The winter storm that has pounded the Southland counties peaked in intensity Thursday night, when a severe thunderstorm was tracked with a cell nine miles south southwest of Long Beach with a rotation “capable of producing a tornado,” according to the National Weather Service in Oxnard.
One touched down in Ventura County, while other areas were hit with snow, rain and strong winds. Flooding, mudslides and freeway closures have been reported throughout the state.
Flooding caused by heavy rains forced the temporary closure of Interstate 710 before dawn Friday. Flowing mud blocked the Atlantic Avenue offramp of Interstate 405 north, according to the California Highway Patrol.
According to the NWS, a low-pressure system that moved in Sunday is expected to bring a few scattered early-morning showers into the week. Winds are expected to gust up to 30 mph at the coasts and valleys, with mostly clear skies and temperatures in the low to mid-sixties throughout the week.
