In brief
Los Angeles is bracing for a significant storm that could lead to dangerous conditions in areas affected by recent wildfires. Evacuations have been ordered in neighborhoods with heightened risk of mudslides. City officials are on alert, preparing for potential emergencies as heavy rainfall threatens to exacerbate existing vulnerabilities.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — As Southern California faces a rare October storm, evacuations have been ordered in wildfire-scarred neighborhoods of Los Angeles due to threats of heavy rain and potential mudslides. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass expressed concerns about the weather during a Monday night news conference, highlighting the preparedness of strike teams, rescue crews, and helicopters.
The evacuation orders cover approximately 115 homes, primarily in Pacific Palisades and Mandeville Canyon, regions that experienced severe wildfires in January, resulting in more than 30 deaths and over 17,000 destroyed structures in Los Angeles County. The lack of vegetation after such fires poses a significant risk for landslides during storms.
Authorities are urging residents to stay vigilant as the storm's impact is anticipated to peak early Tuesday, with more than 16,000 households already experiencing power outages. The National Weather Service has reported that certain areas could see up to 4 inches (10.2 centimeters) of rainfall from this intense storm system described as rare and potent.
Meteorologist Ariel Cohen emphasized the unpredictable nature of the storm, warning that it could potentially spawn tornadoes, and that the timing and specific impacts may not be clear until shortly before they occur.
In preparation, the Los Angeles Fire Department began monitoring the affected areas, and Caltrans has temporarily closed sections of state Route 27 starting from the Pacific Coast Highway. There are also forecasts for heavy snowfall in the Sierra Nevadas, with urban flooding already reported in parts of Northern California.
Local businesses, including Gladstones Restaurant along the Pacific Coast Highway, are shutting down in anticipation of severe weather, particularly because of the history of heavy debris flows in the area after rain.
This current warning comes in the aftermath of previous storms that have caused disastrous mudslides in regions affected by wildfires, highlighting concerns for community safety as winter approaches.
