In brief
Residents in wildfire-scarred areas of Los Angeles have been forced to evacuate as an unusual October storm is set to hit the region, bringing heavy rain and high winds. Officials warn of mudslides and debris flows due to the lack of vegetation on hillsides. Preparations are underway, with teams ready to respond to emergencies. The storm may result in significant rainfall and even tornadoes in some areas.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Some homes were ordered evacuated in wildfire-scarred Los Angeles neighborhoods as Southern California was hit by a rare October storm expected to bring heavy rain, high winds, and possible mudslides.
“We’re very concerned about the weather,” Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said during a news conference Monday night, explaining that strike teams, rescue teams, and helicopters were all ready to respond.
The evacuations covered about 115 homes mostly in Pacific Palisades and Mandeville Canyon, both areas hit hard by a massive inferno in January that claimed over 30 lives and destroyed over 17,000 homes and buildings in Los Angeles County. Wildfires can leave hillsides without vegetation to hold soil in place, increasing the risk of landslides during storms.
Bass and other officials warned residents throughout the region to remain alert and stay indoors. The storm's worst impacts were anticipated to begin early Tuesday and last through the afternoon, with over 16,000 people already experiencing power outages as of Monday night, according to PowerOutage.us.
The storm could bring up to four inches (10.2 centimeters) of rain in certain areas, with the National Weather Service in Los Angeles describing it as a rare and very potent storm system.
Ariel Cohen, the meteorologist in charge at the National Weather Service in Los Angeles, mentioned that the storm might generate a few tornadoes, with unpredictability posing one of the greatest challenges. The nature of this system is such that we cannot be certain about exactly when and where these impacts will strike until right before they occur, he stated.
Teams from the Los Angeles Fire Department began patrolling the area Monday night, and a section of state Route 27, starting from the Pacific Coast Highway, was closed in preparation for the storm, according to Caltrans. The weather service also cautioned about high winds that could knock down trees and power lines.
To the north, areas in the Sierra Nevada could see up to three feet (one meter) of snowfall. Heavy rainfall had already started falling in Northern California on Monday evening, causing urban flooding in the San Francisco Bay Area. Gladstones Restaurant along the Pacific Coast Highway announced it would close Tuesday due to anticipated heavy rains.
The looming storm raises concerns about post-fire debris flows, especially after past destructive outcomes, such as the severe mudslides that devastated Montecito in 2018 following substantial rain on burn areas. Similarly, warnings are being issued for the aftermath of the storms, which could result in further damage and hazards.
