A major storm slammed the Southern California Thursday, closing down major freeways while toppling trees, prompting serious flooding and created chaos on roadways.
Strong winds, cold temperatures, and rain showers in Los Angeles area by late Christmas afternoon. However, the brunt of the storm hit the county about 9 p.m. Wednesday and was expected to continue through early afternoon Thursday. National Weather Service said a winter storm warning remains in effect until 10 p.m. Thursday.
The 5 Freeway through the Grapevine and 15 Freeway, according to the California Highway Patrol, were shut down in both directions as the heavy snow left multiple vehicles trapped. No estimated time was available on when the interstate might reopen.
Torrential rainfalls caused the closure of 118 Freeway near the 405 Freeway in Mission Hills. The closure was canceled; however, several drivers were stuck after trying to cross the washed-out roadway.
Multiple vehicles were brought to a standstill as they attempted to barrel through standing water in the 710 Freeway near Highway 91 in Long Beach as the highway turned into a river. The flooding made an almost three-hour closure in both ways..
Officials reported that a man was saved from the raging waters of the Sepulveda Basin as the storm brought depths up to six feet. The person was taken to a local hospital for a possible hypothermia.
Alhambra was one of the hardest hit areas in the area, where 3.26 inches of rain fell. Huntington, in the other hand, had 2.44 inches of rain.
A large tree was uprooted outside an apartment complex in Woodland Hills, where 2.39 inches of rain fell. The tree blocked all lanes of Burbank Boulevard and damaged the entrance of the apartment building.
No injuries were reported in the Woodland Hills or Lynwood incidents; however, the storm caused a tree to crash down on two families' homes in Lynwood.
Andy Cisneros, a homeowner in Lynwood, narrated that the area was raining hard at around 2 a.m. to 3 a.m. She added she heard a loud noise and was unsure if it was a lighning or a car crash.
"When I [inspected] outside [of my house], I was able to see a big tree on top of my house," Cisneros told ABC7.
Saul Zavala, another homeowner in Lynwood, told ABC7 that his daughter was sleeping in her bedroom when the tree struck the other house. "[It is currently] being stuck up by the gate and the neighbor's car," he said.
Burn areas were warned by officials to prepare for possible flooding. Residents in Simi Valley, where the Easy Fire scorched over more than 1,800 acres around Halloween this year, received sandbags from Ventura County Fire Department.
K-rails lined up along Sepulveda Boulevard, near the Getty Fire burn area, to prevent mud and debris from blocking the road.
People enjoying their holidays in cities throughout the Southland were caught off-guard as they emerged from seeing movies and exchanging Christmas gifts had to run from cover against the rain and wind.
Collin Larsh, who was at the Santa Monica pier as he visited town for the Rose Bowl, told ABC7 that the pier was cold and wet. "It's [pretty windy on] the pier," he said. "The situation is better than that [on Wisconsin] so I can't really complain," he said.
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