Sudden thunderstorm drops heavy rain and hail across Los Angeles County
A powerful thunderstorm swept through northern and central Los Angeles County on Thursday afternoon, March 7, 2024, bringing with it heavy rain, hail, and an increased risk of flooding. Flash flood warnings were put into effect for parts of Ventura and Los Angeles counties, as the storm traveled eastward, affecting regions from the San Fernando Valley to the San Gabriel Valley.
The origins of the storm can be traced back to a cold, rainy system that made its presence known in the area on Wednesday. While the storm showed signs of dissipation early Thursday, lingering storm cells revitalized in the afternoon and then spread across various parts of Los Angeles County.
The storm was characterized by lightning, heavy pockets of rain and hail that reportedly reached the size of quarters, prompting meteorological authorities to issue flash flood warnings for parts of Ventura and Los Angeles counties.
As the storm cells made their way east through the region, communities from the San Fernando Valley through the San Gabriel Valley found themselves under the threat of sudden flooding.
Thunder and lightning rolling in #CAwx #SantaMonica pic.twitter.com/qyAGhFuLUi
— Laughing Divas (@thelauralinden) March 8, 2024
Some lightning and a wall cloud it’s been a good day! #cawx @NWSSanDiego pic.twitter.com/y5kXofrI6X
— FirePhotoGirl (@FirePhotoGirl) March 8, 2024
The following table shows 12-hour rainfall totals for this event through 20:00 LT, March 7:
| Location | Rainfall (inches) | Rainfall (mm) |
|---|---|---|
| SIERRA MADRE (LA COUNTY) | 2.09 | 53.01 |
| NORTHRIDGE (LA COUNTY) | 0.92 | 23.37 |
| SANTA FE DAM (LA COUNTY) | 0.71 | 18.03 |
| SANTA ANITA DAM (LA COUNTY) | 0.67 | 17.02 |
| CRYSTAL LAKE (LA COUNTY) | 0.63 | 16 |
| BIG DALTON DAM (LA COUNTY) | 0.55 | 13.98 |
| SEPULVEDA CYN AT MULH (LA COUNTY) | 0.47 | 11.94 |
| VAN NUYS (KVNY) (LA COUNTY) | 0.46 | 11.69 |
| EAST PASADENA (LA COUNTY) | 0.37 | 9.4 |
| CLAREMONT (LA COUNTY) | 0.35 | 8.9 |
Meteorologists anticipated that the storm would subside by Thursday evening, forecasting a clear and cool weekend ahead.
References:
1 Sudden thunderstorm slams SoCal with hail, heavy rain – ABC7 – March 8, 2024
2 PRECIPITATION SUMMARY – NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOS ANGELES/OXNARD CA – 824 PM PST THU MAR 07 2024
Featured image credit: Laughing Divas (@thelauralinden) (stillshot)
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