Southern California is bracing for record rainfall this week, with forecasters predicting five straight days of precipitation through the holiday.
Travelers should proceed with caution, county emergency officials warned. With peak rainfall expected Tuesday night through Thursday, safety crews have closed roads along the coast and in the mountains and issued evacuation warnings and orders to vulnerable residents in burn scar areas.
“There will almost certainly be numerous mudslides, severe flooding either from heavy rain or clogged storm drains, and possibly debris flows near recent burn scars,” the National Weather Service said.
Key warnings
Los Angeles city and county officials issued evacuation warnings ahead of the storm for several high-risk areas:
- Near the San Gabriel foothills hillsides of Altadena in the Eaton fire burn area.
- Near Pacific Palisades and Mandeville Canyon in the Palisades fire burn area.
- South of Runyon Canyon near the Sunset fire area.
- Near Soledad Canyon Road and Agua Dulce Canyon Road in the Lidia fire and Agua Dulce fire burn areas.
- Near Hasley Canyon and Val Verde in the Canyon fire burn area.
- Near Sylmar and San Fernando hillsides in the Hurst fire burn area.
- Near Sierra Madre foothill and canyon areas.
- North of Alizia Canyon Drive in the Kenneth fire burn area.
- Near Topanga Canyon in the Owen fire burn area.
- Near Mt. Baldy around Glendora Ridge Road in the Bridge fire burn area.
- Near Mulholland Highway, East Lake Shore Drive in the Franklin fire and east Palisades fire areas.
All L.A. County evacuation warnings are in effect from 11 a.m. Tuesday through 11 p.m. Thursday. Officials have also directly issued evacuation orders to around 400 households deemed at highest risk of debris flows in burn scars across the county.
Critical evacuation warnings and orders will be updated throughout the storm event here.
Wednesday will also bring a heightened risk for flash floods in Los Angeles, Ventura and San Bernardino counties, according to the NWS. The “high risk” area is just north of the city of Los Angeles and includes Altadena, Burbank, Glendale, Thousand Oaks and Santa Clarita.
Starting Tuesday evening, evacuation warnings are in effect in Ventura County around the Mountain fire burn scar; the Matilija Canyon/North Fork/Camino Cielo areas near Ojai; and the Camp Chaffee and Foster Park areas of Ventura. An evacuation order is in effect for the Ventura Beach RV Resort.
In Santa Barbara County, evacuation warnings have been issued around the Lake fire burn area starting Tuesday evening, while in Orange County a mandatory evacuation order is in place for the Airport fire burn scar starting 8 a.m. Wednesday.
Shelters opened
Shelters have been opened to assist residents affected by the storm at the following locations. Those in need of shelter assistance can call the Red Cross at (800) 675-5799.
- West Ranch High School, 26255 Valencia Blvd. in Stevenson Ranch.
- Santa Anita Family YMCA, 501 Mountain Ave. in Monrovia.
- Stoner Recreation Center, 1835 Stone Ave. in West Los Angeles.
Road closures announced
Road closures are in effect in coastal and mountainous areas at high risk of flooding and mudslides.
- Topanga Canyon Boulevard is closed between Pacific Coast Highway and Grand View Drive in Topanga starting at 9 p.m. Tuesday until further notice.
- Malibu Canyon Road is closed between Francisco Ranch Road and Piuma Road starting at 8 p.m. Tuesday until further notice.
- Tuna Canyon Road is closed between 3400 Tuna Canyon Road and Pacific Coast Highway starting at 8 p.m. Tuesday until further notice.
- Chantry Flat Road in Sierra Madre has been closed between 1209 Arno Drive and the Chantry Flat Recreation Area until 7 a.m. Saturday.
- Glendora Mountain Road in Angeles National Forest is closed from north of Big Dalton Canyon Road to East Fork Road until 10 a.m. Friday.
Travelers are advised to plan alternate routes and to avoid driving in rainstorms. Officials warned that power outages and traffic signal failures are also possible, and additional closures are likely.
A countywide road closure map is available here.
Mudslide safety
- An intense rain (typically about half an inch per hour) on a recently burned slope can trigger a debris flow, even if it is not raining heavily where you live. Just a few minutes of intense rainfall can be enough to start one.
A car makes its way through a flooded section of Sunset Boulevard in Pacific Palisades on Feb. 13.
(Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)
- Debris flows move fast and can hit areas that have not been affected before. If you wait to see whether a debris flow is coming your way, it may be too late to leave safely.
- Residents near steep slopes or burn scars should identify the highest nearby point in their home, such as a second-story room or roof, and be prepared to move quickly. Survivors often describe hearing cracking, breaking or roaring sounds before a debris flow hits.
- The National Weather Service will issue a flash flood watch or warning for your area when rainfall is anticipated to be intense.
- Be aware that the soil may be waterlogged and that more rain can trigger debris flows.
Driving in heavy rain
1. Don’t enter flooded streets. If you’re unsure, turn back. As little as 6 inches of water can cause cars to stall or knock an adult off their feet. Two feet of water can sweep away a vehicle, including SUVs and pickup trucks.
2. Turn on your headlights. If windshield wipers are on, headlights should be on — it’s the law.
3. Drive slowly. Speed limits are not minimums. Leave extra time and use added caution.
4. Don’t tailgate. Wet roads increase stopping distance.
5. Check your tires. Proper inflation and tread can reduce the risk of hydroplaning.
6. Watch our video.
