Storm Wreaks Havoc in Southern California

(CBS/AP)  The second in a series of storms roared into Southern California on Tuesday, bringing heavy rains and winds that smashed windows, submerged cars and flipped an SUV along a stretch of coastline.

The thunderstorm surged ashore with fierce, rotating winds in southern Los Angeles County beach towns and areas of Orange and San Diego counties.

Kimmara Acosta, 51, a saleswoman at Castle Tile in Costa Mesa, was sitting at her desk in the showroom when she saw palm trees outside blowing horizontally.

"The wind kind of whipped through the parking lot and the window blew in," she said, still breathless a half-hour later. "It was like an explosion. My mind said 'earthquake!' and I ducked under the desk."

The wind threw shards of glass across the room, but tile displays and a desk protected Acosta. No one was hurt.

Niki Mojica, 31, a waitress at Woody's Diner in Seal Beach said, "It was crazy because the wind was coming down. The sky turned dark gray and then a huge gust of wind just blew open our front door."

No major damage or injuries were reported during the storm.

The gusting winds also blew a parked Ford Explorer sport utility vehicle onto its side and knocked over trees. In Irvine, a 25-foot square section of roof collapsed at a furniture company.

The fast-moving thunderstorm moved on in minutes, leaving spotty sunshine as it headed into Riverside and San Bernardino counties.

Low-lying beach communities found some streets underwater and other roadways turned into muddy swamps. Televised reports showed parked cars with water up to the hoods and kayakers paddling through a flooded suburb.

Orange County Fire Authority Capt. Greg McKeown said there was flooding in Westminster, San Juan Capistrano and Placentia.

Metrolink spokesman Francisco Oaxaca said the commuter rail lines in Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties were shut down for about an hour because of a tornado warning.

The thunderstorm came in the midst of a larger storm front that moved in from offshore.

"Early Show" weather anchor Dave Price reported that the National Weather Service is predicting that this will likely be the wettest week in Southern California since early 2005.

Flash flood watches remained for areas of Santa Barbara, Ventura and Los Angeles counties where wildfires in 2008 and last year stripped hillsides down to bare, black earth.

The chance of mudslides and flooding — a worry after every rainstorm — intensified after a downpour Monday dumped 2 to 5 inches of rain in the mountains and left catch basins choked with debris.

A strong jet stream was sending a line of storms ashore from the Pacific Ocean that was expected to continue through Thursday.

In Northern California, rain and high winds caused numerous traffic tie-ups and road closures during morning commute.

Interstate 5, a main state highway, was closed in Redding due to a downed line. Highway 70 near the border of Butte and Plumas counties remained closed after a rock slid onto the roadway Monday. The rock must be blasted apart to clear the roadway.

[DaVicar8]

As if California doesn't already have enough havoc.

[rykatspop]

Pat Robinson said this would happen in Orange County. They just aren't conservative enough down there. Saddleback Church is getting to full of itself. Be careful worshiping those false idols people. Church isn't meant to be a time to socialize and party. You're supposed to pray and bow your head, fools.

[pdxdave]

GLOBAL WARMING!!!!!!

or the new ice age. whichever. either way, it's Bush's fault.

[mawskrat]

does this mean the drought is over?

[pdxdave]

Actually, a lot of rain all at once does little to relieve a drought, because it mostly just runs off and gets "flushed" into the ocean. A steady light rain over days is what busts a drought because it soaks in.

[DaVicar8]

by pdxdave - "A steady light rain over days is what busts a drought because it soaks in."


What doesn't soak in is the fact that you shouldn't build houses on hillsides in Southern California.

[likeitbe]

Sounds like the NY Jets!!!