UPDATED, 5:49 PM: The wild weather in Los Angeles has forced the cancellation of the red carpet for tonight’s portion of the NAACP Image Awards ceremony. The event’s dinner at LA Live downtown is going on as planned, but “the red carpet has been canceled due to the inclement weather,” a rep confirmed to Deadline.
PREVIOUSLY, 3:35 PM: A flash flood warning was issued for the entirety of Los Angeles county this afternoon which will remain in place until 10 p.m. Forecasters pointed to Burbank, Griffith Park, Universal City, North Hollywood, Pasadena, Hollywood, downtown, Van Nuys, Beverly Hills, Alhambra, Mount Wilson, Encino, Northridge, Santa Clarita, Chatsworth, Woodland Hills, Whittier, West Covina, Glendora and San Dimas as areas that are likely to experience flash flooding.
“Flash flooding will be limited to locations below snow levels, which will fall from 5,000 feet to 3,500 feet (Friday night),” according to the NWS. “Flash flooding is expected to worsen into the evening hours.”
A separate Flash Flood Warning was issued for Santa Barbara, Ojai, Simi Valley and other regions North and West of L.A.
Forecasters noted that by early afternoon Friday, flooding had already been occurring in areas of Burbank and the San Fernando Valley, with the Southland being doused with rain totals ranging from 1 to 5 inches.
According to the NWS, rainfall rates could reach one inch per hour in parts of Los Angeles County by Friday evening, mainly in the foothills and mountains. But valley and coastal areas were also likely to get bouts of heavy rain.
Forecasters also said thunderstorms could sporadically develop, generating “dangerous cloud-to-ground lightning,” along with “gusty and erratic winds” and small hail.
The NWS earlier today issued waterspout warnings for the waters off Ventura and warned of “landspouts” in the area immediately north of Santa Barbara and also near Los Olivos. In fact, a waterspout was caught on video yesterday off Dana Point.
Heavy snow in the northern reaches of Los Angeles County prompted an early morning closure of the Grapevine section of the Golden State (5) Freeway. The northbound roadway was closed at Parker Road in Castaic, and the southbound lanes were closed at Grapevine Road.
There was no indication of when the stretch would be reopened, frustrating motorists in the much-traveled corridor.
A Blizzard Warning — the first issued in the area since 1989 — took effect early Friday morning in the Los Angeles County mountains, and it will remain in place until 4 p.m. Saturday.
National Weather Service forecasters said up to 5 feet of snow could accumulate in the mountains above 4,500 feet, accompanied by wind gusts topping 80 mph that will create “near zero visibility.” Higher elevations could see as much as 8 feet of snow, with accumulations of 6 to 12 inches possible at elevations between 2,000 and 4,500 feet, impacting major mountain passes.
“Travel could be very difficult to impossible,” according to the National Weather Service. “Potential for road closures. Some mountain roadways may be impassable for an extended period of time. Very strong winds could cause extensive tree damage.
“Travel should be restricted to emergencies only,” according to the NWS. “If you must travel, have a winter survival kit with you. If you get stranded, stay with your vehicle.”
The Antelope Valley will be under a winter weather advisory until 10 p.m. Friday, with 3 to 6 inches of snow expected in the foothills and 1 to 3 inches on the valley floor, along with winds gusting to 45 mph, forecasters said.
The snow level is expected to slowly rise as the day wears on, reaching between 4,000 and 6,000 feet. But cold air could keep that level lower in the Antelope Valley and other far northern areas of the county.
The main front of the storm is expected to move out of the area tonight, but “showers will likely continue across the region into Saturday,” according to the NWS. “The potential for isolated thunderstorms will linger into Saturday afternoon.”
Forecasters said that even when the precipitation begins to dissipate, a cold air mass will keep temperatures “much below normal through the weekend.”
Record low temperatures were reported in parts of Orange County Thursday. It was 57 in Anaheim on Thursday, breaking the record for the lowest maximum temperature of 58 set in 2022. It was 54 in Newport Beach, breaking the record of 55 set in 1946.
Rain and hail fell on parts of Los Angeles and Orange counties Thursday. Even the Hollywood Sign was hit by hail, along with Venice Beach.Pasadena, Santa Monica and Long Beach also got pelted with hail.
Coastal and valley areas could get between 2 and 5 inches of rain during the storm by Saturday night, with 5 to 10 inches possible in the foothills. The NWS posted a chart earlier today that indicated when the most intense precipitation was expected.
Below are some of the three-day precipitation totals via the NWS for local cities as of 11 a.m. today.
Mountains (snowfall)
MOUNTAIN HIGH (7000 FT)……….. 16″
MOUNT WILSON (5700 FT)………… 14″
LOCKWOOD VALLEY (5500 FT)……… 10″
FRAZIER PARK (5000 FT)………… 8″
TEJON PASS (4100 FT)………….. 10″
L.A. Metro (rain)
BEVERLY HILLS………………… 1.48″
BEL AIR……………………… 1.40″
HOLLYWOOD RESERVOIR…………… 1.16″
SANTA MONICA…………… 1.12″
CULVER CITY………………….. 0.83″
LA DOWNTOWN …………….. 0.64″
LA AIRPORT……………… 0.52″
LEO CARRILLO…………………. 0.36″
LONG BEACH…………….. 0.35″
HAWTHORNE……………… 0.30″
San Fernando Valley
WOODLAND HILLS……………….. 2.62″
NORTHRIDGE…………………… 1.63″
PORTER RANCH…………….. 1.52″
VAN NUYS………………. 1.51″
AGOURA HILLS…………………. 1.39″
CANOGA PARK………………….. 1.38″
LA CANADA FLINTRIDGE………….. 1.36″
BURBANK……………….. 1.16″
CALABASAS……………………. 1.09″
CHATSWORTH RESERVOIR………….. 0.87″
San Gabriel Valley
EAST PASADENA………………… 1.63″
PASADENA…………………….. 1.41″
EAGLE ROCK RESERVOIR………….. 1.14″
ALHAMBRA…………………….. 0.95″
SIERRA MADRE…………………. 0.64″
CLAREMONT……………………. 0.59″
WHITTIER…………………….. 0.32″
City News Service contributed to this report.