Los Angeles Experiences Mudslides and Flooding

Mudslides and severe flooding wreaked havoc in Los Angeles from late Sunday through Monday morning. Following a storm that battered northern parts of California, the system moved southward, bringing heavy rain and winds to Southern California. Dr. Daniel Swain, a climate scientist from the University of California, Los Angeles, expressed concern over the unfolding situation in the south, stating that the major wind and power outages were relatively less dangerous compared to what was about to happen. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department reported mudslides on all canyon roads in and out of Malibu, while the Los Angeles Fire Department evacuated six people from two homes in the Studio City neighborhood due to water and debris. Authorities cautioned that the worst was yet to come, with heavy rain expected to persist for at least the next 24 hours. Rather than the usual risks associated with power lines and trees, experts highlighted the danger posed by the atmospheric river—a massive moisture plume projected to stall over one of the most densely populated regions in the country. Dr. Swain predicted continuous rainfall for the next 24 to 36 hours. Meteorologists and officials urged residents of Los Angeles to prepare for flooded streets in the valleys and mudslides in the mountains. The entire county, which is home to nearly 10 million people, remained under a flash flood warning until midnight. By Sunday night, the Santa Monica Mountains had already received over four inches of rainfall, with rates exceeding half an inch per hour. Such heavy precipitation on mountains leads to downhill rushes, often carrying saturated soil along with it, and accumulates in low-lying areas like the sprawling San Fernando Valley, resulting in submerged intersections and streets. The situation also poses a risk of rivers and streams overflowing their banks and flooding surrounding neighborhoods. The continuous rainfall over many hours exacerbates the situation.

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