Thursday’s storm was just the beginning as the city crews and residents prepare for a larger, more intense storm set to hit Long Beach beginning Sunday afternoon.
The city could see between 3 to 6 inches of rain from Sunday evening through Monday morning at the storm’s peak, National Weather Service meteorologist Rose Schoenfeld said. The rain is expected to fall continuously during those 18 to 24 hours, before mostly clearing out by Tuesday.
Wind gusts are expected to be between 40 to 50 miles per hour, Schoenfeld said. Because of the saturated ground, high wind gusts bring the risk of fallen trees, mud on roads, and possibly power outages.
“A lot of the impacts Long Beach saw with that previous storm are likely pretty similar,” Schoenfeld said. The NWS advises people to avoid travel, especially during the Monday morning commute if possible.
Mayor Rex Richardson called a press conference Saturday afternoon at Long Beach’s regional distribution center in Lakewood to warn residents to be prepared and stay up to date with storm alerts.