Los Angeles receives rare September rain and coastal flooding as Hurricane Marie skirts coast
A fringe of Hurricane Marie brought up to an inch of rain, high surf and localized flooding to Los Angeles County, while officials warned of rip currents and a heat wave later in the week.
Los Angeles County saw between a quarter-inch and an inch of rain on Sunday as the outer bands of Hurricane Marie moved offshore, the National Weather Service reported. Mountain areas were expected to receive the heavier amounts, while downtown Los Angeles was forecast to get slightly less precipitation. The service also noted a 10%-15% chance of isolated thunderstorms that could produce brief, heavier downpours.
More significant concerns were rip currents and coastal flooding. "There’s been a large surf already with reports of 10-foot waves at Zuma Beach," meteorologist David Gomberg said, adding that most locations were experiencing 6- to 8-foot waves and that only experienced surfers should enter the water. A flood advisory covering west-central Los Angeles County, including the Franklin and Palisades burn scars, remained in effect until early afternoon, with warnings of minor debris flows in recent burn areas.
The Westside, western San Fernando Valley, Malibu, Encino, Woodland Hills and Beverly Hills were all expected to see minor flooding. In Seal Beach, parking lots at 8th and 10th Streets were closed through Wednesday because of elevated surf and coastal flooding, according to the city police department. UC climate scientist Daniel Swain described the rain as "mainly beneficial" and said it posed little flood risk.
Although the storm’s core stayed hundreds of miles offshore, its peripheral effects reached the region. Temperatures are projected to rise again later in the week, climbing into the mid-90s by Wednesday and Thursday before easing back into the 80s the following weekend.