Winter Storm: San Clemente Under Flood Watch Thursday, Friday

SAN CLEMENTE, 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.

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.