UPDATE: A powerful winter storm is currently battering Southern California, leading to severe flash flooding and mudslide threats. California Governor Gavin Newsom has just proclaimed a state of emergency for Los Angeles County and neighboring areas as coastal communities brace for unprecedented rainfall.
The US Weather Prediction Centre warns that lives and property are in great danger, with forecasts indicating that some areas could receive multiple months’ worth of rain in just a few days. This historic storm is expected to intensify through the Christmas holiday, peaking on December 25, 2023.
Evacuations are already underway in canyon communities across Los Angeles and Orange County, with road closures, flooded freeways, and significant flight delays reported. The Angeles Crest Highway north of La Cañada Flintridge was closed on Wednesday morning due to hazardous conditions, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
As of Wednesday morning, approximately 10,700 customers in the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power service area are without power due to storm debris. Southern California Edison has also reported outages linked to the severe weather.
In response to the storm’s impact, the state has mobilized emergency resources, including 55 fire engines and 10 swift-water rescue teams to safeguard communities from the ongoing dangers of flooding and mudslides.
The rain poses a severe risk particularly to areas like Altadena, which were devastated by wildfires nearly a year ago. The burned vegetation leaves the ground unable to absorb water, significantly increasing the likelihood of landslides and power outages.
“Those soils are still hydrophobic, which means that rain just runs off like it’s hitting hard dirt or concrete,” said Scott Kleebauer, a meteorologist at the Weather Prediction Centre.
Forecasts suggest maximum rainfall rates could reach 3.8 cm per hour, with certain foothills and mountains in Los Angeles and Santa Barbara projected to receive up to 25 cm of rain by late Christmas Eve. Total accumulations could hit 35 cm by Friday.
Travel disruptions are inevitable, particularly on one of the busiest travel days of the year, as the storm continues to wreak havoc. Forecasters urge residents to drive cautiously and avoid flooded roadways.
In contrast, the storm has brought welcome snowfall to mountain ski resorts, with Mammoth Mountain expecting up to 58 cm of snow accumulation on Wednesday.
This is an urgent situation unfolding in Southern California. Stay tuned for updates as the storm progresses and impacts continue to develop.
