Flooding, 45 MPH Winds Likely In Rancho Santa Margarita: Advisory

RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA, CA — County officials issued a flash flood warning for Rancho Santa Margarita residents as a powerful winter storm brings clouds, wind and rain to Southern California.

The flash flood warning will remain in place from Wednesday morning through Thursday morning, with the heaviest rainfall expected to occur Thursday evening.

Residents are encouraged to monitor later forecasts and be on the alert for emergency notifications.

To prepare for the coming storm, Rancho Santa Margarita residents are encouraged to stop by an Orange County Fire Authority station for free sandbags. Residents are advised to bring a shovel, as crews may not be able to assist in filling the sandbags.

For a list of Orange County Fire Authority stations that offer free sandbags, visit the OCFA's website.

In addition, residents should be advised that a high wind advisory was issued by the National Weather Service this week as weather experts anticipate gusts up to 45 miles per hour across Orange County.

The high wind advisory runs from 4 a.m. Thursday to noon, according to the NWS.

Rancho Santa Margarita residents can also stay in-the-loop by signing up for emergency text alerts through AlertOC, the county's emergency alert system. To learn more, visit ReadyOC's website.