LOS ANGELES — A significant storm system known as an atmospheric river is impacting Southern California, leading to flood warnings in coastal Los Angeles County, where wildfires have recently occurred. The National Weather Service reported rainfall rates reaching up to an inch (2.5 centimeters) per hour in these prone areas.
On Friday, more than four inches of rain fell in coastal Santa Barbara County as the storm advanced toward Los Angeles. Residents were advised to stay indoors amid strong winds as the storm unfolds.
This plume of tropical moisture from the Pacific Ocean has brought widespread rainfall to Southern California since Friday, further extending to areas like the San Francisco Bay Area earlier in the week. Notably, over a foot of snow is anticipated for parts of the Sierra Nevada.
Flood warnings are in effect from Ventura County through Malibu and into Los Angeles City. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass posted on social media, highlighting an Evacuation Warning due to the risk of debris flows in recent burn scar areas. Some properties remain under mandatory evacuation orders.
Evacuation orders were enacted for specific high-risk properties in the Palisades and Eaton fire burn zones from Friday evening to Sunday morning. Law enforcement has been tasked with encouraging residents in these areas to evacuate for their safety.
