LOS ANGELES — Southern California remains at high risk for rock and mudslides on wildfire-scarred hillsides following recent heavy rains that disrupted travel across several roadways, including the Pacific Coast Highway, where a fire department vehicle was swept into the ocean.
The storm that affected the area began to subside late Thursday but poses ongoing dangers as mudslides can occur even after rainfall ceases, especially in areas where wildfire damage has compromised vegetation crucial for soil stabilization.
A member of the Los Angeles Fire Department was in the vehicle that went into the water in Malibu but was able to escape with only minor injuries.
In Pacific Palisades, at least three feet of mud inundated a highway intersection, forcing some drivers to attempt passage while police assisted one vehicle through the sludge. Bulldozers worked to clear routes previously choked by abandoned cars as residents fled from last month’s wildfires.
Further north in Altadena, roads close to the Eaton Fire burn scar were similarly engulfed in mud, vegetation, and debris, overwhelming concrete barriers installed to mitigate debris flows.
Simultaneously, snow and ice in Oregon and Washington led to significant vehicle pileups on highways, resulting in injuries to at least ten individuals as a winter storm swept through the Pacific Northwest.
This string of West Coast storms is part of a broader pattern of severe weather across the U.S., leaving tens of thousands without electrical power.
In response to intensifying rainfall, the National Weather Service issued flood and severe thunderstorm warnings for eastern Los Angeles County. Flash flooding caused rockslides and disrupted road access in Malibu Canyon, while approximately eight inches of mud covered roads in Hollywood Hills.
Southern California recorded rainfall amounts ranging from one to two inches in coastal areas and valleys, with three to six inches on coastal slopes.
Power outages left over 25,000 people in California without electricity. Evacuation orders were implemented in areas impacted by the Palisades Fire, which decimated vegetation and added volatile debris to the landscape.
In preparation for the storm, officials distributed sandbags and positioned rescue teams, while urging residents to prepare go-bags. Sandbags and temporary barriers were deployed throughout Altadena, where the Eaton Fire previously destroyed thousands of homes.
Despite the recent rains, much of Southern California continues to face extreme or severe drought conditions. Experts warn that while the region needs rain, the volume and speed of this storm may lead to additional risks.
A resident in Altadena noted the precautions taken to protect his home from potential damage as he arranged sandbags and barriers in his neighborhood.
In Orange County, Trabuco Canyon Road was overwhelmed by mud and debris, with local public works authorities reporting road conditions. Meanwhile, the San Francisco Bay Area witnessed blackouts, minor landslides, and road flooding, prompting evacuation recommendations for communities near the San Lorenzo River.
In neighboring Nevada, significant rainfall finally broke a 214-day dry spell in Las Vegas. Meanwhile, northern Utah faced hazardous travel conditions due to rain and snow impacting mountain roads leading to ski areas.
First responders tackled a substantial vehicle pileup in Oregon, where initial reports indicated more than 100 cars were involved, although later estimates suggested 20 to 30 vehicles were affected, resulting in minor injuries for four individuals.
In Multnomah County, a state of emergency was declared, with shelters established for displaced residents amid dangerously low wind chills predicted to drop to 10 degrees Fahrenheit.
Additionally, southern Washington reported injuries from another collision involving 22 vehicles on Interstate 5, amid numerous accidents throughout the day.
School cancellations transpired across many New England districts as snow and ice made travel treacherous. Investigations followed a tragic crash involving a tractor-trailer in Maine that resulted in two fatalities.
The recent storms follow two days of severe winter weather stretching from Kentucky to Washington, D.C., leading to hundreds of accidents and widespread power outages.
As of Thursday evening, approximately 130,000 customers in Virginia and about 6,600 in North Carolina were still without power.
