Storm Drenches Westwood-Century City, Multiple Hazards In Effect

WESTWOOD-CENTURY CITY, CA – Steady rain doused Los Angeles County Thursday amid strong winds, while mandatory evacuation orders were in effect in parts of Orange and Riverside counties prompted by fears of shallow mudslides, minor debris flows and some flash-flooding over areas of L.A., Orange, Ventura and Riverside counties recently denuded by wildfires.

Light rain was reported in much of the Southland early Thursday, but the National Weather Service reported shortly after 3 a.m. that heavy rain was falling in Burbank and Downtown L.A.

According to a National Weather Service statement, the heaviest rain is expected in Orange County and inland areas late Thursday morning.

"Hourly rainfall rates in stronger showers and isolated thunderstorms could approach one-half to one inch in an hour," according to the NWS. "This could lead to mudslides and debris flows at recent burn scars. The time window of greatest concern is from late Thursday morning through early Thursday evening."

Shortly before 7:30 a.m., the NWS issued a flood advisory for east central Ventura County and west central L.A. County in response to Doppler radar indications that minor flooding was impending. The NWS said in a statement that locations that would experience flooding include Thousand Oaks, Simi Valley, Malibu, Agoura Hills, Woodland Hills, Calabasas, Westlake Village, Malibu Creek State Park and Oak Park. The advisory will expire at 9:15 a.m.

Most areas should see between a half-inch and two inches of rain, although three inches could fall at higher elevations and foothills.

The storm originating in the Gulf of Alaska began moving across California's Central Coast Wednesday afternoon and into Ventura County, reaching Los Angeles County in the evening strengthened by moisture from the Eastern Pacific. Forecasters expected the Thursday morning commute to pose challenges.

The storm was generating strong, gusty winds, prompting the NWS to issue a wind advisory on Santa Catalina Island; the San Gabriel and Santa Monica mountains; the Antelope, San Fernando, Santa Clarita, Pomona and San Gabriel valleys; L.A. County Beach cities, metropolitan Los Angeles, including Downtown L.A., and the Hollywood Hills.

In the mountains and the Antelope Valley, the wind was forecast to blow at 20-30 miles per hour, with 50-mph gusts. In the other L.A. County areas subject to a wind advisory, winds of 15-30 mph with 40-mph gusts were expected. The advisory, indicating winds or gusts of at least 35 mph, was scheduled to be in effect until midnight.

"Gusty winds will make driving difficult, especially for high profile vehicles," warned the NWS in a statement.

Showers are expected By Thursday afternoon.

Forecasters say the rain will fall on the sites of the Woolsey Fire in L.A. and Ventura County, the Hill Fire in Ventura County and the Thomas Fire that burned in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties in December 2017.

Ahead of the storm, residents made preparations in Malibu, much of which was devastated by the Woolsey Fire this month. In Orange and Riverside counties, residents near the Holy Fire burn area were being urged to evacuate before the rain began falling. Mandatory evacuation orders were issued late Wednesday afternoon for some areas of Lake Elsinore in Riverside County.

"All Malibu residents are urged to prepare for potential flooding, mudslides, power outages and evacuations," the city said in a statement Tuesday. But those preparations must not involve removing debris, which contains hazardous materials. No debris removal from burned properties is allowed until inspections by state and county health officials have been completed.

The Los Angeles County fire and sheriff's departments both deployed additional staffing into the burn area in light of the threat of potentially damaging flooding. Officials with both agencies stressed the need for residents to adhere to whatever evacuation orders are issued.

"Evacuation orders should not be taken lightly and are ordered because there is a threat to life and property," according to a joint statement from the agencies.

City News Service contributed to this post; Image via Shutterstock