Ventura River Breaches Its Banks, Floods RV Park
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VENTURA (CBSLA) — Fifty campers in the Ventura Beach RV Park were relocated Thursday just before the swollen Ventura River breached its banks and inundated the lot with muddy water.
The Ventura River at Foster Park rose 10 feet in three hours, prompting the evacuation of the Ventura Beach RV park. About 50 campers were relocated to Ventura state beach parking lot, and W. Main Street at Peking will remain closed until further notice.
Flood waters inundated the #Ventura Beach RV park off Main St and the 101 highway this morning. The Ventura River remains just above flood stage at 10am, but has peaked and is starting to drop. #CAwx #flood pic.twitter.com/iizm41rIUh
— NWS Los Angeles (@NWSLosAngeles) January 17, 2019
Pickup trucks and SUVs were inundated with muddy water nearly to their windows.
Nordhoff Ridge in Ventura County received the biggest rainfall total from this storm at 6.88 inches, according to the National Weather Service.
Matilija Dam in Ojai prompted mandatory evacuations for Matilija, Wheeler Springs, North Folk, and along the south coast of Ventura County.
Flash flood warnings and watches for the Thomas Fire burn areas in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties were canceled Thursday, but authorities say some areas may still remain dangerous because of the week-long soaking of rain.
Heavy rain started up again over Southern California overnight, making the situation in recent burn areas that have been soaked for the past three days even more precarious.
Flash Flood Watches canceled for Santa Barbara, Ventura, Los Angeles Counties. Threat for additional Flash Flooding has ended. Some areas may remain dangerous from earlier rains. If you evacuated, wait for instructions from emergency officials before returning. #CAwx #LArain
— NWS Los Angeles (@NWSLosAngeles) January 17, 2019