Flash flood traps Californian drivers

It felt like monsoon season in car-loving California when a freak downpour in Acton, north of Los Angeles, triggered a flash flood that washed out roads and trapped drivers inside their vehicles.

A thunderstorm dumped almost 4 centimetres (1.5 inches) of rain onto the area in just half an hour on Thursday afternoon (August 3), according to weather services.

The sludge engulfed roads, overflowed onto a busy motorway and even halted local train services.

Several stranded drivers had to be rescued by helicopter, but no serious injuries were reported.

A driver had to be rescued after a flash flood and mudflow trapped a number of drivers in Acton. Watch: https://t.co/XkLuntQFvj pic.twitter.com/j2HY2Liuzp— NBC Los Angeles (@NBCLA) August 4, 2017