Storm headed to Southern California; residents near burn scars should take precautions

A storm headed to Southern California, the first of the season, could bring steady showers and gusty winds the first part of the week.

The storm is expected to start overnight Monday into Tuesday and has the potential for thunderstorms, said Kristan Lund, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service.

If a thunderstorm does materialize, it could produce heavier rain through Ventura County, gustier winds of up to 50 mph, even small hail and a very small chance of a tornado, she said Oct. 12.

Lund encouraged residents to be prepared and ensure they have multiple ways of learning about potential warnings for flash floods and other emergency conditions.

She also advised residents to check and clear storm gutters, if they can, prior to the storm.

As of Oct. 12, rainfall totals were expected to reach between 0.75 and 1.5 inches.

How should residents near burn scars prepare?

Given the forecast, residents in and around the Mountain Fire burn scar should take precautions. Lund said to listen to local authorities about advisories and make sure electrical devices are charged.

The threshold for possible issues in the fire area is between 0.8 to 1 inch of rain per hour. But the greater worry is intense rain on a subhourly basis or 30-minute periods during which rain falls reach higher rates, Lund said.

“The 1 inch per hour isn’t out of the question especially if thunderstorms move through,” she said. “It’s really the subhourly rate we’re really worried about.”

For Ventura County, the peak time for the storm is predicted between 5 a.m. Tuesday to noon. The time could be adjusted as the storm gets closer.

“It’s during the morning commute time, unforuntately,” Lund said of the worst of the storm.

The meteorologist cautioned drivers to be aware of road conditions. Even a few inches of water on the road could be enough to lose control.

If the intensity of rain makes seeing difficult, it’s better to pull over and let the storm pass before resuming driving, she said.

“If a thunderstorm does occur, make sure you’re under cover,” Lund said.

Snow levels are likely to fall to 6,000 to 7,000 feet Tuesday with the possibility of accumulations at resort levels, according to the weather service.

Stacie N. Galang is news director of the Ventura County Star. She can be reached at 805-437-0222 or stacie.galang@vcstar.com.