Residents and first responders were on high alert for possible land movement in recent burn scar areas as a winter storm moves in.
Rain fell on parts of Southern California on Sunday and the scattered showers were expected to continue overnight, boosting the risk of toxic ash runoff in areas scorched by Los Angeles-area wildfires.
There is a 10% to 20% chance of flash flooding and landslides in some recently burned areas of Los Angeles County, forecasters say, including the Palisades and Eaton fire areas.
A flood advisory has been issued for parts of Los Angeles County until 4 p.m. as some residents report seeing small hail and heavy downpours. The advisory covers areas from Van Nuys and Hollywood, extending to Chatsworth,
Rain was falling across Southern California on Sunday, bringing some relief to thousands of firefighters battling multiple major blazes for nearly a month in the Los Angeles area, but also prompting new threats of floods and mudslides across burn-scarred lands.
Three active fires in Los Angeles neared full containment Sunday, as the region receives much-needed rain that has produced flood and mudslide warnings lasting through Monday. Saturday, 4:00 p.m. PST Cal Fire data marked the Palisades Fire at 87% containment, the Eaton Fire at 95% containment and the Hughes Fire at 92% containment.
The wet weather will bring relief to Southern California after a prolonged period of dryness, but there’s concern that any bursts of heavy rainfall could cause flooding.
With parts of Los Angeles County still smoldering from wildfires and new blazes flaring up, expected rainfall this weekend would seem like a welcome relief.
A fire broke out Wednesday night along the 405 Freeway in the Sepulveda Pass near the Getty Center, burning about 20 acres and spurring an evacuation warning.
Thunderstorms and heavier showers are most likely to occur through Monday afternoon, raising the risk of debris flows and mudslides in burn areas.
Flash-flood and mudslide risks for the burn areas will persist through Monday afternoon, forecasters say. Here are some Sunday night rain totals.