Flash floods, evacuation warnings follow severe Southern California storms
Sunny Southern California has been anything but sunny on Saturday, as heavy rainfall and flash flooding batter Los Angeles and its surrounding areas. The downpour, which is relatively rare, is due to an atmospheric river that’s bringing extra moisture to the region.
In a statement posted to X on Friday, California Gov. Gavin Newsom said he was increasing emergency resources in four counties across Southern California, including Riverside, San Bernardino, Ventura and Los Angeles. “We’re making sure we quickly respond to protect Californians and minimize damage from debris flows or flooding,” the governor added.
Heavy rains through Sunday
The threat of flash floods is particularly acute in areas that were devastated by the Palisades and Eaton fires earlier this year.
Around 9:30 a.m. PT on Saturday, the National Weather Service (NWS) announced that “widespread” rain is expected through Sunday. “During the peak of the event isolated strong thunderstorms will bring a moderate risk of flash flooding, debris flows, and damaging winds,” the NWS wrote in its Area Forecast Discussion. “The stormy pattern will continue and periods of rain are possible through late next week.”
Already, flash flooding has been reported in parts of southwestern Los Angeles County, while additional warnings have been issued for Glendale, Santa Clarita, Oxnard, Thousand Oaks, Inglewood, Compton, Pomona, Altadena and more.
“Heavy rain to come today… we have hours of this expected,” said Kacey Montoya, a meteorologist with local media outlet, KTLA. “Some of us will get a nice break this afternoon, but if you think you’re done — no. More heavy rain will come.”
More evacuation warnings issued
Meanwhile, evacuation warnings have been issued for nearly 15 areas that are still suffering from burn scars, following the unprecedented wildfires that ravaged Los Angeles County back in January.
“Significant early season storm will continue to affect much of the region into tonight,” the NWS wrote in another notice posted Saturday morning. “Widespread urban flooding along with debris flows in and around recent burn areas will persist.”
The first evacuation orders went into effect Thursday night and will remain in effect until Sunday morning because the rain poses several threats.
Mudslides are a major concern because the fires loosened earth and removed vegetation, making the terrain more susceptible to them. Several road closures will also go into effect due to unsafe driving conditions, including a nearly 4-mile stretch of the Pacific Coast Highway.
Fire season silver lining?
One positive some experts pointed to is that this rain could spell the end of fire season in Southern California. “If we do end up getting the rainfall that we expect, this will certainly get us close to the end of the fire season,” Ryan Kittell, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, told the Los Angeles Times.
Last year, the region experienced a record-breaking dry spell that left many areas vulnerable to fire. The ensuing Eaton and Palisades fires were among the deadliest and most destructive in state history.
Significant rainfall is often looked at as a counter to Santa Ana winds, which are a major factor in spreading wildfires.
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Ella Rae Greene, Editor In Chief
