california Prepares for Intense Storm, Focus on Burn scar Areas
Southern and central California are bracing for a powerful storm system expected to bring heavy rainfall, strong winds, and potential flooding and debris flows. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass stated concerns about the weather during a Monday night news conference, noting that strike, rescue, and helicopter teams were prepared to respond.
The storm, described by the National Weather Service’s Los Angeles office as “rare and very potent,” is forecast to deliver up to 4 inches of rain in some areas. Rainfall totals varied early Tuesday, ranging from under half an inch in Los Angeles County to approximately 1.5 inches in San Luis Obispo County.
A particular concern is the potential for debris flows in areas recently impacted by wildfires. The sheriff’s office issued a shelter-in-place order for a region that experienced a wildfire last year and is vulnerable to such flows. The threat stems from the risk of rainfall triggering mud and debris to rush down slopes stripped bare by previous fires, recalling the devastating 2018 Montecito mudslides that resulted in 23 deaths and hundreds of damaged homes.
As of Tuesday morning,over 16,000 customers across southern and central California had lost power,according to PowerOutage.us. The national Weather Service also warned of high winds capable of downing trees and power lines. In preparation, the Los Angeles fire department began patrols Monday night, and a section of State Route 27, starting at the Pacific Coast Highway, was closed by Caltrans.
Further north, the Sierra Nevada mountains are predicted to receive up to 3 feet of snow. Mammoth Mountain Ski Area reported snowfall Tuesday morning. Heavy rain also began falling Monday evening in northern California, causing urban flooding around the San Francisco Bay Area and delays at San Francisco airport.
Meteorologist Ariel Cohen emphasized the unpredictability of the storm, stating that precise timing and location of impacts remain uncertain until shortly before they occur.
