Powerful winter storm moves into Southern California with heavy rain, high winds, flooding

Chilling rain, swirling gray clouds and blustery winds rolled into Southern California on Sunday as the strongest winter storm of the season geared up to deliver near-record rainfall and life-threatening flash flooding in the region through Tuesday. The slow-moving atmospheric river was gathering strength Sunday afternoon, with the National Weather Service in Oxnard warning that "all systems are go for one of the most dramatic weather days in recent memory." Forecasters said the brunt of the storm appeared focused on the Los Angeles area, where the system could park itself for an extended time over the next few days. The storm could drop up to 8 inches of rainfall on the coast and valleys, and up to 14 inches in the foothills and mountains. Snowfall totals of 2 to 5 feet are likely at elevations above 7,000 feet.