Weather Whiplash: SoCal Goes From Wildfire Warnings To Flood Watch

LOS ANGELES, CA — A winter storm warning and wind advisory is in effect in Southern California's mountains and foothills, and a flood watch is pending in the recent wildfire areas across the Southland.

According to AccuWeather, the rainfall is imminent, with the first drops expected in Los Angeles and San Diego Counties at about 9 p.m. Saturday.

The flood watch will go into effect Sunday in the recent wildfire areas as the first of what's expected to be three days of rain arrives Saturday, bringing a risk of mudslides, toxic runoff and debris clogged storm drains.

The storm is a mixed bag for Southern California. The precipitation is sorely needed amid the driest start to the rainy season on record. The rain was expected to snap a near-record streak of dry weather for Southern California. Much of the region has received less than 5% of the average rainfall for this point in the water year, which began Oct. 1, the Los Angeles Times reported Saturday. Most of Southern California is now either in “extreme drought” or “severe drought,” according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.

The rain will go far in helping to contain several active Southland wildfires after weeks of dangerous gusts and reduced humidity. Wildfires still burning Saturday across Southern California include the Palisades and Eaton fires, which killed at least 28 people and destroyed more than 14,000 structures. Containment of the Palisades Fire reached 81%, and the Eaton Fire was at 95% containment.

In northern Los Angeles County, firefighters made significant progress against the Hughes Fire, which prompted evacuations for tens of thousands of people when it erupted Wednesday in mountains near Lake Castaic.

And in San Diego County, there was still little containment of the Border 2 Fire churning through a remote area of the Otay Mountain Wilderness near the U.S.-Mexico border.

However, dozens of square miles are covered in toxic ash and hazardous debris across the burn areas, creating the risk of mudslides and the likelihood of toxic runoff flowing downhill.

Los Angeles County crews spent much of the week removing vegetation, shoring up slopes and reinforcing roads in devastated areas of the Palisades and Eaton Fires, which reduced entire neighborhoods to rubble and ash after breaking out during powerful winds Jan. 7.

Most of the region will likely get around an inch of precipitation over several days, but “the threat is high enough to prepare for the worst-case scenario,” of localized cloudbursts causing mud and debris to flow down hills, the National Weather Service said on social media.

“So the problem would be if one of those showers happens to park itself over a burn area,” weather service meteorologist Carol Smith said Saturday. “That could be enough to create debris flows.”

Flood watches were issued for some burn areas. Snow was likely in the mountains.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass issued an executive order this week to expedite cleanup efforts and mitigate the environmental impacts of fire-related pollutants. LA County supervisors also approved an emergency motion to install flood-control infrastructure and expedite and remove sediment in fire-impacted areas.

Fire crews filled sandbags for communities while county workers installed barriers and cleared drainage pipes and basins.

Officials cautioned that ash in recent burn zones was a toxic mix of incinerated cars, electronics, batteries, building materials, paints, furniture and other household items. It contains pesticides, asbestos, plastics and lead. Residents were urged to wear protective gear while cleaning up.

Concerns about post-fire debris flows have been especially high since 2018, when the town of Montecito up the coast from LA was ravaged by mudslides after a downpour hit mountain slopes burned bare by a huge blaze. Twenty-three people died, and hundreds of homes were damaged.

Beyond the active fires, major wildfires including the Airport, Bridge and Line Fires tore through Orange Countty and the Inland Empire in the Fall, leaving denuded hillsides in foothill and mountain communities.

City News Service and the Associated Press contributed to this report.