Southern California heads into the new year with another round of rain, renewed flood risks and what forecasters say is a near-certainty for a wet Rose Parade.
Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Tuesday that the state is redeploying fire, rescue and emergency services to areas at risk of flooding, mudslides and debris flows, especially in areas that have recently burned.
“California is once again facing severe winter weather, and we are taking every precaution to keep people safe,” Newsom said in a statement.
The storm comes on the heels of Christmas holiday flooding that caused deaths, swift water rescues and downed trees. Some Southern California mountain communities were buried in the mud. The incoming system will not be as strong, but the wet ground is more vulnerable to rocks and mudslides.
The storm system was moving south as strong Santa Ana winds began to ease Tuesday. Rain will fall Wednesday morning, with the strongest weather forecast from Wednesday night through Thursday afternoon, according to the National Weather Service. Showers may last through Friday.
Rainfall totals are expected to range from about 3-quarter inches to 2.5 inches in coastal areas and valleys, with 2 to 5.5 inches possible in the lowlands and mountains. An additional half inch of rain is possible Friday.
Wind gusts could be 30 to 50 mph, forecasters said.
Flood watches have been issued for most of Los Angeles County and Orange County’s coastal and inland areas from Wednesday evening through Thursday evening.
Areas of greatest concern extend to coastal and low-lying regions from Santa Barbara to Los Angeles counties, as well as parts of the Sacramento Valley and Sierra Nevada foothills, where soils remain saturated from previous storms.
Evacuation warnings will go into effect at 11 a.m. Wednesday for areas affected by the Franklin and Palisades fires near Pacific Palisades, the Eaton fire in Altadena, the Canyon fire near Castaic, the Agua and Lidia fires near the Magic Mountain Wilderness Area, the Bridge fire near Wrightwood, the Sunset fire near West Hollywood and the Kenneth fire near Calabasas.
A road closure is scheduled for Topanga Canyon Boulevard between Pacific Coast Highway and Grand View Drive at 5 p.m. Wednesday.
Along with pre-positioning efforts led by the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, crews from Cal Fire, California Highway Patrol and Caltrans are deployed across the state, ready to deal with flooding, rocks, fallen trees and power outages.
Resources already deployed in Los Angeles and Ventura counties include seven swift water rescue teams, three tractors, four manual workers, seven fire engines, two helicopters, one urban search and rescue company and more than 20 support personnel.
“By prepositioning emergency personnel and deploying resources early, we can respond quickly and effectively when conditions worsen,” Newsom said.
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors will meet Wednesday morning to approve a local emergency declaration, which allows the county to seek reimbursement for storm damage and expedite recovery efforts.
