L.A. mudslides, landslides mapped and explained

Mudslides in Los Angeles inundated roadways and prompted evacuations orders after an atmospheric river dumped heavy rains onto burn scars from the Palisades and Eaton Fire. Mud and debris covered several major roads including the Pacific Coast Highway near Pacific Palisades and Mulholland Drive in the Hollywood Hills.

Evacuations warnings and orders were issued in multiple counties, with the majority in the Los Angeles area where the worst wildfires broke out last month. By late Thursday, the National Weather Service lifted all rain-related weather advisories in the region, but officials warned that "mud and rockslides can still happen even after the rainfall has stopped."

Where are the mudslides and landslides near Los Angeles?

Much of the Los Angeles vegetation that holds the topsoil in place was ravaged by wildfires leaving behind "burn scars" or scorched swathes of land that are mostly seen in mountainous regions. Areas near the fires saw many mudslides:

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department warned residents in January that mudslides can happen without warning and can quickly cause catastrophic damage, sweeping away people, vehicles, and structures.

How much rain did the storm bring to Southern California?

According to the National Weather Service the recent 3-day rainfall brought over six inches in the area:

Over the last 24 hours, parts of Los Angeles saw more than 3 inches of rain, the weather service said.

Here's a look at some of the areas that were impacted

Fox 11 Los Angeles reported people were trapped inside Duke's restaurant in Malibu as mud and debris flowed downhill from the nearby hillside.

A Los Angeles Fire department vehicle with a person inside was swept off of Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu into the ocean according to Fox11 Los Angeles.

How does a mudslide happen?

A special kind of landslide known as a mudslide occurs when a torrent of mud falls down hillsides, usually following intense rainfall. Ash and debris created when trees and other objects burn cause the ground to become slick. The main distinction is the type of material involved: mudslides are composed of fine silt and saturated soil, whereas landslides might consist of a combination of dirt and heavier debris, according to the California Department of Education.

In this case recent wildfires were followed by downpours of rain, leaving parts of Southern California vulnerable to mudslides, mudflows, and landslides.

UC San Diego’s ALERTCalifornia cameras were rapidly deployed over last weekend and early this week to be online Feb 11. The group worked with California's Governor's office of Emergency Services and CAL Fire to get the cameras in the locations they need to monitor for debris flows. Below are time-lapses of the locations of Cloud Croft and Bailey Canyon debris basins.

In addition to the rain, the storm brought powerful wind gusts that knocked down power lines, leaving thousands in the dark early Friday morning.