Giant storm pummels Southern California as flooding, mudslides hit areas charred by fires
An atmospheric river was pummeling Southern California with heavy rain on Thursday, prompting evacuations and school closures as heavy mudslides and flooding hit areas charred by the wildfires that broke out across the region last month.
The evacuation warnings and orders were active in Los Angeles, Ventura and Orange counties, as well as in several communities along the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains in San Bernardino County. In Santa Barbara, people living in at-risk areas were told to leave by 3 p.m. Wednesday.
The National Weather Service in Los Angeles said on X around 5 p.m. local time that the storm was "rapidly intensifying" over Los Angeles County. By 8 p.m., the weather service said all flood products were canceled for southwest California after heavy rain moved out of the region.
"However, please keep in mind that mud and rock slides can still happen well after the rain has ended," the weather service warned. "Also continue to obey all road closures."
The Pacific Coast Highway will remain closed between Chautauqua Boulevard and Carbon Beach Terrace until further notice due to the heavy flooding and mudslides, according to the California Department of Transportation.
Shortly after 5 p.m., a member of the Los Angeles Fire Department had his vehicle "swept off the road and into the ocean by a large debris flow" while driving in Malibu, said spokesperson Erik Scott. He was able to exit his vehicle and was transported to a local hospital with minor injuries, according to Scott.
Residents were urged to monitor emergency updates, prepare to evacuate by collecting important documents and medicine, and promptly flee their homes if they are told to do so.
"When you're given an evacuation order, heed the order and leave as soon as you can. Nothing that you have back home is worth your life," said Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna at a news conference Wednesday. "If you decide to stay in your property in an evacuated area, debris from the burn scar areas and storm may impede roads and we may not be able to reach you."
Intense fires can cause soil to develop a layer that repels water, “like rain on pavement,” according to the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services. Rain that would normally be absorbed into the ground instead runs off, increasing the risk of flash floods, mudslides and debris flows.
City and state officials had announced a slew of measures to mitigate damage in the burn areas, including the installation of thousands of feet of concrete barriers to halt the progress of any possible mudflows. Hundreds of personnel were prepositioned to assist in the disaster response.
Downpour threatens Southern California
Torrential rain was bringing a host of threats to Southern California as the storm knocked out power to more than 28,000 customers Thursday evening, according to Paste BN's outage tracker.
The California Department of Transportation said it was shuttering part of the Pacific Coast Highway, a major north-south state route, due to heavy flooding and mudslides. The department said crews were reporting hazardous road conditions across the region and urged people to avoid unnecessary travel, drive slowly and watch for highway workers.
In Oxnard, a seaside city west of Los Angeles, fire officials said ten mobile homes and several electrical lines were damaged at Ocean-Aire Mobile Home Estates amid a fierce thunderstorm with high winds.
Mulholland Drive, a scenic passage through the Santa Monica Mountains and Hollywood Hills, became impassible after a debris flow deposited roughly 8 inches of mud, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. Homes above the debris flow were assessed and determined to be stable, but the flow of mud and water forced a full road closure.
In Ventura County, the sheriff's office said a raft capsized in the rain-swollen Sespe Creek with five young adults aboard. Everyone made it out of the water safely with no major injuries reported. First responders later spotted an empty boat headed down the creek, according to radio traffic.
By Thursday night, the main front had moved past Ventura County and officials reported no significant issues in the local burn area. The storm had downed trees and power lines, and flooded some roads.
Forecasters warn of 'life-threatening' surf conditions
The storm is bringing dangerous surf conditions to the California coast, according to the National Weather Service.
A coastal hazard warning said dangerously large waves of 20 to 40 feet tall are breaking along the state’s beaches Thursday. Such waves “can sweep people off jetties and docks, and into dangerous seas,” the weather service in San Francisco said, adding that sudden immersion in cold water can also increase "the risk of drowning in rough open waters."
"Life-threatening swimming conditions and significant beach erosion can be expected," the weather service said.
Authorities give door-to-door evacuation notices ahead of storm
Leading up to the storm, officials went door-to-door notifying people their home was at elevated risk of mudflow and dangerous flooding.
Those residences were identified by the California Department of Public Works. Department director Mark Pestrella said Wednesday the vulnerable areas are not limited to neighborhoods such as Altadena and Pacific Palisades, which were ravaged by wildfires last month, but include any area where wildfires occurred within the last year.
Pestrella said authorities believe they have contacted every vulnerable resident but urged those who are concerned about their residence to contact the department. He says vulnerable structures are those located below a slope that has been burned and where there is no drainage device in place to capture debris.
San Francisco airport sees ground delays amid high winds
Flights to San Francisco International Airport were delayed by an average of two hours Thursday afternoon due to high wind, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
High wind warnings were in place along the coast of California from San Francisco to San Diego, according to the weather service. In San Diego, forecasters warned of 25 to 35 mph winds with possible gusts up to 60 mph.
"Damaging winds could down trees, snap power lines, and result in property damage," the weather service office in San Francisco said. "Widespread power outages are possible. Travel could be extremely difficult and hazardous, especially for high profile vehicles. The combination of wind and moist soils will increase the risk for downed trees."
'We’re at the mercy of Mother Nature'
Nic Arnzen, vice chair of the Altadena Town Council, hopes the preparations and evacuation orders will be enough to stave off damage, similar to when it rained a couple of weeks ago.
“We’re keeping an eye on it,” Arnzen said. “It’s so frustrating and helpless to watch the rain come in. We’re at the mercy of Mother Nature.”
Arnzen, who lost his seven-bedroom home in the Eaton Fire, said that with a strike team, extra heavy equipment, search and rescue teams, helicopters at the ready and crews helping with sandbagging, hopefully the conditions this time will also be in their favor as it was during the last downpour.
“We felt spared the last time, but there are some things you can’t control,” Arnzen said. “We feel we are as prepared as we can be. But we’re in an uncomfortable position where you hope it’s enough. We hope we’re spared again.”
He said the collective tension and trauma remain from the fires – which burned more than 37,000 acres, destroyed over 16,000 structures and killed 29 people – is only heightened with the threat of mudslides and further damage.
“It’s a lot more nerve-wracking,” Arnzen said. “But the burn scars present this position. We just have to do our best to remain together and make it through this rainy season.”
LA County couple planning to ride out storm
Julie Howell, 65, of Topanga Canyon, said she and her husband David, 85, got an evacuation warning. But instead of fleeing, the couple is staying put in their three-bedroom home to ride out the rain.
As flames from the Palisades Fire “came right up to our home” a month ago, forcing them to flee, Howell said their residence of 25 years was spared thanks to on-the-ground firefighters and aerial crews.
However, about four dozen homes just on the other side of a hill perished in the blaze.
“Unfortunately, it looks like Mars over there,” she said.
Despite the potential danger of mudslides nearby, Howell said they are willing to take a chance of staying because they don’t have deep burn scars in their area.
“We know where we live fires and flooding are possible, but we think it would seem more dangerous to leave than to stay,” Howell said.
School closures abound amid snow, frigid temperatures in the Northwest
Hundreds of schools across Oregon, Nevada, Idaho and Northern California canceled classes on Thursday as the region faced heavy snowfall from the atmospheric river.
Out of all the western states, the closures impacted Oregon the most, shuttering all Portland Public Schools, which serves over 44,000 students. In Portland, up to two inches of snow and sleet were expected as forecasters projected winds as high as 40 mph. Weather officials warned people to stay off icy roads.
"Roads, and especially bridges and overpasses, will likely become slick and hazardous," the weather service in Portland said. "Significant ice accumulation on power lines and tree limbs may cause power outages."
A number of Mid-Valley school districts, including Salem-Keizer Public Schools, canceled school Friday with more snow and ice predicted overnight Thursday and into Friday morning. Linfield University, Portland State University, and Western Oregon University also announced closures for Friday.
How much rain has fallen so far in California?
Below are preliminary two-day rainfall amounts reported by the National Weather Service as of 4 p.m. PST Thursday:
- Rocky Butte, San Luis Obispo County – 7.13 inches
- Las Tablas, San Luis Obispo County – 4.32 inches
- San Marcos Pass, Santa Barbara County – 5.38 inches
- Porter Ranch, San Fernando Valley – 2.48 inches
- Matilija Dam, Ventura County – 5.26 inches
6 feet of snow forecast for Sierra Nevada mountains
In the Sierra Nevada mountains, some areas could see up to 6 feet of snow, leading authorities to urge people to stay off mountain passes. Powerful wind gusts of 60 mph also posed a threat at high elevations.
"Travel could be very difficult to impossible," the weather service office in Hanford said. "The hazardous conditions could impact the Thursday morning and evening commutes. Very strong winds could cause extensive tree damage."
"If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency," the weather service added.
Earlier Thursday, Caltrans said heavy snow forced the closure of Interstate 80 in the Sierra Nevada due to low visibility. According to the agency, trucks were held at the state line due to multiple spinouts and traction issues.
Wintry weather prompts state of emergency in Oregon
The blanketing snow will not be limited to the California mountains. Winter storm warnings were active in Oregon, Idaho, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Arizona and New Mexico, according to the weather service.
In Oregon's Multnomah County, part of the Portland metropolitan area, officials extended a state of emergency through at least Thursday evening. The county opened six emergency shelters on Wednesday night after hundreds of people came to the open shelters a day earlier.
The National Weather Service in Portland warned freezing rain and snow will impact parts of Oregon and Washington state overnight into Friday. These conditions were also expected to impact major roadways, including Interstate 5, Interstate 205, and Interstate 84, according to the weather service.
What are atmospheric rivers?
Often referred to as "rivers in the sky," atmospheric rivers are long, narrow tracts of the Earth’s atmosphere that gather moisture from the tropics near the equator and sweep it toward the poles.
They can vary greatly in size and strength, however, the average atmospheric river carries an amount of water vapor "roughly equivalent to the average flow of water at the mouth of the Mississippi River," according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Exceptionally strong atmospheric rivers can move up to 15 times that amount, often leading to "extreme rainfall and floods," NOAA said.
Contributing: Cheri Carlson and Gretchen Wenner, Ventura County Star; Bill Poehler, Salem Statesman Journal