NWS Issues Tropical Storm Watch for SCV: The National Weather Service issued a tropical storm watch for the Santa Clarita Valley on Friday, with Castaic Lake, Castaic, Newhall, and Valencia among the affected areas.
Overnight, between Thursday and Friday, meteorologists at the NWS’s Oxnard Station, which provides forecasts and monitoring for the Santa Clarita Valley (SCV), became confident that the area will experience winds and precipitation indicative of a tropical cyclone.
“Be prepared for possible landslides, mudslides, and debris flows,” said Ariel Cohen, chief meteorologist at the NWS’s Oxnard station. “Any tall objects, (especially) trees, could also fall,” he added. Simply take the necessary precautions in advance of these conditions.
NWS Issues Tropical Storm Watch for SCV
Cohen added that rain and wind will likely arrive on Saturday, with the storm’s peak occurring Sunday evening through Monday, with the potential for it to last until Tuesday.
It is anticipated that winds will surge up to 45 miles per hour, and that rain will fall at
approximately a half-inch to one inch per hour for “a long duration” Additionally, lightning and thunder are predicted.
“The watch does not include the city of Los Angeles at this time,” said Cohen, “but the areas over the mountains as well as the waters and Catalina Island will be the focal point for the most significant upcoming weather conditions.”
The tropical storm alert was issued on Friday morning with no end date specified. The Flood Watch will begin Sunday afternoon and continue through Monday evening.
The SCV is especially susceptible to sudden flooding. Residents, especially those in the highlands and mountains, are advised to monitor local conditions during the storm and to be prepared for flooding. In some areas, evacuations may be necessary.
Small streams, creeks, canals, arroyos, and ditches are capable of transforming into hazardous rivers. Destructive runoff can rampage through mountain valleys, heightening the risk of rockslides, mudslides, and debris flows.
The effectiveness of flood control systems and barriers may be compromised. With underpasses flooded, streets and parking lots can become torrents of moving water. The road conditions may become hazardous. There can be numerous road and bridge closures, with some being weakened or swept away.
In just 24 hours, Hillary transformed from a tropical cyclone to a Category 4 hurricane. The hurricane’s winds reached 145 mph as it approached Baja California, where it is expected to make landfall on Saturday.
As it approaches the state of California, the hurricane is expected to revert to a tropical storm, but meteorologists say this should not alleviate the concerns of Santa Clarita Valley residents.
The following are guidelines from the NWS on how to prepare for a flood:
Create a personal flood file with information about all of your possessions and store it in a secure location, such as a safe deposit box or watertight container. The file should include copies of your insurance policies, a home inventory, and all other essential documents, such as financial records and receipts for significant purchases.
If your home has a sump pump, ensure that it is operational and install a battery-operated fallback in the event of a power outage. Installing a water alarm will also alert you to backed-up water. Clean out gutters and downspouts of debris. Secure all fuel containers. Elevate your home’s electrical components at least 12 inches above the predicted flood level. Place furniture, valuables, and essential documents in a secure location.
Create a plan for family emergencies: Create a survival kit with water, food in cans, first aid supplies, blankets, a radio and a torch. Instruct your children on how to dial 9-1-1 and post emergency phone numbers by the phone. Plan and practise with your family a flood evacuation route. Know the safest routes from your residence, workplace, and school to higher ground. Request a relative or friend from out of state to serve as your emergency contact. Create a plan to safeguard your creatures.
