Atmospheric river hits California: Los Angeles issues warnings; flood risks rise

Los Angeles County officials issued evacuation warnings for residents in areas near burn scars. These include Canyon, Bethany, Eaton, Palisades, Hurst, Kenneth, Sunset, Lidia, Franklin, and Bridge. These areas are on steep slopes and were damaged by past wildfires. This makes the soil loose and weak. When heavy rain falls in a short time, it can cause debris flows that move quickly downhill. Officials asked residents to stay alert and be ready to leave if conditions changed. They warned that strong rain bands could arrive without much notice and cause sudden hazards.

The storm carried a large amount of moisture into California. Many coastal and valley areas were expected to receive 4 to 10 inches of rain. This increases the chance of flash floods, especially in locations with poor drainage or already wet soil. The Center for Western Weather and Water Extremes said the Santa Ana watershed could see some of the highest rainfall totals. In the Sierra Nevada, colder air is expected to bring heavy snowfall at higher elevations. This could lead to more travel problems in mountain areas.

The National Weather Service and the Weather Prediction Center issued marginal and slight excessive-rainfall outlooks for central and southern California. These alerts warned that flash flooding was possible during the storm period. Officials noted that some parts of the atmospheric river could produce short but intense rainfall. This type of rain increases runoff and raises the risk of debris flows in burn-scar zones.

State emergency officials sent teams to Los Angeles, Orange, and Ventura counties before the storm reached its peak. These teams are helping with debris-flow prevention, community alerts, and quick response operations. Although the storm is weakening as it moves east, more rainfall is expected through the weekend. Officials say the risk of local flooding will continue until the system fully passes.