Evacuation warnings issued as dangerous storm threatens SoCal's recent burn areas
Storm system moving into Southern California
Across Southern California, officials warn the region will feel some effect of the incoming storm system.
LOS ANGELES - A rare early-season storm is expected to bring heavy rain, thunderstorms, and potential flash flooding to Southern California from late Monday through Tuesday, the National Weather Service is warning.
Evacuation warnings for burn scar areas to go into effect tonight
What we know:
The storm, a low-pressure system moving south from the Pacific Northwest, will bring rain to the region starting as early as Monday evening.
Most areas are expected to receive between 0.75 and 1.5 inches of rain, while mountain areas could see up to 3 inches, the NWS reports.
Multiple communities, including small parts of Pasadena and Pacific Palisades, had law enforcement knock door to door to tell residents they needed to evacuate. The hyper-local evacuation orders applied to dozens of households in those areas.
LA Weather: Officials urge preparedness ahead of powerful storm
Mayor Karen Bass joined city and weather officials to warn Angelenos about a strong storm expected to hit overnight, bringing heavy rain, gusty winds, and possible flooding or tornadoes.
LA County evacuations
A flood watch has been issued for recent burn scar areas, including the Gifford, Madre, Lake, Palisades, Franklin, Eaton, and Bridge burn scars, where significant mud and debris flows could occur.
The flood watch will be in effect Monday night through Tuesday evening in recent burn areas in Los Angeles, Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties, with forecasters saying the storm has the potential to trigger "hazardous and damaging flooding and debris flows."
Los Angeles officials say an evacuation warning for possible debris flows will be in effect near recent burn areas from 10 p.m. Monday evening to 6 a.m. Wednesday.
Residents in areas burned in the Palisades Fire in Pacific Palisades, the Eaton Fire in Altadena, the Hurst Fire in Sylmar, and the Sunset Fire in the Hollywood Hills are advised to prepare to evacuate quickly if ordered, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.
Los Angeles police will go door-to-door to visit each high-risk home with additional information, according to city officials. Evacuation warnings have also been issued for areas near the Eaton Fire burn area in Altadena.
The Sierra Madre Police Department is advising residents in specific high hazard locations to evacuate. Most residents in the Evacuation Warning zones are encouraged to voluntarily relocate at this time. A temporary evacuation shelter has been established at Hart House Senior Center on 222 W. Sierra Madre Blvd.
Gusty southerly winds are likely, with the possibility of high wind warning-level gusts in mountain areas.
Orange County evacuations
In Orange County, authorities issued an evacuation warning for areas near the Airport Fire burn scar, including Trabuco Creek, Hot Springs Canyon, Bell Canyon, Long Canyon and Modjeska Canyon.
Soft road closures may be in place in the Canyon locations, particularly in Trabuco Creek and Modjeska Canyon near the Airport Fire burn scar.
Orange County authorities urged people to voluntarily evacuate the area, "especially those with disabilities, access and/or functional needs, and canyon residents with large animals."
The NWS advised residents to take precautions, remain indoors as much as possible and avoid parking vehicles near tall trees that could be uprooted.
The storm also carries a slight risk of isolated thunderstorms, dangerous lightning, and even the potential for weak tornadoes or waterspouts to develop along the coast, according to the NWS.
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Road Closures
Caltrans will close a 3.6-mile stretch of Topanga Canyon Boulevard/State Route 27 (SR-27) between Pacific Coast Highway and Grand View Drive. The closure will begin at 10 p.m. Monday and last until at least 5 a.m. Tuesday.
Caltrans said this stretch of highway is already an active work zone and is currently closed to the public from midnight to 5 a.m. daily.
In anticipation for the storm, crews added k-rails and sandbags and stabilized the current retaining wall and other project work.
What's next:
The storm system is expected to move on by Wednesday night, with temperatures dropping dramatically on Tuesday before a warming trend begins toward the end of the week.
"For next weekend, the warming continues inland while marine layer clouds and fog return to the coastal areas," the NWS predicted.
The Source: Information for this story is from the National Weather Service.