Huge western storms....big changes coming this week....

[WXBUFFJIM]

Some amazing stats this morning out of California. First rainfall amounts totaled over 2 feet since Friday in southern California foothills. Southwest facing hills north and northeast of Los Angeles were most susceptbile to flooding and mudslides and debris flows. With 1-2 feet of rain, that's a given.

LOS ANGELES COUNTY MOUNTAINS AND FOOTHILLS

OPIDS CAMP.................. 24.03
TANBARK..................... 17.49
SAN ANTONIO DAM............. 12.40
MILL CK RAWS................ 12.61
MT. BALDY FS................ 15.70
WHITAKER PEAK............... 9.26

There was also torrential rains in Los Angeles over the weekend. Prior to the event on Friday Los Angeles received 10.31 inches of rain since christmas. The annual rainfall total for Los Angeles is 15.14 inches. The point is we will surpass that annual rainfall in Los Angeles in 2 weeks time. Add another 2-4 inches to these totals below for today and tomorrow.

LOS ANGELES COUNTY METROPOLITAN AREAS

LA AIRPORT.................. 3.54
DOWNTOWN LA................. 5.39
LONG BEACH.................. 4.68
SANTA MONICA ARPT........... 5.35
BEVERLY HILLS............... 9.05

Snow has also piled up in the Sierra Nevada with 72 inches reported at Heavenly from this storm at last check, but there is likely more than that right now. 111 inches of snow occurred at Heavenly from the last series of storms. Previously there was over 15 feet of snow at Heavenly when I last checked. However as I speak there are reports that snow has accumulated up to 19 feet at Heavenly Ski Resort in over 2 weeks time.
Expect another 3-5 feet of snow to fall there during the next 48 hours as a motherload storm system rorars through California.

..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..

0645 AM TORNADO 3 N OXNARD 34.24N 119.21W
01/10/2005 VENTURA CA LAW ENFORCEMENT

CHP REPORTED A TORNADO TOUCHDOWN IN EL RIO. DAMAGE AND
INTENSITY UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME.

A tornado was recently reported in Venutra County at 9:45 am eastern time. Damage from this is unknown. But more heavy rain only will aggreviate the ongoing problems in California. This same storm system will move eastward and provide severe weather for the southern Plains and the Arklatex Wednesday afternoon and night with a significant outbreak of severe possible.

There are winter storm watches up for the Quad Cities and the Chicago area for Tuesday, Tuesday night, and all the way through early Wednesday as ice become an issue. Warmer air will override a warm front across the Quad Cities and Chicago area providing a shallow layer of sub freezing air near the surface. As rain hits the surface it freezes on contact and that's the problem will be facing in this case. 1/4-1/2 inch of ice is likely to fall in the Quad Cities and Chicago area Tuesday through early Wednesday before changing over to heavy rain and possibly some flooding rains in spots. Temps will be near 50 degrees Wednesday afternoon for Chicago and the Quad Cities. Much colder temperatures will roar in behind an arctic cold front across the Midwest and the eastern part of the country Friday and into the weekend. High temperatures on Friday in Chicago and the Quad Cities will not get above 5 degrees with wind chills down to 20-25 below zero. Wind chill advisories and warnings will likely be required for this outbreak, the coldest of the season most likely for the upper midwest. The contrast in the two airmasses will be one of the ingredients needed for Wednesday's possible severe weather outbreak as mentioned above.

Lots going on this week, stick around.

[aveosmth]

These storms have absolutely been catastrophic here in Los Angeles. We have 3 confirmed fatalities due to the weather, and our most dynamic storm will hit us tonight into tomorrow. The tropical moisture provided one deluge of rain after another and to have our annual rainfall in 2 weeks has really been tough. I'm glad to see us getting a break so we can dry out.

[Guest]

These storms have absolutely been catastrophic here in Los Angeles. We have 3 confirmed fatalities due to the weather, and our most dynamic storm will hit us tonight into tomorrow. The tropical moisture provided one deluge of rain after another and to have our annual rainfall in 2 weeks has really been tough. I'm glad to see us getting a break so we can dry out.

Wow, my brother's house in Chino Hills got flooded to the point his drains could not hold the water anymore.

[aveosmth]

Very sad weekend for a lot of families unfortunately. Six more confirmed deaths brings the total to 9...one especially tragic, a mother accidently dropped her 2 year old infant while a rescue helicopter was hoisting them to safety. It makes you feel bad for hoping for this kind of weather...........

[JenyEliza]

Very sad weekend for a lot of families unfortunately. Six more confirmed deaths brings the total to 9...one especially tragic, a mother accidently dropped her 2 year old infant while a rescue helicopter was hoisting them to safety. It makes you feel bad for hoping for this kind of weather...........

This is so sad.

[krysof]

oh my!

[madscientist]

I guess this should put a major dent in the Western Drought. Now, all we need is for this rain and snow to fall over the Rockies.

[Chris the Weather Man]

My poor Grandpa.... He is on vacation, and he expected it to be dry, let alone 6-9" of rain!!!

[aveosmth]

Yeah, you know its bad when the storm is the ONLY news shown here for the past 2 1/2 hours. Unfortunately we have had a major landslide in Ventura County (about 80 miles NW of Los Angeles). Just about a whole side of a hill collapsed taking many homes with it....there are two confirmed fatalities and many more people missing. It has just been an unimaginable tragedy....we are also expecting 2-5 inches more rain overnight and the mets are talking about rainfall totals at up to an inch per hour. Many freeways including the 5 and 101 have been closed at points and many smaller roads have been shut down. Pepperdine University closed for the first time in its existance today.....just sad....we will have another long night tonight.

[JenyEliza]

Yeah, you know its bad when the storm is the ONLY news shown here for the past 2 1/2 hours. Unfortunately we have had a major landslide in Ventura County (about 80 miles NW of Los Angeles). Just about a whole side of a hill collapsed taking many homes with it....there are two confirmed fatalities and many more people missing. It has just been an unimaginable tragedy....we are also expecting 2-5 inches more rain overnight and the mets are talking about rainfall totals at up to an inch per hour. Many freeways including the 5 and 101 have been closed at points and many smaller roads have been shut down. Pepperdine University closed for the first time in its existance today.....just sad....we will have another long night tonight.

I'm so sorry for all you in CA are going through. I just saw the video on Fox News, and I am stunned.

Stay safe, and keep posting!

Jen

[aveosmth]

Thanks to everyone that is supporting us out here. The rains will reach the area of the major landslide in about 2 hours or so...the bad news is the volume of rain that will fall, but the good news is that it will fall for a relatively short period. I hope those hillsides will hold. I will post w/more info as I get it.

[JenyEliza]

Thanks to everyone that is supporting us out here. The rains will reach the area of the major landslide in about 2 hours or so...the bad news is the volume of rain that will fall, but the good news is that it will fall for a relatively short period. I hope those hillsides will hold. I will post w/more info as I get it.

PLEASE do keep us posted as you have more info. Hearts and prayers going out to you Californians tonight!

Jen

[jkt21787]

Keep us up to date from CA guys, very sad to hear this news.

I imagine this is the worst its been since the 97-98 el nino year? This is certainly the most publicity I remember of your area since that season.