California Battered By Late Weekend Storm

By Douglas V. Gibbs

Northern California was pounded by this storm, but the north is used to rain. Southern California knew it was coming, but the people did not expect the intensity of the rain, or the devastating force of the high winds. As the weekend storm swept through Southern California, the wind and rain left behind road closures, street flooding, and downed trees. The high winds have left thousands without power in the Los Angeles area. At LAX, the airport in Los Angeles, flight delays and cancellations have many travelers stranded. Bob Hope airport in Burbank also was affected by the storm, with Southwest Airlines cancelling 16 flights.

Along with the rain, the storm also brought snow. Enough snow came down that Interstate 5, the main artery between the Los Angeles Basin and all points north, was shut down at the Grapevine due to the heavy snow and winds. Though no accidents have been reported on that part of the freeway, California Highway Patrol has deemed the highway unsafe for traffic. Interstate 15 through the Cajon Pass has also been affected with heavy conditions, but no closures along the freeway to the High Desert has been reported.

Throughout the southland, homes have been evacuated due to debris and mud flows, and heavy flooding. The loss of power made life for those still in their homes a little more difficult.

Electricity has been disrupted for more than 90,000 Southland homes and businesses. Customers of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power without power numbers currently at about 40,000, and the number of Southern California Edison customers without power, primarily Inland Empire customers, number at 49,808. The outages have been primarily caused by the heavy wind and rain, which includes instances where downed trees, or broken tree branches, have gotten tangled in wires.

Welcome to the first day of Spring.

-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary

The first day of spring brings winter to Los Angeles - Los Angeles Times

Storm closes 5 Freeway through Grapevine - Los Angeles Times