Drivers Navigate Flooded Streets In Sepulveda Basin
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — The second of four El Nino storms expected this week brought sometimes-intense rainfall to the Southland Tuesday, flooding intersections in the San Fernando Valley and creating challenging road conditions.
Rain began falling overnight and continued through the morning rush hour and into midday, making driving hazardous as water began pooling on streets.
By midmorning, the Sepulveda Basin area began flooding, and a series of streets were blocked as water levels rose. One motorist driving a Mini Cooper found himself trapped when water rose up to the car's doors. The man crawled out of the car and waded to safety without assistance from rescue crews.
The flooding resulted in multiple street closures near the basin.
"There's a lot of water," said one motorist, Spencer Sacks. "It looks like you're driving through a pool almost."
According to the Los Angeles Police Department, streets were blocked at Burbank Boulevard at the San Diego (405) Freeway, Burbank and Hayvenhurst Avenue, Burbank and Balboa Boulevard, Burbank and Victory, and Woodley and Victory.
Long Beach fire crews, meanwhile, rescued a person from rushing water in the Los Angeles River shortly after noon. Los Angeles Fire Department crews responded to a series of calls about people possibly trapped in rushing water, but most turned out to be unfounded.
Crews did manage to rescue a dog that was trapped in about a foot of water in the 820 block of North Lena Avenue in West Hills.
LAPD Chief Charlie Beck reminded residents not to cross flowing water or mud
Elsewhere in Los Angeles County, two mountain roads will be closed for the remainder of Tuesday due to anticipated hazardous driving conditions.
According to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works, Lake Hughes Road is closed between Warm Springs and Newvale Drive. Glendora Ridge Road is closed between Glendora Mountain and Mount Baldy roads. The roads will reopen "once conditions permit," the county said.
Rainfall totals varied across the area, with the National Weather Service reporting around 1.7 inches over the past 24 hours in Newhall, 1.9 inches in Griffith Park, 1.4 inches at Los Angeles International Airport, 2 inches in Alhambra and San Gabriel and north of Pasadena.
The storm, however, "has pushed through the area today, leaving behind slowly clearing skies and a few lingering showers," according to the NWS.
"Most of tonight should be dry across the area as weak ridging develops ahead of the next storm for Wednesday."
Forecasters said Wednesday's storm will be similar to today's, with rain rates "similar or perhaps a tad lower than today."
More storm activity is expected through the end of the week.
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