Ventura County: Storm triggers evacuation orders, tornado warning
VENTURA COUNTY, Calif. - Evacuation orders and warnings were issued for parts of Ventura County Thursday after a powerful atmospheric river slammed the region overnight, triggering a Tornado Warning due to the heavy rains and dangerous flooding that continues to pose a threat to cities including Oxnard, Port Hueneme, Ventura, and Camarillo.
The National Weather Service issued the Tornado Warning around 2 a.m. for Oxnard and Ventura as a precaution; it expired shortly afterward because no tornado activity was observed and the storm was weakening, forecasters said.
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Here is the latest on evacuations in areas affected by flooding:
Evacuation Orders, Warnings & Advisories
- An Evacuation Order remains in effect for residents of the Hueneme Bay Club in the City of Port Hueneme: north to Bolker Way, South to Channel Islands Boulevard, west to Patterson Road, East to Triton
- An Evacuation Order was LIFTED at 8:30 a.m. Thursday, December 21st for residents of the Hueneme Bay Club in the City of Port Hueneme: north to West Hemlock Street, south to Bolker Way; west to Patterson Road, east to Triton.
- An Evacuation Warning remains in effect for the Community of Foster Park and Camp Chaffee, and select residents in the area of Grada Avenue and Trueno Avenue in Camarillo. This warning was in effect before expiring Friday December 22.
- An Advisory has been issued for residents of Matilija Canyon, North Fork, Creek Road and Old Creek Road, due to the possibility of flooding during high-intensity rainfall.
Residents in Port Hueneme with questions related to the storm can call 805-986-6606.
Evacuation Shelter
An emergency evacuation shelter is open at the Oxnard College Gymnasium located at 4000 South Rose Avenue, Oxnard. Residents that require assistance with transportation to the evacuation shelter can gather at the Hueneme Bay Clubhouse.
Officials in Oxnard reported most roads in the area have reopened as of 10:30 a.m. Wet road conditions are expected to continue through Friday, however, so officials warn additional road closures are possible.
NWS forecasters said potentially dangerous rain was anticipated Wednesday night in Santa Barbara County, with 3 to 6 inches possible. But forecasters said the rainfall rates were expected to decrease as the center of the storm moves into Ventura County and ultimately Los Angeles County, although there will still be chances of small cells dropping large amounts of rain in a short period of time.
Forecasters said earlier there will be a 20% to 30% chance of thunderstorms developing Wednesday afternoon through Thursday night.
County officials urged residents to heed instructions from emergency responders and alert notifications; drive cautiously and slow down in wet conditions; and avoid trying to cross flooded roadways.
Daytime temperatures will remain in the 60s in the region for much of the week. Overnight lows will generally be in the upper 40s and lower 50s throughout the Southland, but will dip into the 30s in some parts of the mountains and high desert.
Thursday is the first day of winter. Conditions are expected to dry out on Friday, although gusting northwest winds are expected to linger into Saturday.
City News Service contributed to this report.