201901.16
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Continuing Southern California storms bring warnings of potential new evacuations

by in News

  • Danny Candelaria, of Seven Oaks, removes snow chains from his truck along Hwy 38, north of Forest Falls in the San Bernardino National Forest on Tuesday, January 15, 2019. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

  • Lucas Feduska, 6, of Buena Park, plays in the snow with family along Hwy 38, north of Forest Falls in the San Bernardino National Forest on Tuesday, January 15, 2019. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

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  • Ashley Feduska, of Buena Park, and family have a snow fight along Hwy 38, north of Forest Falls in the San Bernardino National Forest on Tuesday, January 15, 2019. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

  • A man and his daughter, who wished not to be identified, frolic in the fresh snow along Hwy 38, north of Forest Falls in the San Bernardino National Forest on Tuesday, January 15, 2019. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

  • Danny Candelaria, of Seven Oaks, left, removes snow chains from his truck as Holly Haas looks on along Hwy 38, north of Forest Falls in the San Bernardino National Forest on Tuesday, January 15, 2019. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

  • Nick Feduska, of Buena Park, and family have a snow fight along Hwy 38, north of Forest Falls in the San Bernardino National Forest on Tuesday, January 15, 2019. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

  • Lucas Feduska, 6, of Buena Park, plays in the snow with family along Hwy 38, north of Forest Falls in the San Bernardino National Forest on Tuesday, January 15, 2019. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

  • A man walks across the parking lot in the rain prior to a prep soccer match between the Charter Oak and the South Hills at Charter Oak High School on Tuesday, January 15, 2018 in Covina, California. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

  • Jonathan Duree, 37, overlooks the damage of his home and property where he lived in with his wife and dogs before it was destroyed in the 2017 Creek Fire on Rayland Drive in Kagel Canyon area above Sylmar, Calif. on Wednesday, March 28, 2018. The family continues to live on the property in a trailer, and Duree works during the day to clean up debris before they build a new home. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

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The rain and snow falling in Southern California on Tuesday is expected to keep a heavy presence throughout the area until Friday — and warnings from officials about potentially more evacuations in fire burn zones.

The storms brought rainfall to Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties and even snow on the 5 Freeway in the Tejon Pass beginning Monday morning. More rain was expected to follow on Tuesday night and Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service.

“For all those counties rain should last through Thursday night,” said NWS meteorologist Casey Oswang. “It will likely be light rain, and could become locally heavy in some spots. We expect the heavy rain mostly in the evening. In the morning and afternoon we expect light rain.”

LAX received .22 inches of rain between 5 p.m. Monday and 5 p.m. Tuesday and downtown Los Angeles got .19. Nearly a quarter of an inch fell on Redondo Beach. Some surrounding cities in Los Angeles County received more rain relative to the rest of Southern California with Pasadena and Van Nuys receiving .39 and .3 inches of rain, respectively.

On Dec. 6, a storm brought record rainfall for that date in Los Angeles of nearly 2 inches. NWS numbers indicated rainfall totals approaching that number again this week, with Los Angeles slated to get between 1.5 and 2 inches of rain between Tuesday morning and Wednesday afternoon.

Rainfall Tuesday caused all Malibu schools to be closed. For Wednesday, all Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District schools in Malibu will be closed. The schools are Juan Cabrillo Elementary School, Point Dume Marine Science School, Webster Elementary School and Malibu Middle/High School. The district’s preschool in Malibu and the Boys & Girls Club of Malibu also will be closed, the district said Tuesday night.

Mandatory evacuation orders were also posted by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Tuesday morning on the properties in the Woolsey fire burn area that were at high risk for potential mud and debris flow:

  • Corral Canyon / El Nido
  • Escondido / Old Chimney
  • Escondido Drive / Latigo Canyon
  • Malibu West / Trancas Canyon
  • Malibou Lake
  • All of Ramirez Canyon Road and adjacent streets
  • Paradise Cove Mobile Home Park & Restaurant

“Not all properties may be directly affected by mud and debris flow,” the Sheriff’s Department said in a statement. “However, all roads in the area are subject to closure and residents may have limited access in and around evacuated communities.”

“Authorities warned that all residents who live in or near the Woolsey  burn area should remain aware of their surroundings and weather conditions during these storms. Even small amounts of rainfall rates may result in significant mud and debris flow, so we strongly encourage residents who live in or near Woolsey fire burn areas to be ready to evacuate at a moment’s notice,” Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Capt. Darren Harris said in a statement.

Warnings could expand to include residents in an estimated 500 homes in the Creek fire burn area, including Kagel, Little Tujunga and Lopez canyons, according to Los Angeles County Director of Public Works Mark Pestrella.

Some of those homeowners whose properties are in particular peril have already been alerted and shouldn’t wait for the broader mandatory order to be issued, officials said.

Pestrella said if a mandatory evacuation order is issued for Kagel, Little Tujunga and Lopez canyons, an evacuation center will be opened in Sylmar. Updated information is available at www.lacounty.gov/larain

“Particularly between Wednesday and Thursday is what I’m generally concerned about, because of the saturation of the slopes in the burn areas, as well as the intensity of the storms,” Pestrella said.

“Potentially 1 to 1.25 inches of rainfall an hour are possible near all recent burn scars,” he added.

In Long Beach, the city was providing sandbags Tuesday night and overnight after rain continued in that area.

The previous mandatory evacuation orders in the Holy fire burn area of Riverside County were downgraded to voluntary on Monday night. Those areas included Amorose, Alberhill, Glen Ivy A, Glen Ivy B, Glen Eden, Grace, Horsethief A, Laguna A, Maitri, McVicker A, Rice and Withrow A.

Lake Elsinore received almost a quarter-inch of rain between 5 p.m. Monday and 5 p.m. Tuesday. Further inland, Temecula saw .28 inches. In San Bernardino County, Chino received .21 inches, Ontario .12 inches and .19 inches fell in Rancho Cucamonga.

NWS said it expected between .5 and one inch of rain in Riverside between Tuesday and Wednesday, with an expected 1 to 1.5 inches in San Bernardino and between 1.5 and 2 inches in Ontario.

After steady rain, debris flows forced two road closures in the Lake Elsinore area on Tuesday night.

A beach hazard statement was put into effect through Friday in Orange and San Diego counties by the NWS.

“A beach hazard statement is issued when threats such as strong rip currents, elevated surf heights, minor tidal overflow or lighting are possible at local beaches,” the NWS said. “Obey posted warning signs and flags and talk to a lifeguard before swimming.”

Orange County saw .27 inches of rain in Yorba Linda and Huntington Beach, .14 in Fullerton and .1 of an inch in Santa Ana. The NWS predicts the county will receive between one-half inch and 1 inch by Wednesday afternoon.

Late Tuesday, strong rains led to the issuance of a flash flood warning for northwest Orange County. It was effective until 11:30 p.m.

 

In the mountains, a winter storm warning was in effect for mountains in Ventura, Los Angeles, San Bernardino and Riverside counties with heavy snow expected Tuesday night especially above 6,500 feet. Snow, gusty winds and dense fog were expected to create difficult travel conditions.

City News Service contributed to this story.