Satellite Map

Updated satellite weather map of Southern California

December 22, 2010 |  1:13 am

Heavy rainfall slammed into much of California early Wednesday, from the Oregon border to San Diego, the National Weather Service said. The above image, a constantly updated satellite image , showed   massive amounts of moisture pummeling the state about 1 a.m.
After a respite late Tuesday, heavy rain returned to Los Angeles County after 11 p.m., producing heavy rain in the foothills, including in La Canada Flintridge and La Crescenta, according to the weather service and Times reporters. Follow Times' reporters tweets here.
Already, rainfall rates of 0.25 and 0.5 inches an hour have been observed, and "the heaviest rainfall is occurring across south and southwest facing slopes of the San Gabriel Mountains and adjacent foothills, including the Station burn area, where rates as high as 0.70 inches per hour have been observed," the weather service said shortly before 1 a.m.
Heavy rain was also falling in Orange and San Diego counties and the Inland Empire.
Much of Southern California is under a flood watch. Small mudslides and road flooding are widespread, the weather service said.
The thunderstorms coming south, however, have not yet arrived in the heart of L.A. County. A strong line of thunderstorms was expected to hit land near Point Estero about 1 a.m. in San Luis Obispo County, about 200 miles northwest of Los Angeles.
-- Rong-Gong Lin II
Photo credit: National Weather Service