Storm Dumps Inch Of Rain Within 20-Minute Span In San Fernando Valley

NORTHRIDGE (CBSLA.com) — Heavy rain wreaked havoc in parts of Southern California and resulted in a swift water rescue in the Lake Balboa area.

Firefighters arrived on scene and used a ladder as a bridge to rescue the man in his 40s Monday night. He was uninjured.

The storm caught residents in the San Fernando Valley by surprise, dumping about an inch of rain within a span of about 20 minutes.

The brief but heavy rains fell across the region, requiring drivers to navigate through the high waters.

"It was a torrential downpour. I actually thought it was hailing for a moment, but it was not," said one resident.

Another said, "It was heavy drops. At first I thought they were possibly hail. And it started kinda slow but heavy, heavy drops."

There were no reports of major accidents in the Northridge area.