelope Valley and other rural areas in the eastern part of the county, the weather service said.

Forecasters said there was a chance that thunderstorms could sweep through the mountains of Ventura, Los Angeles and Santa Barbara counties, with small storm systems possibly straying to coastal areas.

Bonnie Bartling, a specialist with the weather service’s office in Oxnard, said residents reported flooding on Highway 138 in the Antelope Valley and on roads about nine miles east of Lake Los Angeles.

“It’s not widespread rain,” Bartling said.

By 7 p.m., the storms were “winding down” as temperatures cooled with the sunset, she said.

Overnight, Los Angeles and Ventura counties have a slight chance of light rain. After storm cells move out of Southern California, heavy winds will probably blow through, with gusts of up to 55 mph anticipated Saturday, the weather service said.

The region will begin to warm up Sunday, with temperatures returning to the 80s in the coastal flats and valleys for the start of next week, Bartling said.

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