Winter Storm: Seal Beach Area Under Flood Watch Thursday, Friday

SEAL BEACH, CA —If your home is in a flood-prone area, it's time to fill those sandbags. A severe winter storm is blowing back into Orange County, leaving many coastal and inland areas under a flood watch.

Seal Beach Marine Safety and Public Works will be monitoring the conditions throughout the winter season and will respond as issues arise, according to Seal Beach Police Lt. Nick Nicholas. Residents are encouraged to monitor surf and weather conditions and take precautions to protect property.

• Have pre-filled sandbags available for immediate use at your home.
• On nights before trash pick-up days, place trash cans on the curbs, not in gutter.
• If gutters fill with rushing water, they can knock over cans and carry garbage down to block storm drain entrances. Do not park cars in front of the trash cans, so they are accessible for collection.
• If possible, park your cars in your driveway rather than the street, to protect your engine and electronics. Engine up towards garage door is safest.
• Please, wait to drive in areas with flooding until floodwaters recede a bit. Driving on flooded streets cause wakes to form (even at fairly low speeds) and pushes water up onto parked cars and into garages.
• Monitor the Seal Beach Police Department's social media outlets (Facebook, Instagram and Twitter) for information updates.
• If you see fallen trees or tree branches, call the Seal Beach Police Department non-emergency line at (562) 594-7232.

All Orange County coastal and mountain areas were advised of the flood watch from Thursday evening through Friday, the National Weather Service says.

"Moderate to heavy rain showers will impact areas west of the mountains below 5500 feet," the said.

Showers are expected to develop Thursday evening and become more widespread late Thursday into Friday.

"The heaviest rain is expected to begin before midnight on Thursday, lasting into Friday," NWS spokesman Alexander Tardy said.

Periods of heavy rain are expected Friday morning through afternoon, with rates of .5 inch to .6 in an hour expected. Residents should see from 1.25 to 1.5 inches of rain locally, with as much as 3 inches possible on coastal slopes.

"Stay away or be swept away," they said.

In Orange County, the cities of Garden Grove, Fullerton, Orange, Irvine, Newport Beach, San Clemente, Anaheim, Huntington Beach, Mission Viejo, Laguna Beach, and Costa Mesa are all under a flood watch through Friday.

Find your sandbag locations in Seal Beach:

• Eighth Street Beach Parking Lot
• Fire Station 44 – 8th Street and Central Avenue
• Fire Station 48 - 3131 Northgate Road (at the 405 freeway)
• Arbor Park - 4665 Lampson Avenue
• Marina Park – First Street and Marina Avenue

Residents can register additional cell phone numbers, text numbers, and e-mail addresses at www.AlertOC.com.