The storm arrived with wind gusts that topped 80 mph in some parts of Los Angeles County and intense bursts of heavy rain, a potent combination that at one point Friday evening had more than half a dozen major freeways and highways around the region closed.
The deluge created surreal scenes: Cars trapped by rising waters along the 5 and 110 freeways, churning mudflows ripping through canyon and high-desert roads and a massive landslide in the San Bernardino Mountains captured on video.
A lane on Interstate 15 failed at the Cajon Pass, leaving a fire engine dangling over the side of the road. Officials said all firefighters got out safely, but the engine eventually went over the side.
In the San Fernando Valley, two cars fell into a giant sinkhole.
To the north in Santa Barbara County, communities were battered by up to an inch of rain an hour, turning the Santa Barbara Airport into a lake with small aircraft playing the role of boats. The airport set a daily rainfall record with 3.75 inches, one of several records established Friday.
At least four fatalities were attributed to the storm.
