LOS ANGELES (AP) – A rare October storm hit Southern California, prompting evacuation orders for some homes in the wildfire-stricken Los Angeles area and forecast to bring heavy rain, strong winds and possible downpours to the region. landslide.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said at a news conference Monday night that she was “very concerned about the weather” and explained that strike teams, rescue teams and helicopters were all ready to respond.
About 115 homes were evacuated, primarily in Pacific Palisades and Mandeville Canyon, both of which were hit by a major inferno in January that left more than 30 people dead. More than 17,000 homes and buildings were destroyed Located in Los Angeles County. Wildfires leave hillsides without vegetation to hold the soil in place, making the landscape more susceptible to loosening during storms.
Bass and other officials warned residents across the region to remain vigilant and stay indoors. The worst of the situation was expected to begin early Tuesday morning and last into the afternoon, with more than 16,000 people already without power as of Monday night. PowerOutage.us.
The National Weather Service Los Angeles office said the storm could dump up to 4 inches (10.2 centimeters) of rain in some areas, calling it a “rare and very strong storm system.”
Ariel Cohen, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Los Angeles, said one of the big challenges is its unpredictability, as the storm could produce several tornadoes.
“Due to the nature of this system, we cannot be certain of the exact details of when and where these effects will occur until at the earliest, right before they occur,” he said.
The California Department of Transportation, known as Caltrans, announced on social media that teams from the Los Angeles Fire Department began patrolling the area Monday night and a section of State Route 27, starting at Pacific Coast Highway, was closed to traffic in preparation for the storm.
The Bureau of Meteorology also warned of strong winds that could bring down trees and power lines.
To the north, up to 3 feet (1 meter) of mountain snow is expected to accumulate in parts of the Sierra Nevada.
Heavy rain had already begun to fall across much of Northern California on Monday night, causing urban flooding around the San Francisco Bay Area.
Gladstone’s Restaurant on Pacific Coast Highway announced it would close Tuesday in anticipation of heavy rain. The Pacific Palisades facility is located at an intersection where past rains have caused severe debris flows.
In February, torrential rains triggered debris flows and landslides in some areas destroyed by January’s fires. Water, debris and rocks in Sierra Madre community near Eaton Fire site hurried down the mountaincars were stuck in the mud and garages of several homes were damaged. Part of the Pacific Coast Highway in the Pacific Palisades was submerged in at least three feet of sludge, and a violent debris flow swept away a Los Angeles Fire Department vehicle. into the sea.
Concerns about post-fire debris flows have been particularly heightened since 2018, when fires devastated the town of Montecito, along the coast from Los Angeles. destroyed by a landslide After the downpour, the mountain slopes were reduced to ashes by a huge fire. Hundreds of homes were damaged and 23 people were killed.
Elsewhere in the United States, Typhoon Halon brought hurricane-force winds and devastating storm surge and flooding. washed away some houses I’m going to Alaska this weekend. One person was killed and two others missing in western Alaska on Monday, while more than 50 people were rescued, including some who were pulled from rooftops.
Officials warned of the long road to recovery and the need for continued support for the hardest-hit communities as winter looms.
Microbursts and thunderstorms dumped about half an inch of rain in 10 minutes in Tempe, Arizona, on Monday, according to the National Weather Service. The storm caused extensive damage, with trees falling onto vehicles and buildings, uprooting them and falling onto roads and sidewalks. Roofs were ripped off commercial buildings and thousands of homes lost power.
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Golden reported from Seattle. Associated Press writer Becky Boler contributed from Juneau, Alaska.
