Southern California is experiencing on-and-off rain on Easter Sunday, with some beaches closed because of lightning strikes and a chance of thunderstorms forecast through the night.
A flood watch is in effect until 6 p.m. Sunday for Los Angeles County, with a high surf advisory at the county’s beaches until 9 p.m.
Shortly after 1:30 p.m., the city of Laguna Beach issued an announcement that beaches would be closed due to a lightning storm and were to reopen 30 minutes after it passed.
Several daily rainfall records were set on Saturday, according to the National Weather Service.
Downtown Los Angeles set a record with 1.73 inches, breaking the record of 1.27 inches in 1946. LAX received 1.87 inches, surpassing 1946’s .86 inches. Long Beach Airport set a record with 1.86 inches, breaking the record of .24 inches set in 1978. Palmdale and Lancaster also set records with 1.12 inches and 1.08 inches, respectively.
In Orange County, Anaheim set a record with 1.40 inches, compared to 0.03 in 2008. Inland, Riverside’s record on Saturday was 0.84, toppling 0.60 in 1946, and San Jacinto’s rainfall hit 0.95, up from the .40 record set in 1982.
Sunday’s rainfall totals will be highly variable, according to the NWS, with many areas receiving an additional 0.25 to 0.50 inches, and a chance of some small areas receiving up to an additional inch if a strong thunderstorm passes overhead.
Snow levels will remain in the 4,500- to 5,500-foot range, with an additional 6 to 12 inches likely above 5,000 or 6,000 feet.
The rain led to flooding and street closures in some areas and some power outages on Saturday.
The city of Los Angeles temporarily closed the Sepulveda Basin around midday Saturday. The closure spanned Burbank Boulevard between Balboa Boulevard and the 405 Freeway, and on Woodley Avenue from Victory to Burbank Boulevard.
Also closed for the duration of the storm was the on-ramp to the southbound 5 Freeway from Lankershim Boulevard in Sun Valley, where Caltrans crews were installing three extra pumps to prevent the highway from flooding.
Caltrans said the freeway remained open through the Grapevine on Sunday, but drivers should expect rain and high winds over the summit.
In Long Beach, a 20-foot Eucalyptus tree uprooted and fell on a house on E. Allington Street early Sunday, ABC7 reported. The roof was heavily damaged, but no injuries were reported.
Mapped: Where the most rain fell in Orange County on Easter weekend
In Fullerton, a black Nissan Altima was found 90% submerged in a ditch off the Orange (57) Freeway and Chapman Avenue at 10:06 a.m. Saturday.
The person who reported the incident said the sedan spun out and went off the right shoulder into a ditch. There was no one inside the car when first responders arrived.
Rain chances remain fairly high (70-90%) today along with a slight chance (15-20%) of thunderstorms through this afternoon.
If thunder roars, put a quick pause on the Easter Egg Hunt and head indoors! 🐇🐰🥚🥚 #CAwx pic.twitter.com/p6a2KVNTDe
— NWS San Diego (@NWSSanDiego) March 31, 2024
A chain link fence was damaged and the car was facing sideways in the ditch.
The CHP said the owner wanted to see the car for herself, and that she understood there would be no attempt to recover it until the weather improved.
Forecasters said the rain would move on by Monday, though daytime temperatures will remain well below normal, with most highs in the 50s and low 60s.
A high pressure system will move temperatures substantially higher Tuesday and Wednesday, into the mid-70s in some areas. Gusty northwest winds and cooler conditions will increase the chances of another round of light rain by the end of the week.
Car underwater in flood control channel in Fullerton as storm drenches Southern California