A sweeping storm system brought intense rainfall and pockets of severe weather to Southern California, soaking roadways, snarling commutes and prompting a wave of flood advisories that stretched from the beaches to the inland valleys.
Drivers in several Los Angeles neighborhoods awoke to cars partially submerged after powerful downpours overwhelmed storm drains. In the Palms area, residents shared images of parking garages filled waist deep with murky water. Along the coast, multiple freeway ramps were temporarily shut down as fast moving runoff spilled across the pavement.
The National Weather Service reported isolated thunderstorms throughout the day, including cells that produced brief bursts of hail and cloud to ground lightning. Although the system moved steadily eastward by evening, forecasters cautioned that saturated neighborhoods remain vulnerable to additional flooding should another burst of rain form nearby.
Officials urged commuters to allow extra time on the roads and to avoid areas with standing water, noting that several of the week’s traffic incidents were linked to vehicles attempting to drive through flooded intersections.
