Rain, wind, thunder: Worst of the storm passes through SoCal

For the most up-to-date information on evacuation orders for your area you can check:

• Santa Barbara County
• Ventura County
• Los Angeles County
• Orange County

The brunt of the storm has passed through Southern California after heavy rain snarled traffic, caused debris flows and sparked warnings about flooding, thunderstorms, wind and hail.

But officials warned that people should remain cautious overnight, especially around canyons and steeper terrain.

A possible tornado in Oxnard damaged mobile homes and carports, the National Weather Service said. Cars are also getting stuck in mud, trees are down from 40- to 50-mph wind gusts, and water has piled up on Sunset Boulevard.

A member of the Los Angeles Fire Department was swept off the road and into the ocean along with his vehicle when a large debris flow moved through Big Rock Road in Malibu, according to Erik Scott, LAFD public information officer.

"Fortunately, the member was able to exit his vehicle and reach safety with minor injuries," Scott said on social media. "He was transported to a local hospital as a precaution."

Evacuation orders were expanded for some parts of the L.A. County foothill community Sierra Madre and issued for parts of Orange County as rain intensified Thursday.

Laura Aguilar, deputy city manager in Sierra Madre, told LAist's Morning Edition that around 1,000 residents are affected by the order. She said the order is not a precaution — it means it's time to evacuate — as officials expect debris and mud flows from the Eaton Fire burn areas.

" Those areas that are being evacuated are the ones that are most likely affected by the burn scars that were created by the Eaton fire and lower into the foothills that are expecting mud and debris flow," she said.

In Orange County, a mandatory evacuation order has been issued for areas in Trabuco Canyon, including the RC Airport, fire station, campground/park and school; as well as Bell Canyon, including Starr Ranch; and Hot Springs Canyon, including Lazy-W Ranch, due to possible debris flows from the Airport Fire burn area. Evacuation warnings remain in place for Long Canyon and Modjeska Canyon.

As of Thursday afternoon, forecasters warned that the heavy rain and strong winds were quickly intensifying over L.A. County. On Mulholland Drive, eight inches of mud in the road near the intersection of Outpost Drive made driving impossible in the late afternoon, the L.A. Fire Department said. Fire crews were on the scene, and the road will remain closed throughout the storm. The homes above the debris flow are stable.

Some Sierra Madre roads were also blocked by mud and debris flows, the Sierra Madre Police Department reported Thursday evening.

The National Weather Service announced that a flood advisory was in effect for all of L.A. County until 10 p.m.

A flash flood warning was issued for Altadena, the Franklin Fire burn scar, the Palisades Fire burn scar, as well as parts of L.A., Glendale and Santa Clarita until 8 p.m. Thursday.

Highland, Lake Arrowhead and Crestline were under a flash flood warning until 8:45 p.m. Thursday. A flash flood warning was also issued for Pomona, Pasadena, East L.A., San Antonio Heights, Lytle Creek and Mount Baldy until 9 p.m.

A severe thunderstorm warning was in place for parts of Santa Clarita, L.A. and Glendale through 5:30 p.m. Thursday. Pomona, Pasadena, El Monte and parts of L.A. were also under a severe thunderstorm warning until 6:30 p.m. Forecasters warned the storm would bring wind gusts up to 70 mph.

As much as 3 inches of rain could be logged in low-lying areas by the time the storm wraps up Friday, while our mountain areas could see as much as 6 inches. Two feet of snow could fall above 6,000 feet locally, and as much as 5 feet of snow is forecast to fall in the Sierra Nevada.

“We haven’t seen any rain like this since last year," said Kristan Lund, meteorologist with the National Weather Service.

As of around 7 p.m. Thursday, more than 3.1 inches of rain had fallen on the Eaton Dam; Beverly Hills had seen more than 2.7 inches of rain; and more than 2.8 inches had fallen in downtown L.A., according to the National Weather Service.

Consider continuing to hunker down as flooding on roads and freeways are expected to linger, and more heavy rainfall could make it tough for you to see out of your windshield.

The strongest rain is expected to hit between midday Thursday and early Friday.

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Prepare for mudslides

The L.A. County Department of Public Works was forecasting that moderate debris flows could impact streets and structures near the following burn areas:

• Eaton Fire
• Palisades Fire
• Franklin Fire
• Hughes Fire
• Kenneth Fire
• Sunset Fire
• Lidia Fire
• Hurst Fire
• Bridge Fire

"We expect an extraordinary amount of debris," said Mark Pestrella, director of Public Works during a press conference early Wednesday. The department has prepositioned concrete barriers, known as K-rails, to try to keep debris in the street and away from homes.

Those who live in and around recently burned areas should be prepared to evacuate.

If you haven't already, you should sign up for emergency alerts (linked below), prepare a go bag, pack up your car and figure out where you'll head if evacuation orders are issued.

"It's possible we get through this rain event without any significant problems, but the potential is there," said Ariel Cohen, meteorologist in charge at the National Weather Service in Oxnard during a news conference Tuesday.

"Given the elevated chances for significant debris flows consisting of raging torrents of rock slides and mudslides that can be damaging and even deadly, now is the time to start getting prepared for these potentially dangerous conditions."

The good news — debris basins that are designed to intercept mudflows in burn areas have been cleaned and fortified, according to Los Angeles County Public Works.

Flood watches will be issued for recent burn scars from midday Thursday to early Friday due to a risk of debris flows.

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Strong wind gusts could down trees and power lines.

In anticipation of the storm, the L.A. Fire Department deployed resources and the L.A. Department of Water and Power has crews at the ready to respond to power outages.

Although this is the most significant storm to hit this winter, our rainy season has been largely devoid of rain. It pales in comparison with last year's early February storms, which stressed infrastructure and flooded roads. The recently burned areas are the biggest concern.

This storm may be enough to put an end to fire season; however, it's unlikely to alleviate widespread extreme drought conditions that have spread across the region.

Evacuation warnings and orders

• L.A. city: Los Angeles Fire Department officials announced Wednesday afternoon that all recent burn scar areas will be under evacuation warnings starting at 7 a.m. Thursday until 2 p.m. They say LAPD officials will also be visiting homes in high-risk areas to issue evacuation orders for specific addresses.
  
  • The mandatory evacuation orders included 106 homes in the Palisades Fire burn area, nine in the Sunset Fire area, and four in the Hurst Fire area, LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell said at a news conference Thursday morning.
• L.A. County: Evacuation orders were expanded for Sierra Madre, impacting more than 600 households.
• Orange County: Mandatory evacuation order was in effect for areas in Trabuco Canyon, as well as Bell Canyon and Hot Springs Canyon due to possible debris flows from the Airport Fire burn area.
• San Bernardino County: Highland, under the burn scar of September's Line Fire, was under an evacuation warning, according to a post on X from the county Sheriff's Department.

Closures

• Malibu schools: The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District said Thursday that the closure of Malibu schools will be extended through Friday. Parents should monitor emails from the school district or check with their campus.
• Road closures:
  
  • Pacific Coast Highway is closed from Chautauqua Boulevard in Los Angeles to Carbon Beach Terrace in Malibu until further notice because of heavy flooding and mudslides.
  • Malibu Canyon Road was closed from Piuma Road to Adamson Flats.
  • Topanga Canyon Boulevard (Highway 27) was closed between Coast Highway and Grand View Drive.
  • Trabuco Canyon Road bridge was closed.
  • The following roads were closed in Malibu except for resident access:
    
    • Piuma Road: Cold Canyon Road to Rambla Pacifico Road
    • Rambla Pacifico Road: Piuma Road to Las Flores Canyon Road
    • Saddle Peak Road: Stunt Road to Tuna Canyon Road
    • Schueren Road: Saddle Peak Road to Piuma Road
    • Tuna Canyon Road: Saddle Peak Road to Coast Highway

Evacuation shelters

• Westwood Recreation Center: 1350 Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90025
• Pasadena Civic Auditorium: 300 E. Green St., Pasadena, CA 91101

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
• Santa Barbara County: SB Sheriff Notifications
• San Bernardino County: Emergency alerts

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

• Check weather and road conditions 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.

How we're reporting on this

LAist reporters will provide regular updates on the storm as it moves through. If things get hairy, we'll send reporters into the field to give you real-time updates about conditions on the ground.

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 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.