UPDATED 7:30 PM WEDNESDAY: Phones in the L.A. area have exploded with yet another flash flood warning from the National Weather Service. The advisory called it a dangerous and life-threatening situation, and warned residents not to travel unless fleeing a flood area. It extends to 2 a.m., The National Weather Service also issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for the region stretching from Thousand Oaks to Glendale (west to east) and from Santa Clarita to Inglewood (north to south) until 8:45 p.m. “This storm will contain wind gusts to 70 MPH!” reads the NWS statement. It also warns of the potential for pea-sized hail.
, UPDATED with latest: A series of mudslides hit Mulholland Drive today roughly between Coldwater and Laurel Canyons, covering the road with debris and undermining stretches, making it unsafe for vehicles., The slides severed the major east-west artery in the Hollywood Hills. Commuters and residents are likely looking at an extensive closure of the popular canyon road. , The slides were reported around midday Wednesday, prompting a closure of Mulholland between Skyline and Bowmont drives. Southbound Coldwater Canyon Drive was closed at Mulholland., Images from the scene showed mud covering several portions of Mulholland, along with sections where the land beneath the roadway had collapsed., There were no reports of any injuries., Numerous big-ticket homes are perched on the hills above the slide area, but it was unclear if any of them were in immediate danger of structural damage., City Councilwoman Nithya Raman wrote in a statement that the city is responding to “multiple reports (of debris flows) along residential and arterial streets near Laurel Canyon, Coldwater Canyon, Benedict Canyon and Beverly Glen.”, The highest likelihood of mud and debris flows is on hillsides and canyons which can lead to impassable roads,” Raman wrote. “Drivers are advised to avoid these areas which are at heightened risk of mudslides and sudden closures.”, Indeed, city officials said Wednesday that there had been 520 reports of mudslides during the storm event of the past few days. , The Mulholland closure is just over the ridge from a major mudslide that occurred during the peak of the storm on Sunday into Monday. It severely damaged six homes and threatened a seventh along Beverly Drive in Beverly Crest. Los Angeles Fire Department crews escorted 15 residents out of the area, including nine children, but no injuries were reported.
, Just the other side of Mullholland in Studio City, two homes sustained significant damage when mud and debris plowed down a hillside along Lockridge Road. Fire crews evacuated residents from nine homes on the stretch. , In the Tarzana/Encino area, three homes were impacted by a debris flow along Boris Drive, prompting some
evacuations., More rain is expected tonight. While nowhere near the deluge that L.A. has seen in the past few days, the quick-moving storm is forecast to deliver “periods of moderate to heavy rain” that will deliver between a quarter and an inch of rain, according to the National Weather Service. , “The rain amounts and intensities with this system wouldn’t normally cause much concern, and for most urban areas issues should be minimal and confined to just standard minor road flooding,” a statement from the NWS read. “However, in areas near hillsides the additional rain could quickly trigger additional slides.”, As a result, a flood watch will be in effect from 6 p.m. Wednesday through late Wednesday night in most parts of northern and central Los Angeles counties including the valleys., PREVIOUSLY, 5:45 p.m. TUESDAY: The National Weather Service just updated its forecast for Los Angeles and the takeaway is that the next 48 hours won’t be nearly as bad, but it’s not over yet., Sharing the latest radar animation which shows plenty of rain still out there, NWS LA said in a statement, “Moderate to heavy showers are expanding over Ventura and Los Angeles County. Small hail has been observed. Expect roadway flooding and strong flows in creeks.”, As for what’s next, “An end is in sight,” according to the NWS, “but not until Thu. or Fri. Do not let the break Wednesday morning misguide you – more rain and mountain snow coming Wednesday afternoon and night.”, A graphic shared by the NWS shows a predicted .75-1.5 inches of additional rainfall in L.A. County between 4 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday at 4 p.m. Downtown L.A. is expected to see just under an inch, while Pasadena should see another 1.17 inches. Bear in mind that the highest storm total this morning was tallied at the Cogswell Dam, in the mountains above Pasadena. NWS monitors at that site recorded 13.15 inches over the past three days., The local forecast discussion this afternoon indicated “showers and isolated thunderstorms into the evening hours [tonight]…should end rather quickly by around midnight as the flow turns west to northwesterly. This means Los Angeles and Ventura Counties are in line for a break from the rain during the day on Wednesday.”, Projections see a trough of low pressure “zipping down the west coast and through Southern California on Thursday. This system will be able to interact with the lingering moisture from our current storm to bring one last band of organized precipitation Wednesday afternoon and night. All areas should see about a 3 hour period of steady rain and mountain snow.” , Additionally, “Gusty west to northwest winds will form Wednesday and continue into Thursday. Show levels will lower each day with mountain snow issues increasing. Saturday through at least Tuesday will be dry and warmer.”, There could also be some lingering pockets of precipitation through early Friday. See chart below.
, Evacuation warnings and orders were slowly lifted today as rain from the multiple-day storm slowly began to ease, but residents were still urged to remain prepared in case the threats of mudslides, flooding and/or debris flows return., Residents in the La Tuna Canyon area had been under an evacuation order since the storm began, but the order was lifted late Tuesday afternoon., Evacuation orders that had been issued for the Agua Fire burn area along Soledad Canyon Road east of Agua Dulce Canyon Road and the Owen Fire burn area, on Santa Maria Road north of Topanga Canyon in the Topanga area, were both reduced Tuesday afternoon to evacuation warnings, although residents were still urged to be prepared to leave if needed., Culver City on Monday issued evacuation warnings for various streets in the Upper Crest area due to concerns about possible mud or debris flows. City officials said the warnings will be in effect until 11:59 p.m. Tuesday., In the Hollywood Hills, which has been hardest hit, cleanup, assessment and warnings remain. A mudslide severely damaged six homes and threatened a seventh along Beverly Drive in the Beverly Crest area. Los Angeles Fire Department crews escorted 15 residents out of the area, including nine children, but no injuries were reported. City Building and Safety crews are assessing the extent of damage to the homes., The L.A. City Storm Impacts site showed the area should still be approached with caution, and roads through Benedict and Brown Canyons remain closed. A section of Mulholland near Fryman Canyon Park was also closed., L.A. will finally get a substantial break thereafter, though the NWS notes, “Extended projections continue to show a chance for another storm system for the end of next week with a wide range of outcomes.” Stay tuned., PREVIOUSLY, 9:45 AM: The state of emergency continues in Los Angeles as nearly a foot of rain has fallen in some areas during the past two days. And the relentless atmospheric river event is not over yet., “This has truly been a historic storm for Los Angeles,” Dr. Ariel Cohen of the National Weather Service said during a news conference this morning. “We’re talking about the third-wettest two day stretch since records started in the 1870s, and we’ve endured this and come through with no fatalities.”, The only higher two-day rain totals in L.A. were in 1934 and 1956. , He added: “We still have light to moderate rain ongoing across the Greater L.A. area, and because the soils are so saturated — supersaturated, in fact… it will take very little additional to increase already-flooded areas with more flooding, landslides, mudslides and other debris flows. Everyone needs to be at a high state of readiness.” , Cohen also said more rain is headed to L.A., “Over the next several hours we’ll have waves of this activity continue all the way through the mid- to late-afternoon hours. Could have some even heavier downpours come through this after … that could really bring about an increased risk for flash flooding and additional landslides. Do not let your guard down.” , Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Kristin Crowley said that, as of Monday afternoon, the LAFD had responded to 307 reports of mudslides related to the storm. , Pacific Coast Highway at the Los Angeles County and Ventura County border was closed on the northbound side because of flooding., Falling trees also have menaced the region. A large eucalyptus tree fell onto a house and some power lines in the ritzy Brentwood area early Tuesday, resulting in an outage. Several power poles were damaged, but no injuries were reported.
, The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power reported about 7,000 customers were without power as of 9 a.m. Tuesday, with the most impacted areas including Koreatown, Mid-Wilshire, Pacific Palisades and, as mentioned, Brentwood., There was no immediate estimate on when all power would be restored. DWP officials said additional crews came aboard at 6:30 a.m. to relieve others who have “been working up to 16-hour shifts.”, NWS updated its rainfall totals at noon on Tuesday, and there are some eye-popping numbers. The tony enclave on Bel-Air, home to so many celebrities and wealthy Angelenos, topped a foot of rain, clocking in at 12.32 inches. Many of the most-drenched areas are in the San Fernando Valley:, Sepulveda Canyon at Mulholland: 12.01
Topanga Fire Station: 11.95
Woodland Hills: 11.70, The highest total came at the Cogswell Dam above Pasadena. NWS monitors at that site recorded 13.15 inches of rain in the past 72 hours., A littleIn the southern part of Los Angeles, the rainfall has been significant. Beverly Hills has received 8.61 inches, Culver City has seen 7.71 inches, and Downtown L.A. has endured 8.13 inches. This means that in just three days, downtown Los Angeles has already received more than half of its average seasonal rainfall for the past 30 years, which is 14.25 inches.
Due to the heavy rainfall, evacuation warnings have been issued for areas of Culver City that are near steep slopes. The Upper Crest neighborhood, located in the hills just east of Overland Avenue, north of the Westfield Culver City mall, and about two miles south of the Sony Pictures lot, is particularly at risk for debris or mudflows. Residents living in or below this neighborhood are being urged to prepare to leave their homes and gather their family, pets, basic needs, and important paperwork. They should also listen for instructions from local officials.
According to Culver City’s Twitter account, mudflows have already been reported behind two homes along Cranks Road and one along Flaxton Street. The rain is still falling in Culver City as of 10:15 a.m.
In the Hollywood Hills, a mudslide has caused severe damage to six homes and is threatening a seventh along Beverly Drive in the Beverly Crest area. Fortunately, Los Angeles Fire Department crews were able to evacuate 15 residents, including nine children, without any reported injuries. City Building and Safety crews are currently assessing the extent of the damage to the homes.
Flash-flood warnings have been extended for several areas, including Glendale, Santa Clarita, Calabasas, Newbury Park, Malibu, Topanga, Bel-Air, and West Hollywood. The warnings now extend east to Norwalk and Whittier as well.
Once the main storm system passes later tonight, there is still a 20% to 40% chance of lingering rain through Friday, although most of it is expected to be light.
Due to the storm, Six Flags Magic Mountain, Knott’s Berry Farm, the Getty Center, the Getty Villa, and the Los Angeles Zoo are all closed. However, Disneyland and Disney California Adventure will remain open until 8 p.m.
In a dramatic rescue on Monday, the Los Angeles Fire Department saved a man who had jumped into the Los Angeles River after his dog fell in. The dog safely made it to shore, but the man had to be rescued by a helicopter.
In Orange County, Santa Ana City Hall and the Santa Ana Main Library were closed due to a power outage.
The National Weather Service has extended a flash-flood warning for West Central Los Angeles County and Southeastern Ventura County until 9 p.m. due to moderate to heavy rainfall moving into the area. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has declared a local emergency to aid in the city’s response to the storm.
Sunday was one of the wettest days in the recorded history of Los Angeles, with downtown L.A. setting a record for the date with over 4 inches of rain. Residents are being urged to stay home and off the roads, and a state of emergency has been declared in several California counties, including Los Angeles and Orange counties.
Road closures have been reported due to rocks, boulders, flooding, and mudslides in various areas, including Malibu Canyon Road, Benedict Canyon, Beverly Glen Canyon, and Topanga Canyon Road.
Despite the challenges posed by the storm, the city is working diligently to respond and recover from the unprecedented rainfall.Due to the heavy rain and flooding, the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District schools were forced to close on Monday. The impact of the storm was evident in various areas, with vehicles completely submerged on Piuma and two homes in Studio City suffering significant damage from mud and debris. Fire crews had to evacuate residents from nine homes in Studio City and 16 residents from three homes in the Tarzana/Encino area.
The rain is expected to continue throughout the day and into Tuesday, prompting a flash flood warning for the Santa Monica Mountains and the Hollywood Hills until 3 p.m. The intensity of the rain is predicted to increase, leading to deteriorating conditions as the afternoon unfolds.
Videos posted online show the region’s waterways, such as the L.A. River and Ballona Creek, dangerously close to overtopping bridges and their concrete banks. As a result, roads leading to the Sepulveda Basin, a known flood-prone area, have been closed for safety reasons.
Residents in the La Tuna Canyon Road area have been ordered to evacuate until Tuesday due to the high risk of debris flow caused by the heavy rain. The affected area is bordered by Horse Haven Street, Martindale Avenue, Penrose Street, and Ledge Avenue.
Several popular attractions, including Six Flags Magic Mountain, Knott’s Berry Farm, the Getty Center and Villa, and the Los Angeles Zoo, have also been closed due to the inclement weather.
According to the National Weather Service, downtown Los Angeles received a record-breaking 4.10 inches of rain on Sunday, surpassing the previous daily rainfall total for February 4th set in 1927. This makes it the third wettest February day and the 12th wettest day overall since rainfall records began in 1877. The wettest day on record for downtown Los Angeles remains March 21, 1938, with 5.88 inches of rain, which caused the city’s great flood.
Please note that the information provided in this report is subject to change as the situation develops.
