Abdelrahman
Significant Rainfall Hits Southern California, Causing Minor Flooding but Preventing Major Damage
On Thursday, Southern California experienced heavy rainfall that led to localized flooding of roadways, yet the region largely avoided the severe impacts officials had anticipated, particularly in areas previously affected by wildfires.
Communities that recently endured wildfires were especially monitored, as the burned soil in these regions often repels water, increasing the risk of mudslides and debris flows.
As the storm’s intensity peaked Thursday afternoon, the National Weather Service promptly issued flash flood warnings for Malibu and Pacific Palisades, both of which had sustained significant damage during last month’s Palisades fire. Shortly after, similar warnings were released for the Altadena area, also affected by the Eaton fire, as well as for a broader section of Los Angeles County, impacting around seven million residents.
Fortunately, by early evening, most of the rainfall had moved through Los Angeles without resulting in extensive damage.
“It’s moving out,” noted Carol Smith, a meteorologist from the National Weather Service.
The primary concern had been the potential for intense rainfall to trigger landslides in the wildfire-impacted regions. At one point, muddy water surged across sections of the Pacific Coast Highway, necessitating the closure of a portion of the roadway.
Additionally, the Weather Service reported several instances of strong winds throughout Southern California, with gusts exceeding 77 miles per hour in certain locations. In Ventura County, located northwest of Los Angeles, this resulted in damage to awnings and carports.
