Rain, dangerous surf and snow could hit Southern California. Here’s where and when storms are expected

A storm series has arrived in Southern California, bringing with it rain, heavy surf and the potential for flooding in coastal communities.

The brunt of the rainfall from the first storm already arrived in Northern California and provided scattered showers to Southern California on Thursday.

But the heaviest part of the storm began Friday. Here’s what’s expected over the next several days.

Rain and potential flooding

Forecasters say widespread rainfall is anticipated to begin late afternoon and continue into Saturday morning.

Rainfall totals can top out between a quarter-inch to an inch by Saturday.

“The rain is generally going to be on the lighter side, but we can’t rule out some heavier rain at times,” said Mike Wofford, meteorologist with the National Weather Service’s Oxnard office.

Despite the lower amount of anticipated rainfall, meteorologists won’t rule out the possibility of minor flood advisories being issued over the weekend, Wofford said.

“There is potential for moderate coastal flooding impacts at times, especially Saturday” for Los Angeles County beaches, the National Weather Service warned. “Some of these impacts may be moderate to significant beach erosion and shallow flooding of normal dry beaches and walkways.”

Flooding was reported in Wilmington, where five vehicles became stuck in the water Friday morning, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. Firefighters responded to Harry Bridges Boulevard and Broad Avenue around 5:20 a.m., said Jamie Stewart, a department spokesperson. No one was trapped, and no injuries were reported, he said.

The vehicles included a semitruck, according to KTLA-TV, which reported the flooding appeared to have been caused by a mix of rain and high tides.

The route serves as a detour from the Vincent Thomas Bridge connecting San Pedro to Terminal Island, which is closed for construction for 16 months.

“City and County crews are working to pump out the water, but we cannot keep sending commuters through a route that is flooding,” Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn wrote on X. “I am asking Caltrans to identify an alternate detour that avoids Harry Bridges and Alameda until we can find a long-term solution.”

Forecasters are predicting a reprieve from the wet weather Saturday afternoon into Sunday. Another storm system is then expected to move into the area Monday night, with rainfall totals of a quarter-inch or less, according to the Weather Service.

A third system is likely to affect the area starting Thursday, bringing another quarter-inch to an inch of rain, the forecast states.

No major impacts from either storm are expected, said Ryan Kittell, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard.

Dangerous high surf and rip tides

Gusty southwest to northwest winds are expected throughout the day Friday, with sustained wind speeds around 20 mph with possible gusts of 30 to 35 mph across the inland region of Los Angeles County.

A high surf advisory is in effect through Tuesday because of two large swells, the first arrived Friday and is expected to last into Saturday and the second is due Monday, said Bryan Lewis, meteorologist with the National Weather Service’s Oxnard office.

“We should see ... surf heights in some of those west-facing beaches in that 8- to 12-foot range, some areas may be a little bit lower,” Lewis said. “It just kind of really depends on that orientation of that coastline there.”

Forecasters caution swimmers to be on alert for dangerous rip currents and only swim near a lifeguard, stay off rock jetties and heed the advice of local officials.

The surf, which will be largest along west- to northwest-facing shores, is expected to peak Saturday and potentially increase again Monday, according to the Weather Service. “Moderate to significant beach erosion and shallow flooding of sea water over low-lying beach walkways, parking lots, and roads is likely, especially in the morning hours near high tide,” the forecast states. Breaking waves may affect the entrance to Ventura Harbor, according to the forecast.

The risk of adverse impacts is highest along the Central Coast, where surf heights of 18 to 25 feet may damage piers and coastal roads and structures, according to the Weather Service. High surf and coastal flood warnings are in effect, with forecasters cautioning of possible breaking waves at the Morro Bay Harbor entrance and Pismo and Cayucos piers, as well as widespread flooding at low-lying sandy beaches like Oceano Dunes State Park, especially during high tide.

In Northern California, the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office and the Capitola Police Department issued evacuation warnings for low-lying coastal areas, citing hazardous surf and large waves with the potential to cause dangerous flooding and make access unsafe. The warnings, in effect as of 2 p.m. Friday, encompassed the areas of Potbelly Beach Road, the Las Olas neighborhood, Beach Drive in Rio Del Mar and Capitola Village. Authorities strongly encouraged residents there to consider evacuating until conditions improved.

The hazardous conditions forecast for the weekend also prompted the temporary closures of several beaches in the state, including Carmel River State Beach, Asilomar State Beach and the Coastal Trail in Monterey County and all city beaches in Santa Cruz.

Santa Cruz said it would also shut down the Santa Cruz Wharf from 10 p.m. Friday until 5 a.m. Sunday.

“Entering the water or approaching hazardous coastal areas puts not only your life at risk, but also the lives of the marine safety personnel who may be called upon to rescue you,” said Santa Cruz Fire Chief Rob Oatey in a statement. “Please respect these closures and give the ocean the space it demands.”

California State Parks canceled beach camping at Oceano Dunes through Monday and day-use vehicle access to both Oceano and Pismo State Beach on Saturday, saying the restrictions may be extended depending on coastal conditions.

Mountain snow and blocked roads

For those looking to hit the slopes, the storm is bringing heavy snow to the eastern Sierra, particularly around Mt. Whitney north up to Aspendell, where up to a foot of snow could fall over the weekend.

“Travel could be very difficult to impossible,” the weather service warned Friday. “The hazardous conditions will impact the Friday evening commute. Strong winds could cause extensive damage to trees and power lines. Roads, and especially bridges and overpasses, will likely become slick and hazardous.”

Farther south in Kern County, the Frazier Park and Pine Mountain Club areas may get a little snow on Tuesday, Kittell said.

In the San Bernardino Mountains, temperatures were cold enough that the Big Bear snow play area opened Friday morning for snow tubing.

Lower temperatures

It’ll feel warm during the day; however, temperatures are anticipated to drop about 10 degrees more in the evening and remain in the mid- to high 60s throughout the rest of the week starting Friday.

The lower temperatures are coming from a long-anticipated offshore pattern that is finally swinging onshore, forecasters with the National Weather Service’s Oxnard office said.