Mayor Karen Bass declares local emergency in response to powerful SoCal storm
Evacuation orders have been issued in parts of Los Angeles County as a powerful storm landed in the Southland, bringing "life threatening" flood risks and dangerously high winds to the area.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass declared a local emergency on Monday during a press conference to help with the city's response to the storm and ensure resources for the recovery time.
L.A. County has already issued an emergency declaration, and Gov. Gavin Newsom has declared an emergency for all of Southern California.
During the storm so far, the Los Angeles Fire Department has responded to over 130 flooding incidents along with 49 mud and debris flows, according to LAFD Chief Kristin Crowley.
Early Monday afternoon, the National Weather Service issued a flash flood warning for the west-central parts of Los Angeles County, including Pasadena, Van Nuys, Burbank and North Hollywood. The warning was later extended to include the Hollywood Hills and Santa Monica Mountains, lasting until 9 p.m. on Monday.
The warning was put in place as rain continues to fall in the area, which has already seen between six and 11 inches of precipitation.
A flood watch will remain in effect for parts of Ventura County through Tuesday afternoon.
Downtown LA received 4.10 inches of rain on Sunday, breaking the old record set in 1927 for Feb. 4 by over 1.5 inches.
In 147 years of records, Sunday was third wettest February day ever recorded and it tied for the 10th wettest day ever recorded in Los Angeles.
RELATED: How much rain has fallen on Southern California so far?
The rain has caused damaging mudslides in some hillside areas as the powerful storm system continues to dump rain across the Southland.
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.
More mud and debris flows were reported in the Beverly Crest area, where about five homes suffered "significant" damage, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. Around 10 people have been displaced.
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The National Weather Service also issued a winter storm warning for mountain regions in Riverside and San Bernardino Counties, with anywhere between one and three feet of snow expected to fall in areas above 8,000 feet elevation. The warning remains in place until 10 p.m. on Tuesday, as the storm starts to move out of California.
"Travel could be very difficult to impossible," the NWS said. "The hazardous conditions will impact the morning and evening commutes."
A winter storm warning was also issued for the eastern San Gabriel Mountains, including communities like Wrightwood, Mount Wilson and Mount Baldy, with moderate to heavy snow expected. The warning also lasts until 10 p.m. on Tuesday.
Evacuation orders and warnings in LA
Orders
- Owen Fire burn scar areas along Santa Maria Road, north of Topanga Canyon Boulevard
- Tujunga Fire burn scar areas along Soledad Canyon Road east of Agua Dulce Canyon Road by Cali Lake RV Resort
Warnings
- Big Rock Creek Road near Paradise Springs in Angeles National Forest
Evacuation orders and warning for Ventura County
Warnings
- Community of Foster Park / Camp Chaffee (Unincorporated Ventura)
- Old Creek Road. / Creek Road (Unincorporated Ojai)
- 4 structures on Grada Avenue & Trueno Avenue (Unincorporated Camarillo)
- Matilija Canyon / North Fork / Camino Cielo (Unincorporated Ojai)
- Ventura RV Resort (City of Ventura)
SoCal school, public area closures
All schools in Malibu will be closed on Monday due to severe weather causing road closures, according to SMMUSD officials. Santa Monica schools will remain open.
The California State University system announced on Sunday that some local campuses would be closed on Monday. Cal State Los Angeles, Cal State Northridge, Cal State Long Beach and Cal State Fullerton will be holding classes remotely.
Long Beach City College has closed both its Liberal Arts Campus at 4901 East Carson Street and its Pacific Coast Campus at 1305 E. Pacific Coast Highway on Monday. Students should check to see if their classes will be online and employees will work remotely.
The City of Burbank announced early Monday afternoon that all city hiking trails, including Stough Canyon and Wildwood Canyon trails, would be closed until further notice.
