Los Angeles

Flash Floods Trap Motorists, Cut Commuter Train Service in High Desert

Acton is hit hard by a flash flood as motorist get stuck in the muck.

What to Know

  • Rescuers hoisted motorists to safety after their vehicles became stuck in Acton
  • Antelope Valley was hit with flash flooding
  • Temperatures to remain hot, humid this week

Hot tropical weather spawned thunderstorms that sent flood waters rushing through the Acton area Thursday, halting Metrolink service and prompting the evacuation of about 200 train passengers.

National Weather Service forecasters had issued a flash flood watch for the San Gabriel Mountains and the Antelope Valley as "copious amounts of monsoonal moisture" streamed across Southern California throughout the day.

The flooding in Acton was caused by an intense 30-minute midafternoon downpour that also inundated parts of the Antelope Valley (14) Freeway and Sierra Highway.

A hoist rescue of a main from the roof of a pickup truck that became stuck in rushing water occurred about 5:20 p.m. in the area of Syracuse Avenue and Crown Valley Road, where flood waters swamped several properties.

Flooded and possibly undermined tracks near Aliso Canyon Road also brought a Metrolink train to a halt in the area and officials later announced service was halted between Via Princessa and Lancaster on the Antelope Valley Line.

About 200 people were evacuated from the stopped train, according to a Los Angeles County Fire Department dispatcher. Metrolink was working to secure alternate transportation for stranded passengers, according to the sheriff's department.

An NWS statement had warned that flash flooding and debris flows would be a threat especially in areas previously denuded in wildfires. Temperatures around 100 degrees were reported today in some valley and desert locations.

Copyright CNS - City News Service
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