A local resident checks the damage to her neighbor's house after heavy rains and mud flows caused it to slide down from the hill in the Beverly Glen section of Los Angeles on Feb. 7, 2024.
(
Richard Vogel
/
AP
)
Topline:
A soaked Southland on Wednesday turned to addressing the aftermath of two record-setting atmospheric rivers that caused damaging debris flows, flooded roadways, and other hazards.
What's next:Los Angeles officials on Tuesday said that while some progress had been made in responding to the two storms, dangers remained from land that had been saturated by the three-day deluge.
Expect more flooding, downed trees, debris flows and other hazards, particularly on roadways. That's because the storm system has lingered over the region, dumping record breaking rainfall.
Why it matters: As of Tuesday evening, the following had been recorded in L.A.:
475 mudslides
390 fallen trees
Multiple successful water rescues
12 structure fires
919 catch basin and storm water systems cleared
441 reports of potholes recorded
Keep reading... for more details and the latest conditions.
The record setting storm is over for now but Los Angeles officials warn that dangers remain from land that had been saturated by the three-day deluge.
Around midday on Wednesday, a debris flow hit Mulholland Drive between Coldwater and Laurel canyons, leaving behind mud and closing the major artery to traffic.
Other debris flows caused damage in Beverly Crest, Beverly Glen, and Beverly Hills, damaging property and clogging roadways and in some cases prompting inspectors to red tag some homes.
A damaged Acura SUV sits under a collapsed carport that was red tagged after mud flows caused by heavy rains destroyed homes in the Beverly Glen section of Beverly Hills on Feb. 7, 2024.
(
Richard Vogel
/
AP
)
"The road to recovery may be long and it requires an all hands approach," L.A. City Fire Chief Kristin Crowley said at a news conference Tuesday evening. "We will rebuild, we will recover, and we will emerge stronger."
Mayor Karen Bass said she was preparing official requests for assistance from state and federal officials.
Active weather pattern over the EPac as captured from space. Two atmospheric rivers produced powerful winds and devastating rains to portions of the West Coast. (h/t) to our colleagues @CIRA_CSU for this amazing loop. Give them a follow for🛰 wx . #cawx#bombcyclonepic.twitter.com/K10gwtaoWm
As of Wednesday evening, Crowley said the following had been recorded in L.A.:
562mudslides
527 fallen trees
15 buildings red tagged
31 buildings yellow tagged
Multiple successful water rescues
12 structure fires
1,332 catch basin and storm water systems cleared
1,009 reports of potholes
More potential damage looms Wednesday.
The forecast: More snow and high surf
Light scattered showers are in the forecast for Orange County and portions of the Inland Empire tonight. Elsewhere, the skies will be dry and temperatures have dropped into the 50s.
A high surf advisory for the Malibu Coast and other LA County beaches continues until Friday at noon. In Ventura County, coastal areas are under flood advisory until noon Friday.
Orange county coastal areas will see high surf through this evening.
Snow levels will reach 3,000 feet mostly on the northern slopes of the mountains with a couple inches of accumulating snow expected for the Grapevine I-5 Tejon Pass area.
Winter weather advisories remain in effect for local mountains until mid morning, and until noon for Riverside county mountains.
The rainfall and subsequent damage since Sunday was due in large part to the storm system's slow movement.
An atmospheric river storm inundated Studio City this week. Authorities are warning more landslides and debris flow could be coming, even as the storm moves out of the area.
(
David McNew
/
AFP via Getty Images
)
A view of mudslide damage in Los Angeles, California where nearly seven inches of rain had fallen by Monday.
(
Mario Tama
/
Getty Images
)
Sunday night, 16 residents were evacuated from nine Studio City homes after a mudslide damaged two structures on Lockridge Road. And L.A. firefighters evacuated people from at least three homes affected by debris flows on West Boris Drive in Tarzana. A landslide on Beverly Crest damaged at least six homes, forcing the evacuation of 15 people.
Culver City issued an evacuation warning for residents in Culver Crest as mudflows were reported on Cranks road and Flaxton street. At noon on Tuesday, Hacienda Road in La Habra heights was closed due to an active debris flow moving through the town.
In Santa Barbara, officials briefly evacuated an estimated 40 people from apartment buildings due to cliff erosion.
Some resources to make sure you have the most up-to-date information:
The 3-day observed precipitation totals across the state of California where record-breaking amounts of rain fell in Southern California.
(
Courtesy NOAA
)
Long, sustained periods of rain are characteristic of El Niño storms. Warmer than normal waters off the coast — often associated with the climate phenomenon — are juicing our recent storms by sending more heat and water into the atmosphere.
"This has truly been a historic storm for Los Angeles," Ariel Cohen, meteorologist in charge at the National Weather Service in Oxnard, said Tuesday. He added that it was the third wettest two-day stretch for the city since they started keeping records back in the 1870s.
People view the Los Angeles River swollen by storm runoff as a powerful long-duration atmospheric river storm, the second in less than a week, continues to impact Southern California on February 5, 2024 in Los Angeles, California.
(
Mario Tama
/
Getty Images North America
)
Many places across the L.A. region received nearly as much rain as the city typically receives all year. For the latest three-day rainfall totals in your area, visit the National Weather Service tally here.
For perspective, the average annual rainfall for L.A. is usually around 14 inches.
Reports of landslides
Submerged vehicles are photographed after a mudslide, Monday, Feb. 5, 2024, in the Beverly Crest area of Los Angeles.
(
Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP
/
AP
)
It's not uncommon for rocks and mud to flow off steep hillsides and onto roads during heavy rains. And debris flows were reported across the region over the past several days. They included:
Studio City: Two homes damaged by mudflow, with a total of 16 residents evacuated from nine homes.
Tarzana: Three homes damaged by a mudflow and two people evacuated from a home.
Beverly Crest: Seven homes have been damaged by debris flow and 15 people were evacuated.
La Habra Heights: Hazardous levels of mud were reported along Hacienda Road at noon on Tuesday.
Coastal erosion
On Tuesday morning, Santa Barbara County officials briefly evacuated approximately 40 people from four apartment buildings in the beachside college town of Isla Vista. Officials were concerned that the columns holding up the structures could give way because of cliff erosion below the buildings.
Up in the mountains
So far, snow levels have been relatively high, mostly above 5,500 feet.
Winter storm warnings are in effect in the Angeles and San Bernardino National Forests until this morning.
The view Tuesday morning from a camera at Big Bear. By Tuesday morning 12-24 inches of snow had already fallen, with many more inches forecast in the days to come.
(
Courtesy National Weather Service
)
Between now and Thursday, the San Gabriel mountains will see up to 20 inches of snow at elevations higher than 7,000 feet, between 5 to 8 inches at elevations of 6,000 feet.
Snow levels in the San Bernardino mountains will drop to 4,000 feet, but the heavier snow is expected at higher elevations, where up to 2 feet is expected above 7,000 feet. Weather forecasters are also warning of strong wind gusts of up to 55 mph tonight.
Travel is expected to be difficult, if not impossible. If you must head in or around these areas, pack emergency supplies in your car just in case.
The Angeles National Forest is urging people to stay away from the area at least for the next few days. Very hazardous conditions are expected, including heavy rain, fast-moving landslides, snow, and flooding.
For the latest snowfall totals by neighborhood, go here.
What was up with the L.A. River?
Social media has been inundated with videos of the Los Angeles River gushing with water as historic rains pummel Southern California.
A view of the L.A. River on Monday shows high water levels and a swift moving stream on a river that's often bone dry.
Jon Sweeten, a reservoir regulation engineer with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles District, said videos of the river seemingly on the verge of overflowing shouldn't necessarily be cause for alarm.
“People see a lot of water in a channel that they see that's normally dry and they go, ‘Oh my goodness, there's a lot of water,’” he said. “That's just the channel operating in the way it was designed.”
The system, Sweeten added, “is designed to hold some of the water behind the dams and release it into concrete line channels that will convey the flow very effectively to the ocean.”
Since the 51 miles of river pass through different cities, at the time the infrastructure was built, municipalities were responsible for building bridges within their respective boundaries. At the time, local officials pushed for a narrower river, so that it would be cheaper to build the bridges while also preserving more land for development.
“In order to make the system work well, they designed it so that it flowed very fast so — the system flows much faster than a natural stream would flow,” Sweeten said. “Which is why it's dangerous for people to stand on the concrete in the L.A. River, because water up to your ankle is capable of knocking you off your feet.”
Sewage spills
Avoid fecal coliform bacteria and all sorts of nasty chemicals by staying out of the ocean for at least a few days.
It's a notion that holds doubly true for Cabrillo Beach in San Pedro, and every swimming area in Long Beach, as an estimated 8 million gallons of sewage have flowed down into the water.
A sanitation department spokesperson said sewer systems were so overwhelmed by rain that they backed up and spilled out into the Dominguez Channel, which leads to the Port of Long Beach, and into Compton Creek, which flows into the L.A. River.
An additional 40,000 gallons of sewage are also estimated to have spilled into the L.A. River following a backup in Commerce.
Public health officials advise people to wait at least 72 hours after significant rainfall to go into the ocean water.
Multiple evacuation orders and warnings for L.A., Ventura and Santa Barbara counties have been canceled, though it's possible additional alerts will be issued.
As of Wednesday morning:
Los Angeles County
Topanga Canyon: Evacuation warning issued for the area around Santa Maria Road in the Owen Fire burn scar.
Soledad Canyon: Evacuation warning issued for the Agua Fire Burn scar east of Acton.
Juniper Hills: Evacuation warning issued for Juniper Hills and Valyermo area.
San Gabriel Mountains: Evacuation warnings are in effect for areas near the Bobcat Fire (north end) and Lake Fire burn scars.
An evacuation warning is still in effect for Matilija Canyon, North Fork and Camino Cielo (Unincorporated Ojai)
Orange County
A voluntary evacuation warning was issued for Irvine Lake, Black Star and Baker Canyon, Silverado Canyon, Williams Canyon, Modjeska Canyon, Live Oak and North Traduce Canyon, and Traduce, Rose, and Holy Jim Canyons.
Canyon residents were strongly encouraged to prepare and voluntarily evacuate on Sunday, especially those with disabilities, access and/or functional needs, and canyon residents with large animals.
Those in landslide prone areas like the Palos Verdes Peninsula should be on the lookout for indications of land movement, including the formation of new cracks, the fracturing of underground utilities, doors and windows falling out of plumb and sounds of creaks and groans coming from the ground.
Los Angeles County Fire Department locations also have sandbags and sand.
Sand and sandbags are available at these locations in Orange County.
Understanding National Weather Service warnings
Here’s an excerpt from our guide to understanding flood warnings, if any are issued:
Flood advisories are how the NWS begins to raise the alarm. The goal is to give people enough time to take action.
Flood watches are your indicators to get prepared to move.
Aflood warning is issued when a hazardous weather event is imminent or already happening. When one is issued for your area, you need to get to higher ground immediately.
A flash flood warning is issued when a flash flood is coming or in progress. Flash floods are sudden and violent floods that can start within minutes.
If you're in L.A. County and need sand bags you can find some at local fire houses.
Staying safe when the winds are high
Watch for traffic signals that may be out. Approach those intersections as four-way stops.
Make sure you have a battery-operated radio and flashlights. Check the batteries to make sure they are fresh. Use flashlights for lighting during a power outage; do not use candles because they may pose a significant fire hazard.
If you’re in a vehicle with a fallen power line on it, stay in the vehicle and remain calm until help arrives. It is OK to use your cellphone to call 911. If you must leave the vehicle, remember to exit away from downed power lines and exit by jumping from the vehicle and landing with both feet together. You must not touch the vehicle and the ground at the same time. Then proceed away from the vehicle by shuffling and not picking up your feet until you are several yards away.
Water and electricity don’t mix. Water is an excellent conductor of electricity. Do not step in or enter any water that a downed power line may be touching.
Do not use any equipment inside that is designed for outdoor heating or cooking. Such equipment can emit carbon monoxide and other toxic gases.
If you use a generator, place it outdoors and plug individual appliances directly into it, using a heavy-duty extension cord. Connecting generators directly to household circuits creates “backfeed,” which is dangerous to repair crews.
Leave the doors of your refrigerator and freezer closed to keep food as fresh as possible. Place blocks of ice inside to help keep food cold. Check food carefully for signs of spoilage.
Check on your neighbors to make sure everyone is safe.
Tips on staying warm
State law requires residential units to have heating systems that can keep indoor temperatures at a minimum of 70 degrees. That means every dwelling unit and guest room offered for rent or lease should offer heating equipment, usually central air conditioning (A/C) or a wall heater. — Caitlin Hernández
Use heat smartly to save money: Cranking things like the A/C and wall heaters can be expensive. If money is tight, be judicious about how and when you use your utilities. For example, only use heaters at night or only set the thermostat to around 70 degrees.
Open and close those vents: If you have central A/C, look at where the vents are around your home. Are any open in places where you don’t stay long? Practice opening and closing those so warm air only goes where you need it (most vents should have a small toggle lever). Humidifiers can also help you warm things up — and it’s useful to add moisture into our dry air.
Adjust your wall heaters: If you have a wall heater, you can change the output by adjusting the knob (usually at the bottom). Since wall heaters can only warm the areas where they’re placed, it’s essential to close doors to rooms you won’t be in so hot air doesn’t get wasted.
Turn on your ceiling fan (really): If you have a ceiling fan, try turning it on. This sounds counterintuitive, but there’s science behind it. The direction a fan turns can push air in different directions, and since hot air floats up, you’ll want to move that around. Your fan should spin clockwise to create an updraft to circulate. Not all fans will have this option, though.
Jacob Margolis, who cover science, is tracking the storm and adding updates along Gillian Morán Pérez, Yusra Farzan, Makenna Sievertson, Jill Replogle and others. Jason Wells, the managing editor for daily news, and senior editor, George Kiryama, have been overseeing coverage.
This is a developing story. We fact check everything and rely only on information from credible sources (think fire, police, government officials and reporters on the ground). Sometimes, however, we make mistakes and/or initial reports turn out to be wrong. In all cases, we strive to bring you the most accurate information in real time and will update this story as new information becomes available.
Mariana Dale
explores and explains the forces that shape how and what kids learn from kindergarten to high school.
Published March 12, 2026 2:20 PM
When Andres Chait made his first public appearance as acting superintendent before a closed board meeting March 2, his name was printed on folded cardstock. By the board's meeting Tuesday, his nameplate matched the rest of the board’s.
(
Mariana Dale
/
LAist
)
Topline:
As the federal investigation related to Los Angeles Unified’s superintendent continues, the district’s acting leader and the elected board face key decisions about the district’s finances and negotiations with unions poised to strike.
One of many challenges: Contract negotiations with the unions representing teachers and school support staff have stalled. Members of both United Teachers Los Angeles and SEIU Local 99 voted overwhelmingly in January to give their leaders the power to call a strike. The unions plan to hold a rally in downtown Los Angeles on Wednesday.
Keep reading ... to learn about other challenges.
As the federal investigation related to Los Angeles Unified’s superintendent continues, the district’s acting leader and the elected board face key decisions about the district’s finances and negotiations with unions poised to strike.
This on top of the day-to-day tasks of running a school district that employs 83,000 people and enrolls more than 400,000 students across more than 1,000 schools.
“This removal of [Superintendent Alberto] Carvalho, which is understandable under the circumstances, comes at the very worst time for the system,” said Pedro Noguera, dean of USC’s Rossier School of Education.
LAUSD’s board voted unanimously to place Carvalho on paid administrative leave two days after FBI agents searched his home and office in late February. The reason for the searches is unknown. A DOJ spokesperson said the agency has a court-authorized warrant but declined to provide additional details.
Which means, for now, longtime administrator Andres Chait will continue leading the country’s second largest school district through a series of pressing challenges.
What does an acting superintendent do?
This is not the first time in recent history an acting superintendent has led LAUSD.
Vivian Ekchian stepped in to lead the district in 2017 when then-Superintendent Michelle King was out on medical leave; King stepped down altogether the following year. Ekchian previously served as associate superintendent and, before that, an elementary school teacher, principal, administrator and chief labor negotiator.
“The role of the acting superintendent, from my perspective, is not different from the actual superintendency,” Ekchian said. “The work needs to get done, and it doesn't stop.”
When asked about the acting superintendent’s decision-making power compared to the permanent position, a district spokesperson wrote in a statement that “acting superintendent is a board-appointed position and carries all responsibilities and authority afforded the position of district superintendent.”
Ekchian said the superintendent’s decisions are guided by the district’s existing strategic plan, consultation with other senior leaders and community partners.
“If there's an urgent matter, like a fire or something that requires immediate decision-making, systems and structures are in place for organizations and departments to know what to do next with immediate guidance from the superintendent,” Ekchian said. ”All decisions aren't the same, and the urgency is dictated by the matter at hand.”
LAUSD Superintendents (1990-present)
Bill Antón (July 1990-Sept. 1992)
Sidney Thompson (Oct. 1992-June 1997)
Ruben Zacarias (July 1997-Jan. 2000)
Ramón Cortines* (Jan. 2000-June 2000)
Roy Romer (July 2000-Oct. 2006)
David Brewer (Nov. 2006-Dec. 2008)
Ramon Cortines* (Jan. 2009-Apr. 2011)
John Deasy (Apr. 2011-Oct. 2014)
Ramon Cortines* (Oct. 2014-Dec. 2015)
Michelle King (Jan. 2016-Sept. 2017)
Vivian Ekchian* (Sept. 2017-May 2018)
Austin Beutner (May 2018-June 2021)
Megan Reilly* (July 2021-February 2022)
Alberto Carvalho (February 2022- present)
* Denotes interim
Like Ekchian, Chait rose through the ranks from teacher to administrator at LAUSD over nearly three decades.
The responsibilities of his most recent role, chief of school operations, included overseeing school safety, athletics and the district’s office of emergency management. The salary for the chief of school operations position is $278,205 annually (the district did not indicate whether his salary has changed).
Since being named acting superintendent, Chait has appeared on the district’s social media, but the district has declined to make him available to LAist or other media outlets for interviews.
In his first verbal statement to the public on Monday, March 2 before a closed board meeting, Chait said his priority as acting superintendent is to keep the district focused.
“We remain committed to academic excellence and student wellbeing,” he said. “Our core values remain unchanged. I know transitions can create uncertainty, but our district is strong.”
But contract negotiations with the district's largest unions, those that represent teachers and school support staff, have stalled. Members of both United Teachers Los Angeles and SEIU Local 99 voted overwhelmingly in January to give their leaders the power to call a strike.
An IT worker and a gardener, both in positions targeted for reductions, were among the union members that addressed the LAUSD board.
(
Mariana Dale
/
LAist
)
“ A strike is always the last resort,” said Maria Nichols, president of Associated Administrators of Los Angeles, the union representing principals, on Tuesday. “None of us — AALA/Teamsters, UTLA, SEIU — want to go on a strike and be disruptive for our students, our families, our school communities, especially at a time when LAUSD is already navigating uncertainty.”
More than a hundred school support staff and other union members filled the chambers Tuesday as Nichols and other representatives addressed the board.
Alex Orozco, UTLA’s secondary vice president, told the board that negotiations were “not anywhere close” to being settled. (The following day, the union announced the most recent step of negotiations, “fact-finding,” ended without an agreement.)
The unions’ approach to Chait has been restrained so far.
“ The problem our members are facing, and students, is a systemic issue. It's not an individual,” said Max Arias, executive director of SEIU Local 99, in an interview with LAist. “We have to continue to attack the system, but I'm trying to hold out some hope that [the acting] superintendent will, you know, understand what we need to get done.”
The unions plan to hold a rally in downtown Los Angeles on Wednesday.
At Tuesday’s board meeting, Chait described a first week on the job spent visiting with teachers, principals, students, support staff and labor partners.
“As someone who's been a teacher, principal, held a number of roles in the district, I understand that you are indeed the backbone of this district,” Chait said. “The work simply just does not happen at schools or at offices without you. My commitment to you is to always come from a place of transparency, honesty and dialogue.”
Cutting back on spending
Part of the labor negotiation challenges are related to the district’s financial constraints. In February, a divided board voted to send layoff notices to more than 650 employees as part of a plan to cut spending.
Even as California is poised to fund schools at record high levels, Los Angeles Unified and other districts have grappled with increased costs.
For example, LAUSD hired more staff to support students during the pandemic, and now the federal relief dollars that initially funded those positions are gone. For the last two years, the district has relied on reserves to backfill a multi-billion-dollar deficit.
Noguera, with USC, said the budget is the district’s most immediate priority.
“There's no easy solutions,” he said, “and I think that's part of the reason why they've held off for a while on making tough decisions.”
The financial report presented Tuesday indicates that the district will continue to spend more money than it brings in over the next three years. Still to be determined are how the outstanding labor negotiations and the state budget will affect LAUSD’s spending plan for next year.
Defending immigrant families
Since the start of President Donald Trump’s second term, Los Angeles educators — and those around the country— have said the increase in immigration enforcement actions contributed to lower attendance and fewer students enrolled in school this year.
Thousands of Los Angeles Unified students have walked out in recent months to protest the Trump administration’s militarized crackdown on immigrants, detainment of children and violence against U.S. citizens protesting the raids.
Thousands of students from schools across Los Angeles walked out Wednesday, Feb 4, 2026 in peaceful protest of the Trump Administration’s immigration policies.
Families who need assistance regarding immigration, health, wellness, or housing can call LAUSD's Family Hotline: (213) 443-1300
Chait, whose own family immigrated from Chile in 1983, said the district’s work to support immigrant families will not change during his tenure.
“Please know we stand with you,” Chait said Tuesday. “We will support you. We will ensure that our campuses are safe, secure and welcoming environments for our students and staff.”
Robert Garrova
explores the weird and secret bits of SoCal that would excite even the most jaded Angelenos. He also covers mental health.
Published March 12, 2026 1:38 PM
Aaron Lyons (L) and Jim Lyons (R) go over a piece from the Shakespeare canon
(
Courtesy Aaron Lyons
)
Topline:
A theater project bringing the world of William Shakespeare to local veterans is gearing up for its first public performance this Sunday.
The details: For the past year, a group of about a dozen veterans have met at the West Los Angeles VA campus to study the work of the Bard of Avon. The project is a partnership between the Shakespeare Center of Los Angeles and The Veterans Collective. The group is led by trained theater artist — and fellow veteran — Aaron Lyons.
The impact: Lyons is a longtime staple of L.A.’s theater community and is a member of the Antaeus Theatre Company. He said seeing this group express themselves through these timeless works has been inspiring. “Helping them grasp Shakespeare, not only intellectually but emotionally, has been one of the most uplifting experiences of my life,” Lyons said.
Read on... for more on how to watch the performance.
A theater project bringing the world of William Shakespeare to local veterans is gearing up for its first public performance on Sunday.
For the past year, a group of about a dozen veterans have met at the West Los Angeles VA campus to study the work of the Bard of Avon.
The project is a partnership between the Shakespeare Center of Los Angeles and The Veterans Collective. The group is led by trained theater artist — and fellow veteran — Aaron Lyons.
Lyons is a longtime staple of L.A.’s theater community and is a member of the Antaeus Theatre Company. He said seeing this group express themselves through these timeless works has been inspiring.
“Helping them grasp Shakespeare, not only intellectually but emotionally, has been one of the most uplifting experiences of my life,” Lyons said.
Ranging in age from their 30s to their 70s, the group includes veterans of the Vietnam War and most of its members live at the West LA VA Campus, Lyons said.
The actor, who’s performed in more than half of Shakespeare’s plays, said part of his goal with the project was to demystify Shakespeare’s canon for veterans who might not have studied it since grade school.
“Watching this group of men and women understand it and be able to connect with it in ways that they didn’t think possible was really, really inspiring,” Lyons said.
The group will perform an original work called “Shakespeare Night Live” at 3 p.m. Sunday, March 15, at McCadden Place Theatre. The performance weaves through several Shakespearian monologues and scenes.
If you're enjoying this article, you'll love our daily newsletter, The LA Report. Each weekday, catch up on the 5 most pressing stories to start your morning in 3 minutes or less.
The war in Iran is rattling the aviation industry, from flight cancellations to rising costs for jet fuel. So if you're planning to travel this spring or summer, should you grab a ticket now, or wait?
Go ahead and book: It's generally recommended to buy international flights further in advance than domestic trips. But in the current circumstances, Sean Cudahy, an aviation reporter at The Points Guy website says he would go ahead and book even domestic flights. His advice is a sign of how the Middle East conflict is rippling outward, affecting prices and itineraries around the world, beyond the thousands of travelers who were stuck after the war forced a barrage of flight cancellations.
What do the airlines say?: The war's effect on travel was sudden and striking, resulting in the cancellation of more than 46,000 flights in and out of the Middle East from Feb. 28 — when the U.S. and Israel began bombing Iran — to March 11, according to Cirium, the aviation analytics company. As they absorb higher fuel costs, airlines could adjust prices higher across the board, or they might tuck an increase into premium fares, where they'll be less noticeable, Cudahy of The Points Guy says.
The war in Iran is rattling the aviation industry, from flight cancellations to rising costs for jet fuel. So if you're planning to travel this spring or summer, should you grab a ticket now, or wait?
"You should go ahead and book," says Sean Cudahy, an aviation reporter at The Points Guy travel and personal finance website.
It's generally recommended to buy international flights further in advance than domestic trips. But in the current circumstances, Cudahy says he would go ahead and book even domestic flights.
His advice is a sign of how the Middle East conflict is rippling outward, affecting prices and itineraries around the world, beyond the thousands of travelers who were stuck after the war forced a barrage of flight cancellations.
Airlines warn that ticket prices will rise with fuel costs
The war's effect on travel was sudden and striking, resulting in the cancellation of more than 46,000 flights in and out of the Middle East from Feb. 28 — when the U.S. and Israel began bombing Iran — to March 11, according to Cirium, the aviation analytics company.
That includes Dubai International, the busiest airport in the world for international travel, according to Airports Council International, along with popular hubs in Doha and Abu Dhabi.
But even airlines far from the Mideast are facing a sudden surge in a core expense: jet fuel. At the beginning of the year, a gallon of jet fuel cost $2.11; by March 10, the price rose to $3.40, according to the Argus U.S. Jet Fuel Index, a gain of more than 60%.
The spike came after tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz came to a virtual halt, as Iran announced it would close the waterway that normally handles about 20% of the world's oil and liquified natural gas.
Mideast refineries had been sending some 470,000 barrels of jet fuel each day through the strait to airports in Europe and elsewhere, says Rick Joswick, who heads the near-term oil analytics team at S&P Global.
The price for a gallon of jet fuel soared close to $4 in the first week of the war, prompting United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby to say on Friday that airfare price hikes from higher fuel costs would "probably start quick."
As they absorb higher fuel costs, airlines could adjust prices higher across the board, or they might tuck an increase into premium fares, where they'll be less noticeable, Cudahy of The Points Guy says.
Several airlines have publicly confirmed that they'll be raising prices to compensate, as Reuters reports. Other carriers, such as Japan Airlines, publish a schedule of fuel surcharges triggered by cost increases.
"I do think that this is ultimately going to lead to higher fares for everyone," Cudahy says. "The only question now is how significant and how long does it last?"
Air travelers stranded by the Iran conflict are greeted in Athens, Greece, after arriving on a charter flight from Dubai on Saturday.
(
Giannis Antwnoglou
/
SOOC/AFP via Getty Images
)
Crisis parallels earlier global disruptions
The higher fuel prices reflect a genuine struggle to ensure the aviation industry has ample supplies, says Joswick.
"It's not irrational. It's not some trader bidding up prices," he says. Comparing the situation to the COVID-19 pandemic, he adds, "The consumption of toilet paper didn't change. But you notice that all of the supermarkets ran out of toilet paper, right? Everyone wants to be sure that they have coverage of a critical need."
Both Cudahy and Joswick compare the Iran conflict's ripple effects to Russia launching its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, which set off flight disruptions and higher fuel prices. As long as the Strait of Hormuz is closed, Joswick says, prices will keep rising.
"If that were to persist, this would be like a 1979 kind of [oil] crisis," he says. "Anything over a month, and you're seeing a substantial long-term price increase until the flows are restored."
The U.S. and other large economies can mitigate those effects by tapping strategic oil reserves — which they opted to do on Wednesday. But Joswick predicts that while such a move can help ensure adequate oil supplies, it might not bring a sharp drop in jet fuel prices. For one thing, he says, the U.S. reserve focuses on holding crude oil, not jet fuel. And he cites logistical challenges, such as California's reliance on jet fuel that it either produces or imports.
Tips for buying a plane ticket right now
If you're ready to take your chances and book a flight, Cudahy has some guidance.
First, don't buy a restricted, basic economy ticket that you can't change later, he says.
Instead, he recommends buying a regular, full-fare economy ticket: "If the price does eventually drop, you can then go back and change it and capture the lower price."
Another tactic, Cudahy says, is to use airline miles.
"You can generally cancel it and get all your miles back later, if the price goes down," he says.
Use services such as Google Flights to comparison shop and set up alerts for price changes. And if you book flights through a third-party site such as Expedia, be sure you understand its cancellation and change policies, in case they differ from the airlines.
Because of the chance for renewed hostilities in and around Iran, Cudahy says he would try to avoid nearby airline hubs for the next couple of months.
But he wouldn't wait to book a ticket.
"In the same way that we're seeing relatively long lines at gas stations with folks trying to get their tanks filled up before the price goes up even more than it already has, I would be thinking the same way when it comes to airfare right now," he says.
While you might drive an extra mile or two to find cheaper gas, airlines and airports don't have that luxury when they buy jet fuel.
"Prices are always set on the margin," Joswick says. "That last airport that needs to buy jet fuel, they will pay whatever it takes to get that. And that price then becomes the standard for the whole industry."
Copyright 2026 NPR
Destiny Torres
is LAist's general assignment and brings you the top news you need for the day.
Published March 12, 2026 11:47 AM
A recent county report found that many small businesses across L.A. County have lost revenue and customers since ICE raids ramped up last summer.
(
Carlin Stiehl
/
Getty Images
)
Topline:
L.A. County awarded $3.6 million in the latest round of Small Business Resiliency grants to more than 850 businesses hurt by federal immigration enforcement.
About the grant: L.A. County Supervisor Hilda L. Solis introduced a motion in July to create the business fund to support economic recovery in response to the ICE raids. Grant funds can be used to pay for rent, payroll, equipment repairs, inventory and recovery expenses.
"Every worker taken, every family destabilized, means that there are fewer employees available to help our small business owners, and we have fewer customers that are showing up because of that fear," Solis said at a press conference Thursday.
Why it matters: A recent report from the Los Angeles County Department of Economic Opportunity and the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation found that many small businesses across the county have lost revenue and customers since ICE raids ramped up last summer.
Can you still apply? Applications are closed. Eligible businesses that were not selected are placed on a waitlist and notified if additional funding becomes available.
