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LA Rain: Storm disrupts morning commute; 2nd storm predicted to hit overnight
Glendora residents in the Colby Fire burn area pack up pets and drill in last minute protections as they prepare to leave for mandatory evacuations, Thursday, Feb. 27, 2014.
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Shirley Jahad/KPCC
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Glendora homeowner with a wagonload of sandbags as she prepares to evacuate, Thursday, Feb. 27, 2014.
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Shirley Jahad/KPCC
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Satellite photo of the second of two storms headed for California Feb. 27, 2014.
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NWS Los Angeles
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Crews deliver sandbags as a family packs their car in Glendora on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2014.
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Shirley Jahad/KPCC
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David Geoghegan said he was evacuating his Azusa residence on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2014, as the second of a pair of heavy winter storms was preparing to bear down on Southern California. Geoghegan points to avocado trees between his house and the burned hillside. He says those trees may help protect him. Homes just half a block away are more vulnerable, exposed to the muddy barren hillside.
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Shirley Jahad/KPCC
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Homes shown in Azusa, Calif., are situated next to a muddy, blackened hillside. Officials warned residents of possible debris and mud flows as the second of a pair of heavy winter storms was ready to bear down on Southern California on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2014.
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Shirley Jahad/KPCC
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LA Rain: Storm disrupts morning commute; 2nd storm predicted to hit overnight
The first of two storms forecast for Southern California passed through the region with minimal disruptions. The region is now bracing for the second, larger storm that is expected to come in Thursday night and last through Saturday.
Thursday's developments:
- Officials have called for mandatory evacuations in the Colby Fire area, according to the Glendora Police Department, and erected barriers to protect homes from potential mudslides.
- Azusa officials, meanwhile, ordered mandatory evacuations for residents on Ridge View Drive, below the Colby Fire burn area.
- L.A. County Public Works Department announced a number of road closures (full list at bottom of this story).
- Glendora officials offered residents advice on how to prepare for potential mudslides and flooding on the city's official website.
- The National Weather Service updated its full list of alerts and advisories.
Nearly an inch of rain fell in downtown Los Angeles, with the mountains getting up to 2 inches of rain. The California Highway Patrol reports there were about 111 collisions in L.A. County between 5 and 9 a.m. Thursday morning. That is more than double the total of a non-rain day.
LAX did not suffer any major flight disruptions, but the showers caused the cancellation of more than 100 flights at San Francisco International Airport.
Related: LA Rain: Billions of gallons of polluted runoff likely to flow into the ocean
The National Weather Service says the second storm is expected to reach Southern California late Thursday night/early Friday morning. The forecast calls for rainfall ranging from 3-6 inches in the foothills, and up to 8 inches in some areas. A high wind watch will also be in effect in the Antelope Valley from late Thursday through Friday evening.
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That forecast prompted Azusa resident David Geoghegan to leave his home. He lives near the Angeles National Forest, where the Colby Fire in January burned 2,000 acres of mostly steep terrain.
"If it does get really bad, there is nothing to stop those things from coming down, there is nothing to hold the ground steady or stable," Geoghegan said. "If the mud comes down, it's gonna get bad."
As a precaution, the L.A. County Public Works Department has announced the following road closures, which will remain in effect until the system has passed and the roads are inspected:
- Old San Gabriel Canyon Road from the Azusa city boundary to the Angeles National Forest
- Glendora Mountain Road from Big Dalton Road to East Fork Road in the Angeles National Forest
- Glendora Ridge Road from Mount Baldy to Glendora Mountain Road, also in the Angeles National Forest
- Bouquet Canyon Road will be closed in Agua Dulce from Big Oaks Lodge to two miles north of Vasquez Canyon Road at 1 a.m. Friday
On its Facebook page, the Glendora Police Department posted the following advisory:
#colbyfire The Alert Status for the Colby Fire Impact Area has been updated to RED. MANDATORY evacuation orders are in effect due to a high probability of debris and mudflow in the Impact Area. In the event of a debris and mudflow event, there may be risk of injury and/or death. Shelter in place if there is a debris flow. Rain-related parking restrictions are in effect. Residents are directed to remove vehicles, trash bins, and other obstructions from the street. Those in the Impact Area are directed to go to the Teen Center at 241 W. Dawson Ave, Glendora.
Forecast: Debris and mud flows
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This story has been updated.
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