Snow, hail, rain, lightning and the potential for mudslides hit parts of Southern California, Utah and Arizona on Wednesday, snarling traffic and leading to the evacuation of several beaches in the Los Angeles area.
The San Diego Fire Department rescued two people from a car that was overcome by floodwaters, KNSD-TV reported. Meanwhile, lightning strikes forced the evacuation of the Santa Monica pier and Los Angeles area beaches, according to the Associated Press.
Flash flood watches and warnings were issued for several areas in the region.
(MORE: Latest Forecast for California, Southwest)
The Utah Highway Patrol reported at least five semi trucks had rolled over on wet, slippery roads early Wednesday morning. Two of the rollovers happened on Interstate 15 between Cedar and St. George. A semi spun out and rolled over on Interstate 80 in Salt Lake City, causing another truck to roll over as it tried to avoid the crash. Another semi rolled over on I-80 in Summit County.
We have two semi rollovers on SB I-15 between Cedar and St. George. One partially blocking and in the clearing stages at MM 31 another off the roadway at MM 28. Crews are waiting for daylight to assess recovery on that one. No hazmat on board either semi, minor injuries reported. pic.twitter.com/1KAeEbt9DL
— Utah Highway Patrol (@UTHighwayPatrol) November 20, 2019
In California, motorists reported hazardous road conditions in Riverside and San Bernardino counties, near the Arizona border. Portions of U.S. Highway 95 and State Route 62 were closed. Flooding was also reported on State Route 177.
Rita Perez, a dispatcher with the California State Highway Patrol in Indio, told weather.com Wednesday morning that water and mud had washed across one part of Highway 95. Perez said several vehicles and semis became stuck on roads in the area.
Snow made travel hazardous in some mountainous areas.
Chains required on Hwy 330 before #RunningSprings at the 5500 ft level pic.twitter.com/bg0SlYSDjP
— Rob McMillan (@abc7robmcmillan) November 20, 2019
A portion of southbound I-17 in Arizona north of Phoenix was closed due to a semi rollover. Photos posted by the Arizona Department of Public Safety showed wet roads but didn’t say whether the incident was directly related to the weather.
https://twitter.com/Arizona_DPS/status/1197214062204964864
A voluntary evacuation order due to possible landslides was issued Tuesday for residents in the Trabuco Canyon area of Orange County, California, according to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. A wildfire that burned in the area last year left the landscape susceptible to sliding debris.
https://weather.com/news/news/2019-11-20-weather-rollovers-floods-california-utah-arizona