Spring Showers Flood Roadways, Cause Power Outages Across SoCal
LOS ANGELES (CBS/AP) — An early spring storm pounded Southern California Sunday, flooding roadways, causing power outages and dumping snow on mountain areas as low as 4,500 feet.
The brunt of the slow-moving system was felt in coastal areas like Malibu, where nearly two inches of rain has fallen since mid-morning, according to National Weather Service meteorologist Curt Kaplan. More than an inch was reported in Oxnard and Ventura.
Temperatures topped out at around 60 degrees.
The weather service issued flood warnings as the storm headed west through Los Angeles and the San Gabriel Valley. Traffic was snarled on the 110 and 10 freeways in LA because of standing water and mud in lanes.
Snow and strong winds were reported along Interstate 5 at the Grapevine but the CHP said all lanes were open. Several spinouts and minor crashes were reported along the freeway.
Winds whipped so hard that they toppled a 125-foot tree on Hatillo Street, in Winnetka, snapping power lines on the way down.
Police were advising drivers in the west area of the San Fernando Valley to avoid the roads near Sepulveda Dam as heavy rains continue to flood Burbank Boulevard between Woodley Avenue and Balboa Boulevard.
The Auto Club 400 NASCAR race at Fontana was terminated after 258 miles because of the wet track.
Southern California Edison reported that, by nightfall Sunday, more than 6,600 customers have lost power because of the storm. The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power estimated that 10,000 of their customers were affected by power outages.
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