Los Angeles braces for heavy rain, but avoids major landslides

Southern California endured a day of heavy rain, causing some localized flooding but largely sparing the region from the significant landslides and damage that had been feared, particularly in areas recently ravaged by wildfires.

The biggest concerns centered around regions scorched by wildfires in recent weeks, where the ground’s ability to absorb water had been compromised, Caliber.Az reports citing foreign media.

In these areas, soil can become hydrophobic, repelling water and leading to dangerous mudslides. The National Weather Service issued flash flood warnings for Malibu and Pacific Palisades, two communities still recovering from last month’s devastating Palisades fire, as well as for Altadena, which was severely impacted by the Eaton fire, and other areas across Los Angeles County.

Despite early warnings of potential damage, the worst of the rain passed through Los Angeles by early evening without causing widespread destruction. “It’s moving out,” said Carol Smith, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service.

Though no major landslides were reported, there were some challenges, including muddy water cascading across sections of the Pacific Coast Highway, leading to road closures. The heavy rainfall had prompted concerns that a sudden downpour could trigger landslides in the already fragile wildfire burn areas. Additionally, the National Weather Service reported strong winds across the region, with gusts exceeding 77 miles per hour in some locations. In Ventura County, northwest of Los Angeles, winds caused damage to awnings and carports.

Officials issued mandatory evacuation orders for more than 100 homes in Los Angeles, particularly in neighborhoods like Pacific Palisades, where the damage from last month’s fire still leaves hillsides vulnerable. Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell confirmed the evacuations, which were in response to ongoing concerns about potential mudslides in the burn scar areas.

Further north in Santa Barbara County, officials had been preparing for the storm for several days, given the region’s history with intense rain and mudslides, including a deadly incident in 2018. Jackie Ruiz, a spokeswoman for the county’s emergency management office, stated that the community is well-accustomed to such weather events. In anticipation of possible flooding, deputies had visited around 50 properties within the burn scar area of the Lake fire, which scorched more than 38,000 acres last year.

 Officials were also making efforts to reach those living in vulnerable locations such as creek beds and underpasses, which are prone to flooding.

While the immediate threat has passed, authorities continue to monitor the situation closely, particularly in wildfire-affected areas, as Southern California braces for potential further storms in the coming days.

By Vafa Guliyeva