Tornado, Mudslide, Avalanche, Flood Risks Loom In Unrelenting Storm

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“It’s a very real risk. If you don’t have to go out and drive, don’t,” said Smith. “When you are out driving around, be extra cautious of canyon roads. Don’t drive through flood areas especially if there is a current. Up to two feet of water can carry your car away.”

Smith also urged people to resist the urge to drive up to the snowcapped mountains, which have already received two to three feet of snow above 7,000 feet and can expect 1 to 2 feet of snow before the storm is done with Southern California.

“It’s not the time to drive up and see the snow,” she said.

Over the next couple of days, the mountain roads face a risk of rockslides, icy conditions and avalanches, she warned. Major mountain passes are expected to get more snow Tuesday night.

“Tonight on the Grapevine, it could get 2-4 inches of snow,” Smith said. “That’s armageddon on the Grapevine.”

Record-setting rain totals have reached double-digits in many areas and caused mud and debris flows that forced evacuations and left some homes heavily damaged Tuesday.

The two-day rain total for downtown Los Angeles for Sunday and Monday was 7.03 inches, the third highest rain total for two consecutive days in downtown LA since 1877, when rain totals started being recorded. The highest two-day total is 7.98 inches set on Dec. 31, 1933 and Jan. 1, 1934. The second highest two-day total is 7.44 inches set on Jan. 25 and 26, 1956.

A strong thunderstorm continued to pass through parts of east and central Los Angeles County. Wind gusts of up to 40 mph with weak tornado or funnel clouds are possible.

With rain expected to continue falling throughout Tuesday, a flash flood warning was extended for the Santa Monica Mountains, adjacent foothills, the Southern San Fernando Valley, the Agoura Hills and Calabasas areas, the Hollywood Hills, Malibu and Beverly Hills.

Mud and debris flows impacted multiple areas during heavy downpours that occurred overnight and early Monday morning.

In the Hollywood Hills, a mudslide severely damaged six homes and threatened a seventh along Beverly Drive in the Beverly Crest area. Los Angeles Fire Department crews escorted 15 residents out of the area, including nine children, but no injuries were reported. City Building and Safety crews were assessing the extent of damage to the homes.

Two homes sustained significant damage in Studio City when mud and debris slid down a hillside along Lockridge Road. Fire crews evacuated residents from nine homes on the stretch. In the Tarzana/Encino area, three homes were impacted by a debris flow along Boris Drive, prompting some evacuations.

Rocks and boulders fell on parts of Malibu Canyon Road overnight, prompting a closure along that street that was later lifted. But stretches of Piuma Road and Topanga Canyon Boulevard were also closed due to flooding and debris in the Malibu/Topanga areas, with sheriff’s officials reporting several vehicles completely submerged on Piuma.

The Los Angeles Fire Department reported earlier closures on Benedict Canyon and Beverly Glen Canyon roads because of flooding and rock slides.

Pacific Coast Highway at the Los Angeles County and Ventura County border is closed on the northbound side because of flooding.

Roads leading to and through the Sepulveda Basin were closed due to flooding, including Burbank Boulevard between the San Diego (405) Freeway and Balboa Boulevard and Woodley Avenue between Burbank and Victory boulevards.

Los Angeles officials urged residents to stay home and off the roads. Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency in eight counties in the state, including Los Angeles and Orange counties.

Los Angeles County later declared its own state of emergency, and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass on Monday also signed a local emergency declaration.

The emergency proclamations will help expedite the procurement of vital supplies and resources, deployment of disaster service workers and the use of emergency protective measures such as evacuation orders, officials said

“We’ll get any help on the way as soon as you guys request it, so just let me know,” President Joe Biden told Bass in a telephone call during her late Monday afternoon briefing.

LAUSD Superintendent Alberto Carvalho said student attendance was 63% on Monday, but he said 90% of district teachers, bus drivers and classified employees reported for work.

All Malibu schools in the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District schools were closed Monday, with multiple reports of mud and rock flows affecting canyon roads in the area. Santa Monica campuses remained open. All schools in the district are scheduled to reopen Tuesday

Some California State University campuses were either closed or switched to modified operations Monday. Cal State Los Angeles, Cal State Northridge, Cal State Long Beach and Cal State Fullerton all adjusted operations, with many in-person classes shifting online or switching to alternative programming. Students were advised to check with their instructors for specific information.

Cal State Long Beach and Cal State Fullerton planned to return to normal operations Tuesday. Students at all campuses were again urged to check with college officials to determine the status of campus changes.

Residents in the La Tuna Canyon Road area north of Hollywood Burbank Airport were ordered to evacuate until Tuesday due to the high risk of debris flow triggered by the heavy rain.

The affected area borders Horse Haven Street to the north, Martindale Avenue to the east, Penrose Street to the south, and Ledge Avenue to the west, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.

Eastbound La Tuna Canyon Road was closed to all but residents in the evacuation area at Ledge Avenue, at Sunland Boulevard, at Honolulu Avenue and the westbound lanes are closed at the Foothill (210) Freeway with only freeway access allowed.

Evacuation centers for people and household pets have opened at Sunland Senior Citizen Center at 8640 Fenwick St. and Lake View Terrace Recreation Center at 11075 Foothill Blvd. Large animals can be evacuated to Hansen Dam Horse Park at 11127 Orcas Ave. in Lake View Terrace, and the LA Equestrian Center at 480 Riverside Drive in Burbank.

Los Angeles County issued evacuation orders for the Owen Fire burn area, on Santa Maria Road north of Topanga Canyon, and the Agua Fire area along Soledad Canyon Road east of Agua Dulce Canyon Road.

Those orders will be in effect through 6 p.m. Tuesday.

Additionally, evacuation warnings were issued for areas of unincorporated Los Angeles County near burn scars through 6 p.m. Tuesday, including the Juniper Hills and Valyermo areas from the Bobcat Fire, and the following areas of Lake Hughes and King Canyon from the Lake Fire:

Duarte also issued an evacuation warning for an area near the Fish Fire burn scar. That warning will be in effect through 10 a.m. Tuesday for the area on Mel Canyon Road between Fish Canyon Road and Brookridge Road.

Culver City issued evacuation warnings for various streets in the Upper Crest area due to concerns about possible mud or debris flows. City officials said the warnings will be in effect until 11:59 p.m. Tuesday.

Thousands of Los Angeles Department of Water and Power and Southern California Edison customers lost power during the storms, and utility officials said crews were working frantically to restore service.

NWS forecasters warned residents to expect more rain into at least Tuesday.

“Periods of rain, mountain snow, and possible thunderstorms will continue through at least Tuesday night and possibly through Thursday morning,” according to the NWS. “Light to moderate rain will be common, with locally heavy but brief downpours. Snow levels will lower each day with mountain snow issues increasing. Gusty west to northwest winds will form Wednesday into Thursday.”

Forecasters said the showers should taper off Thursday and Friday, “with dry but still cool conditions to follow.”

A winter storm watch will be in effect in the eastern San Gabriel Mountains through 10 p.m. Tuesday, with forecasters predicting as much as 2 to 3 feet of snow above 7,000 feet, as much as 20 inches as low as 6,000 feet, and 8 inches at 5,000 feet.

A less severe winter storm advisory will be in place until 10 p.m. Tuesday in the western San Gabriel Mountains and the Antelope Valley (14) Freeway corridor.

A high surf advisory was issued from 10 p.m. Sunday to 10 p.m. Monday at Orange County beaches, and until 9 p.m. Monday at Los Angeles County beaches.

The intense storm prompted the California Department of Water Resources to release excess storm water through the gated spillway at Pyramid Dam. The water will be stored downstream in Lake Piru for future water supply, the department reported.

The city of Los Angeles and the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority increased shelter and housing voucher availability to accommodate an influx of homeless people coming in from the storm. Shelters were opened at the Lincoln Heights Senior Citizen Center at 2323 Workman St., Mid Valley Senior Citizen Shelter at 8825 Kester Ave. in Panorama City, South LA Sports Activity Center at 7020 S. Figueroa St. and Oakwood Recreation Center at 767 California Ave. Residents can call 2-1-1 for transportation to a shelter.

The storm was also affecting the recreational activities. Six Flags Magic Mountain, Knott’s Berry Farm, the Getty Center and Villa were closed Monday as was the Los Angeles Zoo. Disneyland closed an hour earlier than scheduled, at 8 p.m.

The Los Angeles Zoo will also be closed Tuesday.

City News Service and Patch Staffer Paige Austin

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