First Rainfall in Months Brings Landslide Risk to Parched Los Angeles
After months of drought, Los Angeles is finally receiving rainfall, providing relief from wildfires but introducing potential landslide hazards. Rainfall totals have ranged from fractions of an inch to nearly 2 inches over 12 hours, with the heaviest showers expected overnight and into Monday morning, according to the National Weather Service.
While the rain is aiding in wildfire suppression and reducing the risk of new fires, excessive rainfall can trigger mudslides and debris flows in the denuded hillsides. A flood watch is in effect for Los Angeles County, with several roads closed due to mudflows.
"We're most concerned about the recent burn areas," said Joe Sirard, a meteorologist with the weather service in Los Angeles. "It won't take much rainfall over these areas to trigger mud and debris flows."
A flood watch remains in place for burn areas in Los Angeles County through Monday afternoon, with the potential for an upgrade to a flood warning if rainfall intensifies.
The Pacific Coast Highway west of Topanga Canyon Boulevard has been closed due to mudflows, and four vehicles were stranded in mud near the Woodland Hills neighborhood. On Interstate 5, which was partially closed last week due to the Hughes Fire, the California Highway Patrol is escorting vehicles over the Grapevine summit amidst snowy conditions.
The recent wildfires, fueled by parched hills, have devastated thousands of homes and businesses, marking one of the worst natural disasters in modern US history.
Firefighters continue to make progress in containing the blazes, with the Palisades Fire 90% contained and the Eaton Fire 98% contained. These two fires alone have destroyed over 16,000 structures. As of yet, 28 fatalities have been confirmed since the fires ignited during strong winds on January 7.
This is the first significant rainfall in Los Angeles since April. The National Weather Service briefly issued a flash flood warning for Malibu, including burn scars from the Franklin Fire and the western portion of the Palisades Fire, but it was canceled before 10 p.m. local time.