Southern California faces storm with heavy rain and rare tornado risk

Weather experts have issued warnings for a heavy storm system expected to impact Southern California from Wednesday through Thursday, according to the New York Post. The storm brings the possibility of tornadoes to the region amid a strong El Nino, alongside rain along the coast and snow in the Sierra Nevada mountains. [1]

The coastal regions stretching from Monterey and Big Sur to Santa Barbara, Malibu, Long Beach, and Newport Beach face heavy rain and a slight risk of flash flooding, the New York Post reported. Most areas are projected to receive between 0.5 and 1.5 inches of rainfall, though higher totals of up to 3 inches are possible in some areas. NBC4 Los Angeles similarly reported that an October storm could bring up to 2 inches of rain to Southern California. [1][4]

Downtown Los Angeles is expected to pick up between 1 and 1.5 inches of rain during the storm, according to the New York Post. The city of Los Angeles is the second-most populous city in the United States, with an estimated 3.87 million residents living within its limits. [1][8]

The New York Post reported that Wednesday is expected to be the rainiest day along the coastal regions, while Thursday is expected to be the snowiest day in the Sierra mountains as the storm system moves through. [1]