Hail storm moves in through parts of SoCal as brunt of powerful system still ahead

LONG BEACH, Calif. (KABC) -- As Southern California braces for a powerful cold storm that's expected to bring the region a serious taste of winter winter, many residents reported seeing hail - even on the beaches.

Rain and hail fell on parts of Los Angeles and Orange counties Thursday, and even the Hollywood Sign got a light dusting of snow.

By mid-morning Thursday, hail had been reported in locations including Pasadena and Long Beach, while light rain fell in many other areas.

A viewer reported seeing hail in Santa Monica at around 4 p.m. Video obtained by Eyewitness News showed a trail of hail lined up in the sand.

Mateo And Alejandra Garcia captured what appeared to be light snow sprinkled across the roof of a home in Santa Monica.

Meanwhile, the streets of Sylmar turned white Thursday afternoon as a hailstorm moved in. At one point, the tiny balls of ice coated the parking lots at El Cariso Park.

Conditions in the San Fernando Valley on Thursday were not as treacherous as it was in some other parts, though they are going to get much worse in the next couple days.

According to the National Weather Service, most areas on Thursday saw precipitation of less than a half-inch.

The full brunt of the storm will hit on Friday, when blizzard conditions are expected in the mountains and flash flooding is possible in lower-elevation communities.

READ ALSO | SoCal cold storm timeline: Here's when to expect rain, snow in your area

City News Service, Inc. contributed to this report.