Hail covered parts of the Southern California coast Monday after a weekend of winter storms that drenched the region and brought snow to mountain communities.
Radar indicated a heavy band of showers moving through the area that could dump more than one-half inch in one hour, according to the National Weather Service. The downpour might cause flooding, mud slides and debris flows in the Silverado burn area of Orange County.
At about 7:15 a.m., a thunderstorm off the coast of Malibu produced hail. At about 9:15 a.m., the National Weather Service reported "dangerous" lightning at beaches from Hermosa to Palos Verdes. The NWS advised anyone on the beaches to take shelter.
The severe weather is part of a new cold low pressure system moving across Southern California Monday morning after a weekend of rain, snow and cool temperatures.
"We still have some showers and thunderstorms out there," said NBC4 forecaster Crystal Egger. "It's going to be another busy day, especially in the afternoon."
More snow showers are likely in the mountains of Santa Barbara, Ventura and Los Angeles counties, though not the Santa Monica range. The snow showers in the San Gabriel Mountains are expected through Monday evening.
Overnight rain totals varied across the region. Less than one inch falling and Los Angeles International Airport, but 2.61 inches were reported just seven miles north at Santa Monica Airport. Areas of Malibu and southern Ventura County reported nearly two inches of rain in a 24-hour period.
Crews are working to clean up a mudslide that shut down a stretch of the Pacific Coast Highway and a freeway south of downtown Los Angeles was partially closed because of flooding. Hail fell on Venice, and plane pilots reported seeing funnel clouds over the ocean about 25 miles off Redondo Beach.
Along California's central coast, San Luis Obispo reported heavy rain, pea-size hail and lightning. To the north, the Sierra Nevada range received a welcome dose of snow Friday and Saturday with some resorts reporting 12 to 18 inches of snow.
Despite the wet weather, the latest rainfall was not expected to put a dent in the state's drought, headed into a fourth year. Significant drought relief would require several large, powerful rainstorms and consistent snowfall in the Sierras, where springtime runoff provides water for an estimated 25 million Californians.
