Landslides Continue In Hillsides After Record-Breaking Storms Leave The Southland Saturated

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.

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Richard Vogel

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"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.

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.

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A view of mudslide damage in Los Angeles, California where nearly seven inches of rain had fallen by Monday.

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Mario Tama

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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.

About that rainfall

The 3-day observed precipitation totals across the state of California where record-breaking amounts of rain fell in Southern California.

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Courtesy NOAA

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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.

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Mario Tama

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Getty Images North America

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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.

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Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP

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AP

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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.

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Courtesy National Weather Service

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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.

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Mario Tama

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Getty Images

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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.

More information on the spills can be found here.

Evacuations

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.
• Current info about above incidents is here.
  

Ventura County

• 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.
• More info here.
  

San Bernardino County and Riverside County

• Evacuation warning issued due to potential mud and debris flow in the El Dorado and Apple fire burn scars.

Schools

• Topanga Elementary Charter will reopen their campus today for students and staff at 7:30 a.m.

Road closures

Check in with your local department of transportation for the latest updates:

• Caltrans (best for highway and mountain conditions)
• L.A. County
• L.A. City
• Ventura County
• Santa Barbara County
• Riverside County
• San Bernardino County

More ahead

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.

In San Clemente, the city's beach trail has been closed off due to additional slope movement. Those closures include:

• From North Beach access to Mariposa access
• Linda Lane access to Corto Lane access
• From Boca Del Canon access to Lasuen access

Sandbags are available at all Los Angeles Fire Department locations. Sand is also available at select other locations, and updates on availability can be checked here.

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.
• A flood 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.

Read more: Flash Flood Warnings? Watches? Here’s What You Need To Know

Tips for driving in the rain

Advice on driving in the rain:

• Check weather and road conditions all along your planned route
• Slow down
• Keep a wider-than-usual distance between your vehicle and the one in front
• Don't drive through standing water — as little as 12 inches of rushing water can carry away most cars, and two feet can carry away SUVs and trucks.
• Make sure tires are fully inflated
• Check windshield wiper blades and replace if necessary

Read more: What You Should Do If You End Up Driving In A Flooded Area

Downed tree, power line or flooded road?

Dial 911 if it's an emergency.

However, if you need to report a flooded road or a downed tree, you can call the following non-emergency numbers:

• L.A. City: Dial 311 for a flooded road or downed tree. Call (800) DIAL-DWP if you see a downed power line.
• L.A. County: (800) 675-HELP
• Ventura County: (805) 384-1500
• Orange County: (714) 955-0200 or visit here.

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.
  

Sign up for emergency alerts

• L.A. City: Notify L.A.
• L.A. County: Ready L.A. County
• Ventura County: Ready Ventura County
• Orange County: AlertOC
• Riverside County: AlertRivCo

How we're reporting on this

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.

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